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Introduction ............................................................................................................. 5

Exercises

I. Vocabulary Practice .............................................................................................. 9

A. Definitions

B. Lexical equivalents and related words

C. Synonyms and antonyms

D. Words in context

E. Collocations and idioms

II. Translation

A. Correction of lexical errors in translated sentences

B. Translation of sentences containing lexical false friends

C. Disambiguation and translation of sentences containing lexical false

friends ............................................................................................................ 63

D. Translation of sentences containing idiomatic expressions

and phraseological false friends

E. Translation of literary passages

Answer Key ............................................................................................................ 71

List of English-Polish false friends .................................................................... 90

Literaryreferences ................................................................................................. 96

Wstp ........................................................................................................................ 7

...................................................................................................... 11

......................................................... 20

.............................................................................. 26

............................................................................................ 27

................................................................................ 33

....................................................................................................... 43

.................................... 45

............................ 49

................................................................... 65

................................................................... 69

Contents

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Learning a foreign language a more or less dissimilar system presents us with many

challenges at every stage of the process. One of the elements of mastering a foreign tongue

is the avoidance of errors which are a result of the traps set for us by the idiosyncratic

character of the target language. What evinces a competence in a foreign language is amongst other things the knowledge of its vocabulary and its accurate use in everyday

communication. We learn the foreign lexicon all the time, and in this respect we are no

different from the native speakers of the language. At the same time, regardless of how

advanced in a language we are, we ought to remember that a proficient use of the foreign

lexis emerges from a continuing process and involves a constant alertness to the many

surprises presented by the target vocabulary. Lexis as a carrier of meaning is especially

important in mastering a foreign tongue as the lack of its knowledge may lead to verbal

misunderstandings resulting from the incorrect, inaccurate or imprecise use of words and

collocationson every level of thecommunication process.

One of the traps set by a foreign language for its learners is the different semanticcontents of words which learners take for the semantic equivalent of lexical items in the

mother tongue. This happens as learners rely which is the wrong thing to do but partly

understandable on the formal similarities between words of the two languages. Full

semantic equivalence would no doubt help, to a great extent, master the foreign lexis and,

naturally, eliminate from the very beginning the occurrence of major and minor errors.

Fortunately, notall formally identicalor similar words in twolanguageshave incompatible

meanings, i.e. most of them are our true lexical friends carrying in both languages

corresponding meanings.A very commonphenomenon, however, is theoccurrence of words

which to the astonishment of learners have dissimilar senses in two languages. These

words are a source of many lexical errors as appearances are deceptive. Some words are

consequently learners falsefriends.

The problem of false friends must not be unnecessarily aggrandised. On the one hand,

they are of a very misleading nature; they can deceive even the most experienced teachers,

translators, interpreters and dictionary compilers, not to mention learners. On the other

hand, their number is relatively small, so that learners should not be discouraged from

learning about them, getting used to them and mastering the skills necessary to use them

correctly.

This book of practical exercises on false friends is intended to help achieve these aims. It

has been designed to draw careful attention to this element of the English and Polish

lexicons and thus eliminate errors in the use of English vocabulary caused by deceptive

lexical similaritiesbetween thetwolanguages.

The exercises in this book are arranged according to the difficulty involved in doing them

(from multiple choiceandmatching exercises to exerciseson translation)andtheprinciple:

from definition to use. The exercises are divided into two major gro ps: Vocabulary

Practice, including exercises on individual words as well as collocations and idioms, and

Translation. Each has smaller subsections which focus on specific aspects of vocabulary

testing. Each exercise may contain false friends which are commonly used as well as those

which are infrequent in either language. One false friend may be tested in a variety of

exercises, and it seemed impossible to strike a statistical balance between the false friends

tested. As this is a practice book on false friends, example sentences abound with them.This happens because the author wanted to draw learners attention to false friends and

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Introduction

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test them possibly in a most exhaustive way. As the learner progresses through the book,

the level of proficiency and difficulty increases. As the vocabulary tested in this book is not

very commonandallthefalse friends aretreated asequally significantfora competentuser

of English,alltheexercisesinthis book present a high levelofdifficulty.

False friends are presented in this book also in the company they keep with other words.

In most cases they are submerged in English and Polish lexical co-texts and are tested in

collocations, more or less lexicalised. Therefore, a few exercises test the knowledge of

collocationsand idiomscontaining false friends. The book tests as well phraseological false

friends, which to a great extent completes the description of the phenomenon of false

friends inEnglish andPolish.

Due to the specific character of the tested vocabularies and the exercises which in many

cases go beyond the level of false friends, the book is intended for learners with at least

advanced knowledge of English. This is so because the potential user of the book is not so

much a beginner but a learner with very good background skills. In the book the English

and Polish vocabulary is treated , without dividing it into the categories of lexisexpected at elementary, advanced, proficient or academic levels. The key objective of the

practicebook is toshow the whole range of false friends, test and consolidate the knowledge

of the vocabulary and reveal new facets of the lexical traps and, in doing so, limit potential

errors.

The book is meant for both the experienced user (teacher, translator, interpreter,

philologist) and the learner of English. It can be used as a self-teaching aid as in the

majorityof cases answers are provided (open exercises, which could bedonewiththe helpof

a teacher, do not have a separate answer key). It should be, however, emphasised that the

answer key containsonly suggestions the author isaware that the exercises could bedone

in many different ways and still be acceptable. It needs stressing that the model answerscontain false friends wherever possible, which means that out of all the possibilities those

with false friends were chosentoshow thediversityof theirmeaningsanduses.

Finally, there is a list of English and Polish false friends which occur at least once in the

exercises in the book and a list of the books in English and Polish from which the author

extractedrelevantexcerpts.

is not a coursebook in the English language, but a

collection of exercises ina very specific area of English lexis.Therefore it aims at developing

the competence of advanced learners of English or Polish who wish to explore the arcana of

the two languages and become more native-like in their use of the vocabulary. As the

general linguistic competence of Polish learners of English is increasing, there is a need togivethema chanceto improve their languageskillsata moreadvanced level.

The author wishes the book to become useful in teaching English, inspire teachers of this

language to prepare their own exercises and help students of English in the self-teaching

process check their knowledge of the language and prompt them to broaden their lexical

horizons.

While completing the exercises, additional help can be obtained from the authors

(Krakw, Egis,2003).

This book owes much to the following people: Dr Ewa Witalisz, Ann Cardwell and Piotr

Okas, to whom the author isvery grateful for their professional advice. The author remains

fullyresponsible foranyerrorsandmistakesthat mightstillbedetected inthebook.

in toto

Make Friends with False Friends

English-PolishDictionaryof False Friends

GrzegorzSzpila

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17. Which ofthe words a,b,c ISNOT the equivalentofthe Polishword?

18. Crossoutthe odd word.

19. Crossoutthe odd word.

sanktuarium: temple reserve shelter

pendant: charm complement chandelier

partykularny: egoistic parochial specificministrant: layman altar boy minister

laik: ignoramus layman lazybones

kiosk: telephone box bandstand news-stand

prospekt: folder chance vista

irytacja: chafe annoyance nuisance

libacja: alcohol oblation drinking party

fawor: gift badge kindness

recital: solo concert announcement account

ewidencja: register testimony proof prowizja: commission condition stock of food

denuncjacja: informing renouncement condemnation

konspiracja: co-operation plot underground movement

carpet, divan,rug, mat

circus, trapeze, rectangular, acrobat

tracksuit, sweatshirt, dress, work-out

story-teller, circus, jongleur, songsurn,cremation, election,ash

cosine, sinus, trigonometry, angle

academic, hostel, university, teacher

tenant, doctor, locum, replacement

cigarette, smoking,suit,pipe

scene, tableau,posing,memento

weather, prognosis, recovering, patient

funeral,manners,conduct,etiquette

script, film, student, screenwriter

cast,ham,plaster, arm

rank,counting,census, population

pathetic,pompous,pitiable,worthless

book,prison, criminal, cell

sacrum,profane,bone,skeleton

holiday, resort, ministry, seaside

theatre,necessity, requisite,needshop,receipt, cash,doctor

1. a. b. c.

2. a. b. c.

3. a. b. c.4. a. b. c.

5. a. b. c.

6. a. b. c.

7. a. b. c.

8. a. b. c.

9. a. b. c.

10. a. b. c.

11. a. b. c.

12. a. b. c.13. a. b. c.

14. a. b. c.

15. a. b. c.

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5.6.

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I.B. Lexical equivalents and related words


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camera, clich, repetition, banality

improvement,water, melioration,betterment

marmalade, lime, gooseberry, lemons

grades, index, catalogue, library

existing,actual, present,real

cloth, works, fabric, textile

book,exemplar, idol, model

expedient, method, shop,strategy

plaster, gypsum,sling, arm

assignation rendez-vous date

athlete champion competitoraudience auditorium spectators

brunette blonde flaxen

camisole underwear vest

canap sandwich doubledecker

cathedral church minster

chalet hut cottage

chef cook waiter

collaborate help co-operate

colleague friend companion chap

director baton orchestra

director screenwriter cameraman

dress costume creation

locale location place

magazine newspaper journal

marmalade jam jellymemorial testament monument

mentor kibitzer fan

metro underground the tube

ministrant minister vicar

novel fiction book

odour smell reek

paralytic tipsy drunk

pasta macaroni ravioli

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20. Explain the differences in meaning and use between the following

words.

21. Explain the differences in meaning and use between the following

words.

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I.B. Lexical equivalents and related words


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63. If the following translations into Polish contain lexical errors,

suggest yourowncorrect versions.

Never in my life have I met such an accurate man.

There was a small aeroplane flying over our heads.

The government is unwilling to subsidize agriculture any longer.

He followed Martins voyage to Australia.

The vicar of the parish has suffered a heart attack.

The most gripping scenes are those of the main characters escapades.

It was the place of his first rendezvous with the secret agent.

They dreaded to think what might happen if the other party broke off the concordat.

They were showing off their four-wheeled vehicle.

The Chinese get five weeks vacation each year.

We were given some college prospectuses to find out about the life of the school.

Working with a law firm was an exciting and positive experience for me.

.

The judge announced a pause in the proceedings of the court.

Mix four well-beaten eggs with the shortening and flour to form a paste.

.

I knewverywell that the switchboard operatorwas not toblame for the engaged line.

The Crazy Rabbit, where I drink every night, is the most atmospheric local.

Choosing her outfits she relies on the advice obtained from fashion magazines.

Her only aim in life has been to fight with any flying insect.

The welder had his right eye burned by a spark because he was not wearing safety

goggles.

He is believed to have walked around the whole globe.

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Nigdy w yciu nie spotkaem tak akuratnego czowieka.

Nad naszymi gowami kry may aeroplan.

Rzd nie wykazuje ju ochoty na wspieranie finansowe agrykultury.

Uda si do Australii ladami wojau Martina.

Wikariusz parafii mia atak serca.

Najbardziej wcigajce s sceny eskapad gwnego bohatera.

To byo miejsce jego pierwszego rendez-vous z tajnym agentem.

Przeraaa ich myl o tym, co mogoby si sta, gdyby partner zerwa konkordat.

Pysznili si swoim nowym czterokoowym wehikuem.

Chiczykom przysuguje co roku pi tygodni wakacji.

Dano nam prospekty o kolegium, bymy zapoznali si z yciem szkoy.

Praca w firmie prawniczej bya dla mnie podniecajcym i pozytywnym

dowiadczeniem

Sdzia ogosi pauz w posiedzeniu sdu.

Aby zrobi past, wymieszaj cztery dobrze ubite jajka z tuszczem i mk

Wiedziaem, e operatorka centrali nie ponosia winy za zajt lini.

Pod Szalonym Krlikiem, gdzie wypijam drinka co wieczr, to

najsympatyczniejszy lokal.

W swoim wyborze ubra polega na radach zaczerpnitych z urnali mody.

Jej jedynym celem w yciu jest walka z kadym latajcym insektem.

Iskra wypalia spawaczowi prawe oko, poniewa nie uy ochronnych gogli.

Wierzy si, e przeszed cay glob na piechot.

A. CORRECTION OF LEXICAL ERRORS IN TRANSLATED SENTENCES

II. A. Correction of lexical errors in translated sentences

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64. If the following translations into English contain lexical errors,

suggest yourowncorrect versions.

Nie mona bra w dwudniow delegacj trzech walizek.

Oby tylko nie zlekceway konkurenta.

Wizytator z kuratorium odwoa swj przyjazd w tym tygodniu.

Nasz ksidz pokci si ze swoim wikarym.

Ta klauzula moe sta si fundamentem przepisw.

Jego ysin zakrywaa bujna peruka.

Widziaa, jak jej kochanek tonie w fosie.

Jego poranna dieta to kanapki z ososiem i jogurt naturalny.

Degustacja wina w czasie obiadu staa si ulubionym rytuaem w naszej rodzinie.

Gdy odkurza dywan w duym pokoju, odnalaz pod kanap jej bilet wizytowy.

Autor tej powieci nie zgodzi si na napisanie scenariusza do filmu opartego na

jego ksice.

Toncego szefa kuchni uratowa rzucony mu w por kapok.

Z mieszkania obok doszed mnie niepokojcy rumor rozwalanej ciany.

.

Publicysta gazety zosta ukarany za politycznie niepoprawny artyku.

W rdmieciu zawisy plakaty z informacjami o koncercie.

Mutacja gosu nie pozwala temu chopcu piewa w chrze.

Zawody musz by odwoane ze wzgldu na niedogodne warunki atmosferyczne.

Babcia od dziesiciu dni skary si na obstrukcj.

Z ambony syszalny by doniosy gos nawiedzonej parafianki.

Stara si polega na rozsdnych radach swoich kibicw.

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You cant take three valises on a two-day business trip.

If only he would not ignore the concurrent.

The school boards visitator cancelled his visit this week.

Our priest fell out with the vicar.

This clause may become the fundament of the regulations.

His balding scalp was hidden under a bushy peruke.

She could see her lover drowning in the fosse.

His morning diet consists of salmon canaps and natural yogurt.

Wine degustation at dinner has become a cherished tradition in our family.

When he was vacuuming the carpet in the living-room, he found her visiting card

under the canap.

The auteur of the novel refused to prepare a script for a film based on his book.

The drowning chef was saved by the kapok thrown to him in good time.

In the next-door flat I could hear a disturbing rumour of a wall being pulled down

The publicist on the newspaper was punished for his politically incorrect article.

In the town centre there were placards with information about the concert.

The mutation of voice does not allow this boy to sing in the choir.

The competition has to be cancelled due to unfavourable atmospheric conditions.

The grandmother has been complaining about her obstruction for ten days.

From the ambo one could hear the loud voice of a fanatical parishioner.

He was trying to rely on the wise advice of his kibitzers.


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65. The sentences below were incorrectly translated from Polish and

contain lexical errors. Identify and correct them.

66. The sentences below were incorrectly translated from Polish andcontain lexical errors. Identify and correct them.

As a teenager I would read a daily gazette and have a mug of hot milk in the morning.

Beforeyouusethis washing liquid, carefullyread theetiquette.

She iscut out tobeanactress being exceptionally talentedand havinga scenicvoice.Of the two trenches I will choose the one with the longer belt.

He always sits in silence with a chocolate baton in his mouth.

Now as we have bought milk and fresh strawberries we can make some cocktail.

You may as well go and see if there is any fresh fruit and salad in the nearest pavilion.

Sheisanexceptionally prettywoman,with blue eyes anda pale carnation.

My only reservation concerns the live relation of the sports competition.

I would like to introduce you to my lyceum colleague who is now the chef of the

local transportation firm.

You should use ground coffee, eventually you may use cocoa.

The film is based on the canvas of the best-seller.

You may as well leave your car in the nearest parking.

I find watching TV auditions about animals a waste of time.

The mechanics in this shop are responsible for the montage of cars.

The Prime Minister is hoping to stay in office for one more cadence.

Our football representation have been losing since time immemorial.

Before the exam session we have to face another colloquium in anatomy.

The local authorities are doing everything in their power to improve the local

public communication.

Do you know the compositor of this lovely piano concert?

Poland did not qualify for any of the swimming concurrences.

He has achieved so much due to his being consequent in his actions.

He was groping in pitch darkness trying to find the light contact.

He slipped into his warm dress and went jogging.

He suffered a severe contusion, fracturing his leg.

I would sooner read a bad criminal than a weepie.

I cannot lend you this as I have just one exemplar of the book.

There are seats left in a non-smoking wagon.The demonstrators were carrying huge transparents with offensive slogans.

Wisas best stopper has just signed a good contract with a football club in Greece.

The room was packed with old gentlemen wearing dated smokings.

The scene was very dimly lit, however, the actors faces were just visible.

The singerwas standinginthe middleof the stadium,inthe bright lightsof jupiters.

Do you remember the 100m recordist in the last Olympics?

I get a lot of provisions for selling each credit card.

To prevent the spreading of AIDS, use preservatives.

As a single parent of three children she cannot live on one monthly pension with no

additional job.

There was no need to give such a pathetic speech at such a trivial occasion.

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abat-jour/ / abaurabdicate/ / abdykowa

abdication / bd / abdykacja

absolvent/ b / absolwent

academia / k di:mi / akademia

academy/ d /akademia

academe/ k di m/ akademia

academic / / akademik

accessories / k ses riz / akcesoria

acclamation / kl me n/ aklamacja

accolade / k le d /akolada

accommodation / / akomodacjaaccord / k :d /akord

accurate / kj r t /akurat, akuratny

acquisition / kw z n / akwizycja

act/ kt/akt

action / k n/ akcja

actual / kt u l /aktualny

actually / kt u li /aktualnie

adapter / d pt / adapter

address/ dres / adres

adept / dept/ adept

adjunct/ d kt/adiunkt

administration/ d m n stre n / administracja

advent / dvent /adwent

aeroplane / e r ple n / aeroplan

affair / fe / afera

agenda / / agenda

agent / / agent

agitation / / agitacja

agony/ g ni/ agonia

agriculture / gr k lt /agrykultura

alcove/ lk v/ alkowa

aliment/ l / alimenty

alimentation/ l /alimentacja

alumnus / / alumn

amazon / / amazonka

ambo / / ambona

ambulatory / /ambulatorium

angina / / angina

anonym / / anonim

antic / / antyk

antique / n ti k/ antyk

apartment/ / apartament

apparat / p ra t/ aparat

apparatus / p /aparat

List of English-Polish false friends

Aapparition/ p / aparycja

appellation/ p /apelacja

applicant / pl k nt/ aplikant

application/ /aplikacja

arbiter / b t /arbiter

argument / /argument

artist / / artysta

artiste / / artysta

assignation/ s g ne n/ asygnacja

assistant/ s st nt/ asystent

assortment/ / asortyment

asylum / / azyl

athlete/ /atleta

atmospheric / tm s fer k/atmosferyczny

attic / t k/ attykaattraction/ /atrakcja

audience / di ns/ audiencja

audition/ d n/ audycja

auditorium / d t ri m/auditorium

aura/ /aura

author/ / autor

auteur/ / autor

automat/ /automat

automaton / /automat

autopsy/ /autopsja

barrack / b r k/barak

barrage / b r / bara

barrette /b ret/ baretka

basin / be s n/ basen

baton/ b /baton

benefice/ ben /benefis

benzine / benzi n/benzyna

bestiality/ besti l ti/bestialstwo

bicycle / ba s k l/ bicykl

billet/ b / bilet

binocle/ b /binokl

bison / ba s n/ bizon

boot/bu t/ but

box/b k /boks

bravo /bra v /brawo

brigadier / br g d /brygadier

brochure/ br / bros ura

brouillion /br j / brulion

brunette /bru net/brunetka

buffet / b fe /bufet

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buffoon /b fu n/ bufon

bulletin / b l t n/ biuletyn

buoy/b / boja

bureau/ bj r / biuro

bursa / b s / bursa

cabin / k b n/ kabina

cabinet / k b n t/ gabinet

cadence / ke d ns/ kadencja

cadet/k / kadet

caftan/ k / kaftan

calendar/ k / kalendarz

calque/k / kalka

camera / k / kamera

camisole / k / kamizela

canal /k n l/ kanacanap/ k n pe / kanapa

canister/ k n st / kanister

canteen / k n ti n/ kantyna

canvas / k nv s/kanwa

capa / k p / kapa

cape /ke p/ kapa

caravan/ k / karawana

carnation /k ne n/ karnacja

carnet/ k / karnet

carnival/ k / karnawa

carousel / k r sel/ karuzela, karuzelcasque /k sk/ kask

cathedra/k i dr / katedra

cathedral /k i dr /katedra

catholic / k / katolicki

caution / k n/ kaucja

cavalier/ k /kawaler

celebrate/ / celebrowa

cell / / cela

cella / / cela

censure/ / cenzura

census / /cenzuschalet/ /szalet

champion / / czempion

character/ / charakter

characterisation/ k r kt ra ze n/

charade/ / szarada

chef / / szef

chicane / ke n/ szykana

chips/t / czips

chronic / kron k/ chroniczny

cistern/ / cysterna

charakteryzacja

civil / / cywilny

clausula/ / klauzula

cleric / / kleryk

clerical/ / klerykalny

clich/ /klisza

climax / / klimaks

clinic/ /klinika

cloche / / klosz

closet / / klozet

cocktail / / koktajl

cohort / / kohorta

collaborate/ /kolaborowa

collaboration/ /kolaboracja

collation/ /kolacja

colleague / / kolega

collector/ / kolektor

collegium / / kolegium

collide / / kolidowa

colligation/ /koligacja

collision/ /kolizja

colloquium / / kolokwium

colporteur/ /kolporter

colubrine/ /kolubryna

column/ /kolumna

combatant / /kombatant

comfort / /komfort

commentary/ /komentarz

commissariat / /komisariat

commission/ /komisja

commode / /komoda

communication / /komunikacja

communion / / komunia

companion / / kompan

compositor / /kompozytor

compote / / kompot

concert / / koncert

concerto / / koncert

concession/ /koncesja

concoction/ /konkoksja

concordat / /konkordat

concours/ /konkurs

concourse/ /konkurs

concrete/ /konkret

concur / /konkurowa

concurrence/ /konkurencja

concurrent/ /konkurent

condition/ /kondycja

conduct / /kondukt

conductor / /konduktor

confection/ /konfekcja

confectioner /k n fek n / konfekcjoner

91

C

List of English-Polish false friends

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