Cognates and false

Cognates are words from different languages that have the same root or origin and share the same
meaning. For instance, the word doctor in English is a cognate of the word docteur in French, and the
word doctor in Spanish, all derived from the Latin word docere which means to teach or to show.
There are many cognates between English, Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese as a large
amount of words in these languages have Latin roots.

Cognates are also called transparent words because they are similar in form and meaning.

Cognates
Noun Adjective Verb
Hospital Important Describe
Doctor General Justify
Error Normal Control
Activity Simple Reduce

False cognates are words that sound and look similar but do not come from a common root. For
example, the word pie in English refers to a type of pastry. The Spanish word pie means foot, derived
from the Latin word pes meaning foot. The English word pie and the Spanish word pie come from
two different root words.

PIE PIE /pai/

False friends
English Meaning Spanish English
Assist Ayudar Asistir Attend
Exit Salida Éxito Success
Library Biblioteca Librería Bookshop
Notice Darse cuenta Noticia News

Sources: https://grammarist.com/usage/cognate-and-false-
cognate/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_friend
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognate

ITS Cipolletti
Prof. Daniela

1
 Cognates in Computing

Activity 1: Write the Spanish equivalent of these words.

ENGLISH SPANISH ENGLISH SPANISH ENGLISH SPANISH

Systems Sistemas Communication Comunicacion International Internacional
Computer Computadora Programmer Programador External Externo
Symbols Simbolos Technology Tegnologia Memory Memoria
Programs Programas Control Control/Controla Interactive Interactivo
Internet Internet Operation Operacion Important Importante
Software Sofware Language Idioma Option Opcion
Hardware Hardware Digital Digital Analog Cosa Analoga

Activity 2: False cognates. Use a dictionary to look for the correct meaning.

ENGLISH SPANISH ENGLISH SPANISH

Carpet Alfombra To realize Darse cuenta
Large Grande Figures Cifras
Actually De hecho Date Fecha
File Archivo Success Exito

Activity 3: Write C (for Cognate) or FC (for False Cognate).

ENGLISH C or FC ENGLISH C or FC
Fabric FC Arm FC
Date FC Conductor C
Author C Radio C
Contest FC Lecture FC
Technology C Connect C

Activity 4: Underline the cognates in the following sentences.

1- Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology that facilitates data transmission from one
digital device to another.
2- To connect using Bluetooth, both devices must support the same profile.
3- If the devices support different profiles, they cannot be connected.
Adapted from: https://www.sony.co.in/electronics/support/articles/00030769

ITS Cipolletti
2 Prof. Daniela
2
 Reading comprehension
5a) Read the following information about the Microprocessor. Underline all the words which are
transparent (cognates).

Microprocessor by Vangie Beal

A microprocessor is a silicon chip that contains a CPU. In the world of personal computers, the terms
microprocessor and CPU are used interchangeably. At the heart of all personal computers and most
workstations sits a microprocessor. Microprocessors also control the logic of almost all digital
devices, from clock radios to fuel-injection systems for automobiles.

Three basic characteristics differentiate microprocessors:

Instruction set: The set of instructions that the microprocessor can execute.
bandwidth : The number of bits processed in a single instruction.
clock speed : Given in megahertz (MHz), the clock speed determines how many
instructions per second the processor can execute.
In both cases, the higher the value, the more powerful the CPU. For instance, a 32-
bit microprocessor that runs at 50MHz is more powerful than a 16-bit microprocessor that runs at
25MHz.

In addition to bandwidth and clock speed, microprocessors are classified as RISC (reduced
instruction set computer) or CISC (complex instruction set computer).

5b) Read the text again. Identify 6 (six) cognates and write their Spanish equivalents.
Cognate Spanish equivalent Cognate Spanish equivalent
INSTRUCTIONS INSTRUCIONES CLASSIFIED CLASIFICAN
BASIC BASICA CHIP CHIP
CHARACTERISTCS CARACTERISTICAS SYSTEMS SISTEMAS

5c) In line 1: What is the meaning of the word “silicon”? The Meaning of the word silicon chip that contains
a CPU
Is it a transparent word or a false friend? It is a False Friend

5d) In line 1: What is the meaning of the word “instance”? The

meaning of the word Instancia
Is it a transparent word or a false cognate? It is a transparent

ITS Cipolletti
3 Prof. Daniela
3
 Word Categories

English has eight major word classes: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, determiners,
auxiliaries, prepositions and conjunctions. They are divided into: content words and function words.

Content words contain information. They include:

Nouns: a noun refers to a person (man, girl, friend, María, José), a thing (computer, mouse,
software) and an idea, quality or state (Capitalism, courage, happiness)
Verbs: a verb is a word that describes an action (walk, talk, run, etc) or state (want, seem, is,
etc). Adjectives: an adjective is a word that describes a noun. It tells you something about the
noun.
✔ Adjectives typically come before a noun. For example: a difficult exercise, an
integrated circuit, computer software (in this case, computer is a noun modifying
software. It functions like an adjective)
✔ Adjectives in English have no plural form. The same form of the adjective is used
in singular and plural nouns. For example: A different idea
Some different ideas
INCORRECT: some differents ideas
Adverbs: an adverb gives more information about the verb. An adverb tells how, where, when
and why, for example. Depending on the context, the adverb can come before or after the verb
or at the beginning or end of a sentence. They generally end in –ly.
For example: The students study English enthusiastically. (enthusiastically describe how
the students study)

Exercise 1: Read the text below. Circle or highlight nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

What Does Software Mean?

Software, in its most general sense, is a set of instructions or programs instructing a computer to do
specific tasks.

Software is a generic term used to describe computer programs that run on PCs, mobile phones,
tablets, or other smart devices.

Software is often used to describe all the functional aspects of a computer that do not refer to its
physical components (hardware). Scripts, applications, programs and a set of instructions are all
terms often used to describe software.

Everything that “runs” on a computer, from an operating system, to a diagnostic tool, video game, or app
can be defined as software.

Extract taken from: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4356/software

4
ITS Cipolletti
4 Prof. Daniela
 Exercise 2: Sort out the words in exercise 1 into the right category.

NOUNS VERBS ADJECTIVES ADVERBS

software, sense, set, is, instructing, run, refer, generic, specific, most, often
instructions, programs, describe, run, can be functional, physical,
computer, tasks, term, defined smart, diagnostic
aspect, components,
hardware, scripts,
applications, terms,
operating system, tool,
video game, app

Function words help connect important information. They include:

Pronouns replace nouns or a noun phrase which is the pronoun’s antecedent. A pronoun can act
as a subject, direct object, indirect object, object of the preposition, and more and takes the
place of any person, place, animal or thing.
There are different types of pronouns:
- Personal pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they, me, him, her, us, them
- Indefinite pronouns: everybody, somebody, anybody, nobody, everything, something,
anything, etc.
- Demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, those
- Reflexive pronouns: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, yourselves, ourselves, themselves
- Possessive pronouns: mine, yours, his, hers, ours,

theirs Pronoun Rules

There are a few important rules for using pronouns.

1. Subject pronouns may be used to begin sentences. For example: We are students.
2. Indefinite pronouns don’t have antecedents. They are capable of standing on their own. For
example: No one likes the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard.

5
ITS Cipolletti
5 Prof. Daniela
 3. Object pronouns are used as direct objects, indirect objects and objects of prepositions.
These include: you, me, him, her, us, them, and it. For example: David is talking to her
about the mistake.
4. Possessive pronouns show ownership. They do not need apostrophes. For example: The
red book is mine.
Determiners: they include articles, demonstrative adjectives, possessive adjectives, quantifiers
and distributives. They always come before a noun.

● Articles: they indicate specific or non-specific nouns. Articles are classified into definite
and indefinite.
Indefinite articles are a and an.
A is used before a word beginning with a consonant-type sound. For example: A computer – a
mouse – a university
An is used before a word beginning with a vowel-type sound. For example: An internet
connection – an MA – an idea

Using indefinite articles

1. A common noun in the singular form always requires an indefinite article before it, but not
plural nouns. E.g. He is a software developer / They are software developers.
2. Proper nouns don’t take indefinite articles.
3. Sometimes indefinite articles are used to refer to number “one”. E.g. The computer cost
a hundred eighty pesos.
4. Indefinite articles often precede an adjective + noun (NP) in the singular form. E.g. a
fast computer / a slow internet connection

Definite article: The

We use the in front of a noun when:

1. There’s only one of its category. For example: The Pope, the moon, the president
of Argentina.
2. The noun was mentioned before. For example: I live in a small house. The house has got
four rooms.
3. The noun refers to a whole group or class. For example: The heart pumps blood around
the body. (All hearts pump blood around the body)
The dog is a loyal friend. (All dogs are loyal to humans)
4. Names of countries include the words: kingdom, states or republic. For example: The
United Kingdom, the United States, the Czech Republic.
5. Countries have plural nouns as a name. For example: The Netherlands, the Philippines.

ITS Cipolletti
6 Prof. Daniela
6
 6. Talking about geographical places, such as mountain ranges, groups of islands, rivers,
seas, oceans and canals. For example: The Himalayas, the Canaries, the Atlantic (Ocean),
the Amazon, the Panama Canal.
7. Referring to organisations. For example: The United Nations, the OTAN.
8. Mentioning the names of hotels, pubs and restaurants. For example: The Ritz Hotel,
the Nonnina Restaurant
9. Referring to families. For example: The Simpsons, the Jacksons.
10. Talking about buildings, newspapers or works of art. For example: The Taj Mahal, the
Times, the Mona Lisa.

The must not precede:

Names of continents: Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, South America, North America, Antarctica.

Names of countries: Australia, Bolivia, England, France, Spain, etc.

Names of states, cities, or towns: Los Angeles, Alaska, Sydney, London

Names of streets: George Street, Albion Street, New town Street

Names of singular lakes and bays: Lake Carey, Lake Eyre, Lake Hillier, Shark Bay

Names of single mountains: Mount Everest, Mount Solitary, Mount Bindo, Mount Fuji, etc.

Names of single islands: Easter Island, Bare Island, Bird Island, Fatima Island

Names of languages: Spanish, Russian, English (When ‘the’ precedes these nouns, they refer to
the population of those languages)

Names of sports: cricket, football, basketball, volleyball

Names of discipline/subject of studies: biology, history, computer science, mathematics

● Demonstrative adjectives: this / that / these / those +

noun Demonstrative adjectives modify nouns.
They are always followed by a noun.
For example: That bag is mine.
These exercises are easy.

● Possessive adjectives: my, your, his, her, its, our,

their A possessive adjective is always followed by a
noun. Possessive adjectives indicate possession.
For example: My laptop is broken.

ITS Cipolletti
7 Prof. Daniela
7
 Will Smith is a good actor, but I don’t like his wife.

● Quantifiers: they express the quantity of an object. Most quantifiers are followed by a noun.
Some of them are some / any, much, many, a lot, a few, several, enough.
For example: I need some water to wash my car.
Many students don’t like English.

● Distributives: Each, every, either and neither are distributive

adjectives. These are normally used with singular nouns.
They are followed by a noun.
Each:
Each is used when we are talking about the members of a group as individuals.
Each boy was given a watch.
Each of the boys was given a watch.
Each and every
Each is preferred when we are thinking of people or things separately, one at a time.
Every is similar to all. Every is preferred when we are thinking of people or things together.
Each patient went to see the doctor. (In
turn) He gave every patient the same
medicine.
Either and Neither
Either and neither are used to talk about distribution between two things.
Either is used in affirmative clauses. Neither is used in negative clauses.
Which shirt do you want? Either shirt will
do. I will take either shirt, they are both
good.
Neither answer is correct.
Neither student came to
class.

Auxiliaries: auxiliary verbs are used for identifying the time or tense in a sentence (present,
past or future). They are followed by main verbs.
Auxiliary verbs include is, am, was, were, has, have, do, did.
For example:
I am walking in the park at this moment. (Present)

I was sleeping when the telephone rang. (Past)

I have not seen him before. (Past)

We are meeting tomorrow at 5 p.m.
(Future)
8ITS Prof.
Cipolletti
Daniela
8
 Modal verbs are also auxiliary verbs which express future, ability, possibility, advice
and obligation, for instance.
Some of them are can, could, will, should, may, might, must.
For example: I can speak and write in English.
It will rain tomorrow.
You mustn’t drive a car when you drink
alcohol. If you feel ill, you should visit a
doctor.

Prepositions: they show a relationship in space or time or a logical relationship between two
or more people, places or things. Prepositions are most commonly followed by a noun phrase
or pronoun.
There are over 100 prepositions in English. The most common ones are:
about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, at, before, behind, below,
beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside,
into, like, near, of, off, on, onto, opposite, out, outside, over, past, round, since, than,
through, to, towards, under, underneath, unlike, until, up, upon, via, with, within, without.
For example: It was the worst storm since the 1980s.
Give that to me.

Conjunctions: A conjunction is a word used to connect other words, phrases and

clauses together. Common conjunctions: and, but, or, because, so.
▪ And: also, in addition to. And is used when the statements are similar.

He’s 10 and she’s 12.

My mom and dad are teachers.
Tim usually practices the piano and plays football at weekend.
▪ But: however, despite this. But is used to connect two opposite ideas.
I love ice cream, but he loves apples.
It’s sunny and hot, but I like it.
She’s 40 years old, but she looks much younger than her real age.
▪ Or is used to express choices.
Do you like playing football or badminton?
Would you like tea or juice?
Who’s taller? Michael or Tom?

ITS Cipolletti
9 Prof. Daniela
9
 ▪ So is used to link between cause/ reason and results
He’s hungry so he gets some food.
The weather isn’t very nice so we don’t go camping.
He lost the key so he couldn’t get into his room.
▪ Because is used to give reasons.
She doesn’t go to school because she’s sick.
Because it rains, I wear a raincoat.
Kate was happy because she won the competition.

Exercise 3: Read the text below. Identify function words (pronouns, determiners, auxiliaries,
prepositions and conjunctions).
Computer architecture deals with the design of computers, data storage devices, and networking
components that store and run programs, transmit data, and drive interactions between computers,
across networks, and with users. Computer architects use parallelism and various strategies for
memory organization to design computing systems with very high performance. Computer
architecture requires strong communication between computer scientists and computer engineers,
since they both focus fundamentally on hardware design.

At its most fundamental level, a computer consists of a control unit, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU),
a memory unit, and input/output (I/O) controllers. The ALU performs simple addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, and logic operations, such as OR and AND. The memory stores the
program’s instructions and data. The control unit fetches data and instructions from memory and
uses operations of the ALU to carry out those instructions using that data. (The control unit and
ALU together are referred to as the central processing unit [CPU].) When an input or output
instruction is encountered, the control unit transfers the data between the memory and the
designated I/O controller. The operational speed of the CPU primarily determines the speed of the
computer as a whole. All of these components—the control unit, the ALU, the memory, and the I/O
controllers—are realized with transistor circuits.

Computers also have another level of memory called a cache, a small, extremely fast (compared
with the main memory, or random access memory [RAM]) unit that can be used to store
information that is urgently or frequently needed. Current research includes cache design and
algorithms that can predict what data is likely to be needed next and preload it into the cache for
improved performance.

https://www.britannica.com/science/computer-science/Architecture-and-organization

ITS Cipolletti
1 Prof. Daniela
10