The questions only game - Page 8

Shanazel · 12-05-2007, 03:31 PM

Do you know I have been speaking English for over 50 years and I still couldn't understand what the heck people were saying when I went to Ireland? Do you know I can't always tell what people from New England are saying? Haven't you heard that all English-speaking people are separated by a common language? AND! do you know I used to teach English as a Second Language, and that is it very difficult to explain why there is a difference between "the right to bear arms" (as in the bill of rights, referring to firearms), the right to bare arms (no sleeves) and the right to bear arms (as in having arms as hairy as a bear that roars in the forest)?

Doncha just love English?

Moon · 12-05-2007, 03:45 PM

Is it ok if I love English exept for its spelling?

Don't you think Irish people sound very cute, though?

Brea · 12-05-2007, 04:37 PM

Don't you think Scottish accents are much cuter? Moon, did you know I make it a special practice of learning and pronouncing other languages? Even to make jokes with? Quieres queso de perro? (Do you want dog cheese?) Doesn't everyone want to trade with adiemus?

-Brea Morgiane

karena · 12-05-2007, 05:38 PM

Have you ever tried to explain the difference between mints and mince which sound the same, but why then mincemeat doesn't have any meat in, whilst mince usually is meat? Do you wish the world could maybe pick a more sensible language to be so widely spoken?
Moon - did you think few was like sew, or sew was like few?

Shanazel · 12-05-2007, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon

Is it ok if I love English exept for its spelling?

Don't you think Irish people sound very cute, though?

Do you know the people who dislike English spelling the most are native English speakers? Did you know Dr. Seuss wrote a story one time called "The Tough Coughs While He Ploughs the Dough?" Do you know none of those words is pronounced like any of the others? And are you familiar with the dog name "Fido?" Would you prefer the alternative English spelling of "Pheighdeaux?" Or would you prefer the name of a dog I know which is pronounced "Foon" and spelled Featherstonehaugh?

Q-Tip · 12-05-2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

Do you know the people who dislike English spelling the most are native English speakers? Did you know Dr. Seuss wrote a story one time called "The Tough Coughs While He Ploughs the Dough?" Do you know none of those words is pronounced like any of the others? And are you familiar with the dog name "Fido?" Would you prefer the alternative English spelling of "Pheighdeaux?" Or would you prefer the name of a dog I know which is pronounced "Foon" and spelled Featherstonehaugh?

I agree.

The word SCHOOL bugs me. It is spelled with S-C-H which sounds like the SH in shoes

If it is to be pronounced with the S-K sound like the word skate it should be spelled SKOOL.

Why is it so confusing?

Moon · 12-06-2007, 12:22 AM

Because your spelling never changed over the years and many words origine from French but have and English-sounding pronunciation?
But I guess a language like Dutch which changes it's spelling rules every 10 years also isn't everything?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanazel

And are you familiar with the dog name "Fido?" Would you prefer the alternative English spelling of "Pheighdeaux?" Or would you prefer the name of a dog I know which is pronounced "Foon" and spelled Featherstonehaugh?

You know that's hilarious don't you?
Speaking of spelling and pronunciation, did you know my favourite Dutch word is "angstschreeuw"? And I would just love to let you all guess how to pronounce that?

Shanazel · 12-06-2007, 06:47 AM

Angst Shrew? Does that mean an emotionally conflicted harpie?

Y'know that Scandanavian letter that looks like an o with a line through it? Is it true it means "English speakers can't pronounce this letter?"

Quote:

Why is it so confusing?

Why? Do you suppose it's because English has borrowed words from every language in the whole world and just never got around to standardizing the spellings? Oh, and let's discuss English punctuation, shall we? Why does "her's" mean "belongs to her" but "it's" means "it is" while "its" means "belongs to it?"

One can hardly accuse English speakers of being language purists, hmm? Anyone like to join the Dree Weird Society? (Or is that a Scots phrase and therefore cheating?) Or park in a garage? (that's French, isn't it?) Or smash something to smithereens? (Irish?) Or attend a fiesta? (Spanish, si?) How about wear a lei at a luau? (Hawaiian?) Is English confusing because- GASP!- it is not all English? Is it getting late and do I need to go to bed before I make myself crazy talking in questons only?

adiemus · 12-06-2007, 07:21 AM

Do you think you've answered your own question Shanazel? And how many bits and pieces of language do you have at your disposal anyway? And why did my mother tell me that because she failed at French I wasn't allowed to learn a foreign language? Do you know how that makes me feel? Do you know I just want to cry now?

Ranya · 12-06-2007, 07:44 AM

Don't you think you ask way to many questions?

12-05-2007, 04:37 PM	#73 (permalink)
Brea V.I.P. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,283	Don't you think Scottish accents are much cuter? Moon, did you know I make it a special practice of learning and pronouncing other languages? Even to make jokes with? Quieres queso de perro? (Do you want dog cheese?) Doesn't everyone want to trade with adiemus? -Brea Morgiane __________________ www.breamorgiane.com

12-06-2007, 07:21 AM	#79 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 977	Do you think you've answered your own question Shanazel? And how many bits and pieces of language do you have at your disposal anyway? And why did my mother tell me that because she failed at French I wasn't allowed to learn a foreign language? Do you know how that makes me feel? Do you know I just want to cry now? __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

12-05-2007, 03:31 PM	#71 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 4,563	Do you know I have been speaking English for over 50 years and I still couldn't understand what the heck people were saying when I went to Ireland? Do you know I can't always tell what people from New England are saying? Haven't you heard that all English-speaking people are separated by a common language? AND! do you know I used to teach English as a Second Language, and that is it very difficult to explain why there is a difference between "the right to bear arms" (as in the bill of rights, referring to firearms), the right to bare arms (no sleeves) and the right to bear arms (as in having arms as hairy as a bear that roars in the forest)? Doncha just love English?

12-05-2007, 03:45 PM	#72 (permalink)
Moon V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 3,621	Is it ok if I love English exept for its spelling? Don't you think Irish people sound very cute, though?

12-05-2007, 05:38 PM	#74 (permalink)
karena Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The North, UK Posts: 810	Have you ever tried to explain the difference between mints and mince which sound the same, but why then mincemeat doesn't have any meat in, whilst mince usually is meat? Do you wish the world could maybe pick a more sensible language to be so widely spoken? Moon - did you think few was like sew, or sew was like few?

12-06-2007, 07:44 AM	#80 (permalink)
Ranya Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cairo, EGYPT Posts: 535	Don't you think you ask way to many questions?