Your real name was given to you when you were just a newborn baby, before you developed your personality, talents, and looks. Because of this, your name actually says more about your parents than it does about you. They may have named you after a relative, or a famous person they admire, or even because they just liked the sound of a name. But your other name, the one your friends call you, probably comes from something specific about you. If you're tall, people might call you Stilts. If you're smart, you may be called Braniac or Einstein. If you're good at basketball, you might get the name Hoops.
Nicknames like these are a way of giving meaning to a name, and letting a name describe the person who has it. The name Bill doesn't really tell you anything about a person, but if Bill is also known as Flash, you can guess that he's a fast runner, or that he has a flashy personality.
III. Define the words: nickname, todescribe, personality, to admire, specific, smart, flashy, to guess, famous.
IV. Look at the picture with nicknames (near the title). What can you tell about people, who got those nicknames?
V. Find information about celebrities, who’ve got nicknames.
VI. Do you find nicknames offensive? Do people use nicknames in their every day life?
Read the following idioms. Translate them into Ukrainian:
(* you may refer to page 25 where you’ll find definitions of the following idioms)
to clear one’s name
to drop names
to give a bad name
to go by (the name of)
to handle to one’s name
in name only
to make a name for oneself
on a first-name basis
to take someone’s name in vain
to one’s name
worthy of the name
you name it
to call names
in the name of
Comment on the following: “Your name can shape your destiny”. How important is your name? The following text will help you to organise your thoughts and write a composition (15-20 sent)
Can Your Name Shape Your Destiny?
Since ancient times, people have believed that your name can shape your destiny. But can it? And if so, can knowing the hidden power of a name help parents pick a “better” name for their baby?
Several distinct schools of thought hold strong beliefs about the significance, and power, behind your name. There is the “psychological” camp, the “religious/spiritual” camp, the “sound” camp, and the “mystical” camp. All four overlap in many ways, but there are real differences between them.
The psychological school, which has some interesting research to back up its claims, holds that your name subtly influences how people see you, and this affects how they treat you. In turn, this influences your self-image and self-esteem, starting as a small child. In its simplest form, a child with a “weird’ name, such as Elmer, may be continuously teased in school, and this will hurt Elmer’s self-image and future development. By contrast, “Alexander,” named after the great emperor, may be empowered by his name, because other people unconsciously respond to him with a certain level of respect.
Robert Needleman has written an interesting discussion of this psychological approach. The research implies that boys with unusual first names tend to display more emotional disturbances than boys with more traditional names. But, as Dr. Needlman points out, it is important not to overstate the case. Are the boys in question more troubled because of their names, or because of the parental support structure which gave them strange names in the first place? Nonetheless, there are many instances where “desirable” names are shown to lead to greater success. A recent report from the School of Business at Arizona State University shows that the names of top CEOs in Phoenix come from a disproportionately small group of names, implying that certain names are more likely to lead to greater success. The three most successful names in the study group were Robert, John, and Steve. The big question, of course, is why?
Moving from the secular to faith-based beliefs, many religions and cultures place enormous importance on given names, and, often, on the naming ceremony. In the Jewish heritage, Ashkenazic Jews believe that the name represents the soul of a person, and hence can influence an entire life. Because of this, Ashkenazic Jews refuse to name a baby after a living relative, for fear that the two souls would have to share a name, thereby shortening the life of the older relative.
Another well-known belief among certain cultures is that possessing knowledge of someone’s true name gives you power over that person. Thus, in some African societies, a baby is given one “everyday” name, and another, secret name, so that evil spirits will not be able to harm the baby.
It’s worth noting that among virtually all of the groups that believe in the power of names, the power is more of “potential,” rather than certainty. Thus, a name that means “happy,” or “blessed,” such as the Hebrew name Asher, does not necessarily mean that the child will grow up in that way, but, rather, that those personality traits are embedded, like talents, in the one with that name. And like talents, such gifts can be nurtured, and grown, or ignored, and destroyed.
In the mystical realm, there are several ancient belief systems which hold that your name has innate power and meaning, and that by knowing this meaning, you can harness the power in your life. Symbols play a prominent role in these philosophies, although at least one camp believes that names contain hidden vibrations which help shape the owner’s personality.
Runic systems, ancient European sets of symbols, also assign powerful meanings to each symbol. Using the runic “alphabet,” also known as the “Futhark,” you can transpose your given name into a group of runic symbols, which in turn, when properly understood, paint a full picture of your personality and attributes.
Can anyone say, with one hundred percent certainty, that a baby’s name will affect his or her entire life? Probably not. But prospective parents may want to give some weight to the various schools of thought about the significance of names. All of these belief systems are based on deeply-held, ancient, time-tested philosophies. They are the result of centuries of thought and reflection. Even if you don’t subscribe fully to any particular camp, there is much to learn, and think about, in all of them. For parents who make up new names in order to be different – they may want to think twice about what they are doing. If your name is truly entwined with your destiny, then naming your baby is a serious responsibility.
X. Define the words:
destiny, to overlap, weird, subtly, to treat, self-image, self-esteem, to tease, to empower, to overstate, to share, prominent, particular,
responsibility, belief, reflection, to subscribe, to transpose, to nurture,
to transpose.
XI. Complete the sentences:
1) … there are several ancient belief systems which hold that your name has innate power and meaning, and that by knowing this meaning, you can harness the power in your life.
2) And like talents, such gifts…
3) … holds that your name subtly influences how people see you…
4) In turn, this influences your self-image and…
5) …many religions and cultures place enormous importance on given names, and, often, on the naming ceremony.
6) Nonetheless, there are many instances where “desirable” names…
7) And if so, can knowing the hidden power of a name help parents…
8) … hold strong beliefs about the significance, and power, behind your name.
9) … ancient European sets of symbols…
10) For parents who make up new names in order to be different…
XII. Translate the following word combinations into Ukrainian:
1) to shape one’s destiny;
2) hidden power of a name;
3) tohold strong beliefs (about something);
4) tooverlap in many ways;
5) to back up (its) claims;
6) in its simplest form…;
7) to overstate the case;
8) to be empowered by one’s name;
9) topoint out;
10) to give smb. power over the person;
11) to paint a full picture of one’s personality and attributes;
12) to nurture talents;
13) ancient belief systems;
14) personality traits;
15) to shape the owner’s personality;
16) to give some weight to the various schools of thought;
17) prospective parents;
18) time-tested philosophies;
19) toaffect one’s entire life;
20) to beproperly understood;
21) belief systems;
22) to betruly entwined with one’s destiny
XIII. Translate the following sentences into Ukrainian:
1) Since ancient times, people have believed that your name can shape your destiny.
2) Several distinct schools of thought hold strong beliefs about the significance, and power, behind your name.
3) The psychological school, which has some interesting research to back up its claims, holds that your name subtly influences how people see you, and this affects how they treat you.
4) Nonetheless, there are many instances where “desirable” names are shown to lead to greater success.
5) By contrast, “Alexander,” named after the great emperor, may be empowered by his name, because other people unconsciously respond to him with a certain level of respect.
6) In the mystical realm, there are several ancient belief systems which hold that your name has innate power and meaning, and that by knowing this meaning, you can harness the power in your life.
7) Runic systems, ancient European sets of symbols, also assign powerful meanings to each symbol.
8) All of these belief systems are based on deeply-held, ancient, time-tested philosophies.
9) If your name is truly entwined with your destiny, then naming your baby is a serious responsibility.
10) Another well-known belief among certain cultures is that possessing knowledge of someone’s true name gives you power over that person.
11) It’s worth noting that among virtually all of the groups that believe in the power of names, the power is more of “potential,” rather than certainty.
Idioms
to call names - to scold or speak abusively of or to a person: Better not to call names unless one is larger and considerably stronger than one's adversary.
by name - personally; individually: She was always careful to address every employee by name. not personally; by repute: I know him by name only.
in the name of
1) with appeal to: In the name of mercy, stop that screaming!
2) by the authority of: Open, in the name of the law!
3) on behalf of: to purchase something in the name of another.
4) under the name or possession of: money deposited in the name of a son.
5) under the designation or excuse of: murder in the name of justice.
to one's name - in one's possession: I haven't a penny to my name.
to call down
1. To find fault with; reprimand: The teacher called me down for disobedience.
2. To invoke, as from heaven.
to call for
1. To appear, as on someone else's premises, in order to get: My chauffeur will call for you at seven.
2. To be an appropriate occasion for: This news calls for champagne.
3. To require; demand: work that calls for patience.
to call forth -to evoke; elicit: a love song that calls forth sad memories.
to call in:
1. to take out of circulation: calling in silver dollars.
2. to summon for assistance or consultation: call in a specialist.
3. to communicate with another by telephone: Has the boss called in today?
to call off:
1. to cancel or postpone: call off a trip; called the trip off.
2. to restrain or recall: Call off your dogs.
to call on -to order or request to undertake a particular activity: called on our friends to help.
to call out:
1. to cause to assemble; summon: call out the guard.
2. to challenge to a duel.
to call up:
1. to summon to active military service: called up reserve troops for active duty.
2. to cause one to remember; bring to mind: stories that call up old times.
3. to bring forth for action or discussion; raise.
to call upon:
1. to order; require: I call upon you to tell the truth.
2. to make a demand or a series of demands on: Social institutions are now being called upon to provide assistance to the homeless.
to clear one’s name =to clear onself
Prove someone (or oneself) innocent. For example, She not only wanted to be acquitted, she wanted to clear her name entirely. This locution employs the verb clear in the sense of "purify" or "wash away a stain."
to drop names - Refer to important persons as acquaintances in order to impress the listener. For example, Her habit of dropping names made everyone very skeptical about her veracity.
to give something/somebody a bad name - to cause people to lose respect for something or someone Ex.: A few badly behaved football fans give all football supporters a bad name.
go by the name of something -to be known by a specific name. Ex.: She goes by the name of Gladys George. I used to go by the name of George.
handle to one's name -a nickname or title, as in He was knighted and now had a handle to his name, or His gluttony earned him a handle to his name
make a name for oneself - a chieve distinction, become prominent or well known, as in Martha is making a name for herself as an excellent chef.
on a first-name basis -quite familiar and friendly, as in Practically all the guests were on a first-name basis. + This idiom alludes to the fact that using a person's given name betokens familiarity
take someone's name in vain – to speak casually or idly of someone, as in There he goes, taking my name in vain again. This idiom originated as a translation from the Latin of the Vulgate Bible (Exodus 20:7), "to take God's name in vain," and for a time was used only to denote blasphemy and profanity. In the early 1700s it began to be used more loosely as well.
worthy of the name -deserving a name or description, as in Any artist worthy of the name can draw better than that. This expression uses worthy of in the sense of "deserving by reason of merit," a usage dating from about 1300.
you name it -everything one can think of, as in We've got a crib, highchair, diapersyou name it. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
 |
Дата добавления: 2015-01-07; просмотров: 137 | Поможем написать вашу работу | Нарушение авторских прав |