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General => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Dave on June 12, 2017, 04:39:42 PM

Title: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 12, 2017, 04:39:42 PM
I came across the phrase, common in English, "...he was hanging on like grim death..." in a book.

Why not "...hanging on like joyful life..." ? In my endeavours to evade the Grim Reaper (due to my dicky ticker) "hanging onto life like grim death to avoid a grim death" gets to feel a bit, er silly.

Why do we say, "There, there" to calm a painful emotion but "Now, now" to calm a hot emotion and "Here, here" to celebrate? Whereas the traditional English Bobby was reputed to say, "Now then, now then". Which? Now or then, present or past?  What could "Then, then" signify I wonder?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on June 12, 2017, 06:04:53 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on June 12, 2017, 04:39:42 PM
..."Here, here" to celebrate?..

I always thought it was "Hear, hear".

Gloucester, you are good at starting these things. What about a thread of Spoonerisms?
Until then, thank you from the heart of my bottom.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 12, 2017, 07:52:26 PM
Quote from: hermes2015 on June 12, 2017, 06:04:53 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on June 12, 2017, 04:39:42 PM
..."Here, here" to celebrate?..

I always thought it was "Hear, hear".

Gloucester, you are good at starting these things. What about a thread of Spoonerisms?
Until then, thank you from the heart of my bottom.

You iz right! But, why "Hear, hear" for agreement even.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 12, 2017, 08:12:05 PM
Might as well add Spoonerisms etc in here.

And, for almost any play on the English language, who better to turn to than The Two Ronnies?







Just for starters.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on June 12, 2017, 08:28:57 PM
Funny!

How about adding Sniglets?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 12, 2017, 08:53:10 PM
Quote from: joeactor on June 12, 2017, 08:28:57 PM
Funny!

How about adding Sniglets?


Like it!

Anyone want to offer neoligisms for words they find missing?

Like :
Dishtastrophe - the result of tripping whilst carrying a stack of dishes.
Disglasster - finding one's glass is empty.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on June 12, 2017, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on June 12, 2017, 08:53:10 PM
Quote from: joeactor on June 12, 2017, 08:28:57 PM
Funny!

How about adding Sniglets?


Like it!

Anyone want to offer neoligisms for words they find missing?

Like :
Dishtastrophe - the result of tripping whilst carrying a stack of dishes.
Disglasster - finding one's glass is empty.

How about "Cinemuck" - the gunk found on movie theater floors.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 12, 2017, 09:40:48 PM
Quote from: joeactor on June 12, 2017, 09:23:48 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on June 12, 2017, 08:53:10 PM
Quote from: joeactor on June 12, 2017, 08:28:57 PM
Funny!

How about adding Sniglets?


Like it!

Anyone want to offer neoligisms for words they find missing?

Like :
Dishtastrophe - the result of tripping whilst carrying a stack of dishes.
Disglasster - finding one's glass is empty.

How about "Cinemuck" - the gunk found on movie theater floors.

Yup, used to comprise of fruit juice, ice-cream, popcorn and, in days thankfully long passed, cigarette ash! Though burger grease and bits are in some formulations.

I thought twice about "icescream - the noise made by the victim of a cube down the neck - but I think it is valid now.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on June 13, 2017, 06:10:35 AM
I love the Two Ronnies. When I get home from my trip on Friday I will see what I have.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 15, 2017, 10:26:04 PM


Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 16, 2017, 06:57:25 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on June 15, 2017, 10:26:04 PM


I love  Lucy! Very clever woman as well as very funny.

In its original form, Angli-Saxon, "ough" would have had all the letters pronounced in every case, but old Sam Johnson regularised the A-S, say, "plough" ("plo-ugh") spelling and the Norse "plow" pronounciation. "Tho-ug-ht" mutated to something more like "thort". A-S had no pronounced dipthongs, "beans" would be pronounced "bee-ans", British "Geordies" in the North West still have a similar speech pattern in their accent, "film"  as "fi-lm" sounds more like "fillum".

I have a copy of a poem on the laptop that I will dig out that illustrates the pronounciation idiosyncracies of English quite well.

But, I am sure, other languages have things that makes no real sense if analysed, maybe because the meaning of a word is no longer current but the phrase persists in modern usage..
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on June 16, 2017, 09:55:56 PM
Anyone else notice he's got the same first and last name?

Ricky is short for Ricardo, Yes?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 16, 2017, 10:12:38 PM
Quote from: joeactor on June 16, 2017, 09:55:56 PM
Anyone else notice he's got the same first and last name?

Ricky is short for Ricardo, Yes?

Is Ricky a nickname for Richard (equivalent to Ricardo)?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 16, 2017, 10:16:29 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on June 16, 2017, 06:57:25 AM
I have a copy of a poem on the laptop that I will dig out that illustrates the pronounciation idiosyncracies of English quite well.

There's an old one available online:

Quote
English is a Funny Language

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,

But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.

One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,

Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,

Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.


If the plural of man is always called men,

Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,

And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,

Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?


Then one may be that, and three would be those,

Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,

And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren,

But though we say mother, we never say methren.

Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,

But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!


Let's face it - English is a crazy language.

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;

neither apple nor pine in pineapple.

English muffins weren't invented in England.

We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes,

we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square,

and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.


And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing,

grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend.

If you have a bunch of odds and ends and

get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?


If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English

should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.


In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?

We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.

We have noses that run and feet that smell.

We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.

And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,

while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?


You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language

in which your house can burn up as it burns down,

in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and

in which an alarm goes off by going on.

And in closing, if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: No one on June 16, 2017, 10:30:05 PM
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.trackie.com%2Ftrack-and-field%2Fimg%2Flayout%2Ficon_quote.jpg&hash=c5a9d5ac5c9c0366d813e18a50510fe9aa16bfc2)joeactor:
Anyone else notice he's got the same first and last name?

Ricky is short for Ricardo, Yes


Then Desi Arnaz was the original Richie Rich.

Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 17, 2017, 07:14:26 AM
@ xSP

My poem is very similar but predates the Internet. It was given to me by an Irishman who , like fellow Irishmen G. B. Shaw and Frank Delaney, was fascinated with and/or frustrated by the vagaries and idiosyncracies of English. I love 'em!

I am sure you know of Shaw's "ghoti"? Though, pedantically, I think it should be spelt "ughoti" - but who am I to question Shaw?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 17, 2017, 07:49:22 AM
PS. to my last:
I often wonder if it is because the tradition of oral story telling, that survived into modern times so well in Ireland, is an art that relies on an exquisite command and control of language to be done well, that the Irish often have this language fixation?

I often dreamt of opening, The Story Teller - a pub that featured all varieties of story telling, from legend to adventure to science to the vagaries of personal life. Even starting a local "Story Tellers' Guild".
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 17, 2017, 01:05:54 PM
If you want English homophone examples (I may have posted this before) thisbis not an exhsustive list!

SO YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE TOUGH ENOUGH TO TRY TO LEARN ENGLISH?

This little treatise on the lovely language we share is only for the brave. It was passed on by a linguist, original author unknown. Peruse at your leisure, English lovers.
Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought t was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
22)The bull is mean - do you know what I mean?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 17, 2017, 01:07:30 PM
One of the poems I have:

WORD POEM

I take it you already know
of tough and bough and cough and dough
others may stumble but not you
on hiccough, thorough, laugh and through
well done, and now you wish perhaps
to learn of less familiar traps?

Beware of heard, a dreadful word
that looks like beard and sounds like bird,
and dead, it's said like bed, not bead
for goodness sake don't call it deed.
watch out for meat and great and threat
they rhyme with suite and straight and debt.

A moth is not a moth in mother
nor both in bother, broth in brother,
and here is not a match for there
nor dear and fear for bear and pear.

And then there's dose and rose and lose!
Just look them up, and goose and choose
and cork and work and card and ward
and font and front and word and sword
and do and go and thwart and cart
come, come, I've hardly made a start.
A dreadful language? Man alive
I'd mastered it when I was five.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Ecurb Noselrub on June 17, 2017, 01:46:04 PM
It's a wonder any of us can speak it.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 17, 2017, 02:03:18 PM
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on June 17, 2017, 01:46:04 PM
It's a wonder any of us can speak it.

When Mahatma Gandhi was complimented by an English reporter on the quality and precision of his English and that it was better than his own Gandhi said something like, "I had  to learn English, you merely picked it up as you grew."

It is not those oddities, that we learn by rote, that I find the more interesting but the structure of grammar. I only had the very badics of English grammar drummed jnto me during English lessons, nothing formal. Yet is, somehow, knew that split infinitives, "To boldly go..." rather than, "To go boldly..." had a "rhythm" that grsted dkightly - despite that since we have largely dropped Latin constructions split infs are mostly accepted.

Our brain picks up patterns, "sound shapes", very well and familiarity + repetition reinforces them of course. Sound is very important to memory I understand, second only to smell. In her "Dragon planet" series Anne McCaffrey has children learning routine stuff through "teaching songs".  Even I, a noted non-music fan, find it easier to learn the words of songs (to music) than any written text like a poem.

I put any new telephone numbers to learn to a little tune or jingle, best if part of a tune or an advert I know well.

Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Claireliontamer on June 17, 2017, 04:32:45 PM
Do other languages have these oddities?  I don't know any other language well enough to know.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 17, 2017, 05:21:11 PM
Quote from: Claireliontamer on June 17, 2017, 04:32:45 PM
Do other languages have these oddities?  I don't know any other language well enough to know.

I'd imagine every language and perhaps even different dialects have their sets of idiosyncrasies and quirks, which could vary.

Double negatives and even multiple negatives aren't such a linguistic no-no in Portuguese. Saying "I don't want nothing" (Eu não quero nada) doesn't sound as nonstandard as it does in English.

A couple of interesting words in Portuguese I think are seu (masc.) and sua (fem.), which can mean "your", "yours", and "his/her/its" depending on the context. It can get a little confusing at times.

Brazilians love to truncate words, especially in the South where I'm living, something I don't see happening nearly as often in the English language.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 17, 2017, 05:38:41 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on June 17, 2017, 05:21:11 PM
[...]
Brazilians love to truncate words . . .

Examples?

Something niggling in my mind thinks that habit is possibly creeping into Ametican as well. But that would not be surprising.

There are words in English that became abbreviated a long time ago: "bus" comes from "omnibus" = "for all". "Perambulator" became "pram" and "refridgerator" "fridge", "telephone" "phone"  of course. Probably lots more and caused by laziness, fahion or technical jargon.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 17, 2017, 05:59:19 PM
Quote from: Gloucester on June 17, 2017, 05:38:41 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on June 17, 2017, 05:21:11 PM
[...]
Brazilians love to truncate words . . .

Examples?

Something niggling in my mind thinks that habit is possibly creeping into Ametican as well. But that would not be surprising.

There are words in English that became abbreviated a long time ago: "bus" comes from "omnibus" = "for all". "Perambulator" became "pram" and "refridgerator" "fridge", "telephone" "phone"  of course. Probably lots more and caused by laziness, fahion or technical jargon.

My favourite case, going way back, is the evolution of the honorific Vossa Mercedes, which became Vossa Mercê, vossemecê, vosmecê, vancê  and finally, você, meaning "you", to address people who weren't addressed with tu (less formal in some circles). I go one step further, and like other central-westerners , say . Inutilia truncat! :grin:

As for other examples, ônibus is commonly referred to as bus, telefone as  fone, churrasco (BBQ) as churras, refrigerante (soft drink or soda) as refri, anniversário (birthday) as anniver, and so on. There are countless others. 
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on June 17, 2017, 06:15:15 PM
I tried putting "Vossa Mercedes" into Wiki and got the Portugese entry for "Vocé". One needs to know the origins and vagaries of English to further tranlate Google's English translation into quotidian terms! I love it!

QuoteYou are a personal pronoun of treatment. It refers to the second person in the speech, but because it is a pronoun of treatment, it is used in the third person (like "he" or "she"). Its origin etymological is in deference treatment of expression your mercy , which is successively transformed into Your Grace , your worship , Vance and you. Your mercy ( mercy means grace, grant ) was a treatment given to persons to whom it was not possible to address the pronoun you.

I had forgotten the Mercedes/Mercy link, both quality and name - not a term used for an address in English, even historically, I think.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 18, 2017, 02:40:34 AM
QuoteYou are a personal pronoun of treatment...

I am? :grin: Oh I love Google translator and all the funny gems it provides! :lol:
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Arturo on August 11, 2017, 10:21:07 PM
What is the word when you are kicked out of a society or group of people? (Not excommunicated)
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on August 11, 2017, 11:19:25 PM
Quote from: Arturo on August 11, 2017, 10:21:07 PM
What is the word when you are kicked out of a society or group of people? (Not excommunicated)

Ostracised?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Icarus on August 11, 2017, 11:27:46 PM
Try ostracize, exclude, expel.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Arturo on August 11, 2017, 11:37:30 PM
Ostracize was the one. Thank you to you two!
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on August 11, 2017, 11:37:51 PM
Quote from: Arturo on August 11, 2017, 10:21:07 PM
What is the word when you are kicked out of a society or group of people? (Not excommunicated)

Banished? Shunned?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on August 17, 2017, 07:21:48 PM
Daily Mail, Wednesday, January 17, 1996


Straight talk


ENGLISH having been chosen as its preferred language, the EU is studying ways of improving communications efficiency.

European officials have often pointed out that English spelling is unnecessarily difficult; cough, plough, rough, through, for example.

A phased programme of changes is needed to iron out anomalies. In the first year the committee would suggest using 's' instead of the soft 'c'. Sivil servants in all sities would reseive this news with joy. Then the hard 'c' could be replaced by 'k'.

Not only would this klear up konfusion in the minds of klerikal workers, but typewriters kould be made with one fewer letter.

In the sekond year, it would be announsed that the troublesome 'ph' would henseforth be written 'f', making words like 'fotograf' 20 per cent shorter.

In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reash the stage when more komplikated shanges are possible.

Government would enkourage the removal of double leters which have always been a deterent to akurate speling.

We would al agre that the horibIe mes of silent e's in the languag is disgrasful. We kould drop thes and kontinu to read and writ as though nothing had hapend.

By this tim peopl would be reseptiv to steps sutsh as replasing 'th' by 'z'. and ze funktion of 'w' kould be taken on by 'v' vitsh is, after al, half a 'w'. Shortly after zis ze unesesary 'o' kould dropd from words kontaining 'ou', and in mani suwords ze 'l' kud go az vel. Ozer words viz 'ough' wud end viz a simpl 'o', u, ov, uv ets.

Similar arguments vud of kors be aplid tu ozer kombinashons of leters.

Kontinuing zis proses yer after yer, ve vud eventuli hav a reli sensibl riten styl.

After tventi yers zer vud be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vud find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.


PETER JONES, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan.

Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Icarus on August 18, 2017, 01:05:30 AM
^ An odious idea but the demonstration is a work of art as well as the result of some effort.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on August 18, 2017, 02:41:04 AM
Quote from: Gloucester on August 17, 2017, 07:21:48 PM
Daily Mail, Wednesday, January 17, 1996


Straight talk


ENGLISH having been chosen as its preferred language, the EU is studying ways of improving communications efficiency.

European officials have often pointed out that English spelling is unnecessarily difficult; cough, plough, rough, through, for example.

A phased programme of changes is needed to iron out anomalies. In the first year the committee would suggest using 's' instead of the soft 'c'. Sivil servants in all sities would reseive this news with joy. Then the hard 'c' could be replaced by 'k'.

Not only would this klear up konfusion in the minds of klerikal workers, but typewriters kould be made with one fewer letter.

In the sekond year, it would be announsed that the troublesome 'ph' would henseforth be written 'f', making words like 'fotograf' 20 per cent shorter.

In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reash the stage when more komplikated shanges are possible.

Government would enkourage the removal of double leters which have always been a deterent to akurate speling.

We would al agre that the horibIe mes of silent e's in the languag is disgrasful. We kould drop thes and kontinu to read and writ as though nothing had hapend.

By this tim peopl would be reseptiv to steps sutsh as replasing 'th' by 'z'. and ze funktion of 'w' kould be taken on by 'v' vitsh is, after al, half a 'w'. Shortly after zis ze unesesary 'o' kould dropd from words kontaining 'ou', and in mani suwords ze 'l' kud go az vel. Ozer words viz 'ough' wud end viz a simpl 'o', u, ov, uv ets.

Similar arguments vud of kors be aplid tu ozer kombinashons of leters.

Kontinuing zis proses yer after yer, ve vud eventuli hav a reli sensibl riten styl.

After tventi yers zer vud be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vud find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.


PETER JONES, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan.

Kol! I kan stil red it!
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on August 18, 2017, 07:31:56 AM
Quote from: Icarus on August 18, 2017, 01:05:30 AM
^ An odious idea but the demonstration is a work of art as well as the result of some effort.

That is what I appreciated about it. From experience one has to "proof read" such many times to get it right! Glad I found it on the archive drive whilst looking for something else.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on August 18, 2017, 10:28:07 AM
Reminds me of Yiddish versus German.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 05, 2017, 11:42:36 AM
This does not quite fit this thread but don't want to start a new one.

just got back to reading Bill Bryson's ''The Mother Tounge'', a history of the English language. We think language is changing fast now but it seems this has always been so.

There is a document, a yearly account of life written by monks, called ''The Peterborough Chronicle.'' due to political and other reasons they did not record the events between 1131 and 1154 - a mere 23 yars. but in that short time the English they wrote had changed dramatically - it had lost all its gendres and its Anglo-Saxon grammatical forms to become a much simpler language.

In the 22 years between the death of Geoffrey Chaucer (in 1400) and the birth of William Caxton there was another dramatic change. We went from:

QuoteWhen that Aprille with his shoures sote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote
And bathed everveyne in swich licour
Of which verture engendered is the flour'
(Prologue to ''The Canterbury Tales'')

to:

QuoteI was sittyng in my study [when] to my hand came a lytle booke in frenshe, which late was translated out of latyn by some noble clerke of fraunce...
(An entry in William Caxton's journal.)

As Chaucer goes the first is actually not a good example of his English for this argument, too easy, but Caxton's piece hardly causes any delay in reading and understanding.

The book has oodles (1900C American, of unknown origin) of interesting stuff such as although the ratio of Anglo-Saxon to Norman French words in use today is about 1:100 almost half the words in any sample of English will still be Anglo-Saxon in origin. They are the common words; and, to, but, for, at, in, on, and the ''base'' words like mother, father, sister, brother, king, queen, water,  etc. English was the peasant language (under the Norman's, whom, it seems, did try hard to learn it) that came to conquer the world.

Most prefer a ''friendly welcome'' to a ''cordial reception''. the first is down to earth, the second sounds ''posh'', pretentious.

PS: Bryson later says that no original Chaucerian manuscripts survive, all we see is multiple mangled monkish copies - where the spellings, and even the words and their meanings, vary from version to version.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on September 05, 2017, 02:31:05 PM
I love etymology. I think someone from even as recent as 1930 would find it hard to understand much of our exchanges in this forum. Have you tried to read the Old English in Beowulf?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 05, 2017, 02:56:59 PM
Quote from: hermes2015 on September 05, 2017, 02:31:05 PM
I love etymology. I think someone from even as recent as 1930 would find it hard to understand much of our exchanges in this forum. Have you tried to read the Old English in Beowulf?

Several times! As the years have gone on I have understood more but the grammar still defeats me.

I am constantly hitting the etymology sites. Currently I have over 20 dictionaries (some specialist, one over 100 years old) and other books on words. The change of usage and meaning of words over time is fascinating.

Actually I gave my A-S/English dictionary (plus a bunch of other books) to a local self-employed consulting/peripatetic teacher recently. She is researching the A-S in this area as a specialist subject to offer schools. Despite my interest I rarely use the books now, they will be a good resource for her. Rather they be used than gather dust. She has also taken over all the stuff we put together for the local history project, that has languished in my attic for twenty odd years.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on September 05, 2017, 03:16:37 PM
I can read German and Dutch and love to see connections with English in those languages.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 05, 2017, 03:40:43 PM
Quote from: hermes2015 on September 05, 2017, 03:16:37 PM
I can read German and Dutch and love to see connections with English in those languages.

As in:
"de kat zat op de mat" ?

I can almost read Frisian, but can't find a Frisian/English translator. Most of the Germanic language group share sounds as well as spellings.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on September 05, 2017, 06:51:27 PM
I heard a nice story about James Joyce, who admired Ibsen so much that he learned Norwegian with the sole purpose of telling Ibsen in his own language how much he loved his work. I must say I agree - the Ibsen plays are some of my favourites.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 05, 2017, 07:29:37 PM
One for you, Hermes. I suddenly thought of the word "poppycock" (with immediate jokey thoughts about the genitalia of flowers) and decided to look it up.

Guess who we stole it from!

Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.


(I fear this "word popping" and the instant need for a definition or etymology is a common infliction I suffer...)
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on September 05, 2017, 07:37:03 PM
Quote from: Dave on September 05, 2017, 07:29:37 PM
One for you, Hermes. I suddenly thought of the word "poppycock" (with immediate jokey thoughts about the genitalia of flowers) and decided to look it up.

Guess who we stole it from!

Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.


(I fear this "word popping" and the instant need for a definition or etymology is a common infliction I suffer...)

I am a fellow sufferer! The Dutch kak can be traced back to the Greek kakos. There is also a word I don't hear too much: cack-handed.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 05, 2017, 07:55:00 PM
Quote from: hermes2015 on September 05, 2017, 07:37:03 PM
Quote from: Dave on September 05, 2017, 07:29:37 PM
One for you, Hermes. I suddenly thought of the word "poppycock" (with immediate jokey thoughts about the genitalia of flowers) and decided to look it up.

Guess who we stole it from!

Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.


(I fear this "word popping" and the instant need for a definition or etymology is a common infliction I suffer...)

I am a fellow sufferer! The Dutch kak can be traced back to the Greek kakos. There is also a word I don't hear too much: cack-handed.

Same root for "cac" in cacophony goes to "cack" = "excrement". But the original just means "bad". But, as these things go, yup, "bad" gets turned into "shit" over the centuries!

Hmm, lot of cacophony, modern sense, around in the current music scene to my ears.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on September 07, 2017, 02:41:53 AM
You might enjoy this documentary series, if you haven't watched it already:



(It's hosted by the 'In Our Time' guy :grin:)
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on September 07, 2017, 05:23:34 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on September 07, 2017, 02:41:53 AM
You might enjoy this documentary series, if you haven't watched it already:



(It's hosted by the 'In Our Time' guy :grin:)

Thank you. I will watch it later today when I get back home.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 07, 2017, 06:31:22 AM
Quote from: hermes2015 on September 07, 2017, 05:23:34 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on September 07, 2017, 02:41:53 AM
You might enjoy this documentary series, if you haven't watched it already:



(It's hosted by the 'In Our Time' guy :grin:)

Thank you. I will watch it later today when I get back home.

Ditto, got my pre-procedure checks today.

And thst's Lord Melvyn to you... :D
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on September 07, 2017, 07:12:13 AM
:grin:

There are 8 episodes in all: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_English (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_English)

Quote from: Dave on September 07, 2017, 06:31:22 AM
And thst's Lord Melvyn to you... :D

:snooty:

Maybe I should say 'In your time and culture' guy. ;)
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 07, 2017, 07:18:55 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on September 07, 2017, 07:12:13 AM
:grin:

There are 8 episodes in all: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_English (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventure_of_English)

Quote from: Dave on September 07, 2017, 06:31:22 AM
And thst's Lord Melvyn to you... :D

:snooty:

Maybe I should say 'In your time and culture' guy. ;)

Think I have his book of the same title somewhere.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Ecurb Noselrub on September 08, 2017, 01:49:49 AM
History of the English language.

There were a bunch of heathens with Celtic/Germanic/Scandinavian language. Then in 1066 the Norman French invaded and brought some Latin in there.  Then everyone in the world started coming to England.  Then some people escaped to American/Australia/Canada/New Zealand.  Then other stuff got added.  Then simmer at low heat for 500 years, and you have English.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on September 08, 2017, 05:21:02 AM
Quote from: hermes2015 on September 07, 2017, 05:23:34 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on September 07, 2017, 02:41:53 AM
You might enjoy this documentary series, if you haven't watched it already:



(It's hosted by the 'In Our Time' guy :grin:)

Thank you. I will watch it later today when I get back home.

It turns out that I saw the series a few years ago and thought it was good then. I think I will go through it all again.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on September 08, 2017, 09:20:46 PM
Interesting looking documentary on English... Must find time to watch.

Meanwhile, I found this bit on recreating Shakespeare's English for the Globe:


Really thought the rhyming insights were amazing...
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 08, 2017, 09:57:24 PM
Quote from: joeactor on September 08, 2017, 09:20:46 PM
Interesting looking documentary on English... Must find time to watch.

Meanwhile, I found this bit on recreating Shakespeare's English for the Globe:


Really thought the rhyming insights were amazing...

Thanks a lot for that, Joe. I love Shakespeare and his use of words and that just added a new dimension for me as well!

The prologue to H5 is probably my favourite, especially that of Derek Jacobi in Branagh's version.



Now .I am wondering what it really sounded like! We only had a taste above.

(Note to self, must investigate Ben Jonson further as well, his, "Language best shows a man, speak that I might know you", just reinforces how important our choice or use of words, our vocabulary, our accent etc. can be. Tbe words you use say it all . . .
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on September 08, 2017, 10:01:06 PM
Quote from: Dave on September 08, 2017, 09:57:24 PM
Quote from: joeactor on September 08, 2017, 09:20:46 PM
Interesting looking documentary on English... Must find time to watch.

Meanwhile, I found this bit on recreating Shakespeare's English for the Globe:


Really thought the rhyming insights were amazing...

Thanks a lot for that, Joe. I love Shakespeare and his use of words and that just added a new dimension for me as eell!

(Note to self, must investigate Ben Jonson further as well, his, "Language best shows a man, speak that I might know you", just reinforces how important our choice or use of words, our vocabulary, our accent etc. can be. Tbe words you use say it all . . .

Indeed - I'd love to see a performance in the OP English. Sounds like it'd be a whole 'nother show!
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 10, 2017, 12:42:09 PM
What means a word? Lot's if it is the simple, monosyllabic "set" it seems!

It takes the OED 60, 000 words (the length of a short novel, about 30 pages in the OED's format) to define its 58 uses as a noun, 126 as a verb and 10 as a participal adjective. "Round" takes a mere 15, 000 words,

Still reading Bill Bryson's book . . .
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 15, 2017, 08:30:27 AM
Lifehack (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/20-forgotten-words-that-should-brought-back.html?utm_source=Lifehack&utm_campaign=cde7db690e-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_983e966a3e-cde7db690e-414800041) are seeking to reinstate some old words, though there is at least one, "scurrilous", that I have heard fairly recently.

I am definitely a librocubularist and have probably been guilty of ultracrepidarianism

If we are bringing back old words and meanings can we give "trump" it's 16thC meaning I wonder

Sorry but you are not allowed to view spoiler contents.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 18, 2017, 08:43:49 AM
From Silver's "Help needed" thread we had a mention if "irregardless", perhaps in the context of a Bushism.

If it was George W's invention I can see why he might have made it. We have "relevant" and "irrelevant" so why not "regardless" and "irregardless"? Most adverbs have opposites, why not "regardless"? It is a negative sort of word on its own, adding "ir" makes it doubly negative - but that makes it a positive does it not? If so "irregardless" sort of means "because of" or "due to" . . . :touge-in-cheek:

English, even the English find it confusing  :grin:


Later: just dawned on me that "with regards to" is the opposite of "regardless of" - then I thought of "regards" used as an expression of respect, "My regards to you..." And another web of, contexts, links and meanings opens.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: hermes2015 on September 18, 2017, 12:47:02 PM
Quote from: Dave on September 18, 2017, 08:43:49 AM
From Silver's "Help needed" thread we had a mention if "irregardless", perhaps in the context of a Bushism.

If it was George W's invention I can see why he might have made it. We have "relevant" and "irrelevant" so why not "regardless" and "irregardless"? Most adverbs have opposites, why not "regardless"? It is a negative sort of word on its own, adding "ir" makes it doubly negative - but that makes it a positive does it not? If so "irregardless" sort of means "because of" or "due to" . . . :touge-in-cheek:

English, even the English find it confusing  :grin:


Later: just dawned on me that "with regards to" is the opposite of "regardless of" - then I thought of "regards" used as an expression of respect, "My regards to you..." And another web of, contexts, links and meanings opens.

I always though that it was a contraction of irrespective and regardless, which is a bit of a tautology.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on September 29, 2017, 12:15:27 PM
On my phone in hospital waiting room, reading Bill Bryson's book.

Quote"Shakespeare  used 17 677 [different] words in his writings, of which at least one tenth had never been used. Imagine if every tenth word you wrote were original."

That presumambly excludes  typos. Hmm, might try that . . .
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on October 30, 2017, 03:37:17 PM
Listrning to "Quote Unquote", a comedy quiz prog on quotations, on the BBC

St Paul's Cathedral in London, built after The Grest Fire, was variously described as "amusing,"  "awful" and "artificial and it's architect, Christopher Wren,   was very pleased.

In the 17th century "amusing" meant "amazing", "awful" - "inspiring awe", and "artificial" - "artistic".
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on October 30, 2017, 10:22:10 PM
^Funny how those things work. :grin:
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 03:21:13 PM
learning Spanish... keep running into cool things like the phrase for "wrench" is "llave inglesa" which is literally "English Keys".

I wonder why...
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 04:13:41 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 03:21:13 PM
learning Spanish... keep running into cool things like the phrase for "wrench" is "llave inglesa" which is literally "English Keys".

I wonder why...
I'm not sure but could it be because they were manufactured in England?  :eyebrow:
Llave inglesa.
Una persona inglés es de Inglaterra. I don't think they're using "English" as in the English language, I think it's more like a nationality.  :notsure:
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on November 17, 2017, 04:34:11 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 04:13:41 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 03:21:13 PM
learning Spanish... keep running into cool things like the phrase for "wrench" is "llave inglesa" which is literally "English Keys".

I wonder why...
I'm not sure but could it be because they were manufactured in England?  :eyebrow:
Llave inglesa.
Una persona inglés es de Inglaterra. I don't think they're using "English" as in the English language, I think it's more like a nationality.  :notsure:
I took it meaning the nation, when and where wrenches were invented is probably lost in history - perhaps an Englishman introduced them?

I think "French fries" has nowt to do with France, and who in Brussels grew the first sprout I wonder? Those are not so obscure as "English keys".

Oh, in Britain the tool used to smooth the mortar between laid bricks is a "Frenchman".

[4kposts minus 10 and counting.]
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 08:30:36 PM
Thanks Mags and Dave...

I gotta say, it's fascinating learning a second language in my fifties.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on November 17, 2017, 09:23:23 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 03:21:13 PM
learning Spanish... keep running into cool things like the phrase for "wrench" is "llave inglesa" which is literally "English Keys".

I wonder why...

Yo tambien tengo que aprender español. :grin:

I may have an advantage though, as Portuguese is very similar to Spanish. "Wrench" would be "chave inglesa", which also literally translates to "English keys".   8)
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on November 17, 2017, 09:24:46 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 08:30:36 PM
I gotta say, it's fascinating learning a second language in my fifties.

I'm curious...what were your expectations? :tellmemore:
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:31:12 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 17, 2017, 09:23:23 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 03:21:13 PM
learning Spanish... keep running into cool things like the phrase for "wrench" is "llave inglesa" which is literally "English Keys".

I wonder why...

Yo tambien tengo que aprender español. :grin:

I may have an advantage though, as Portuguese is very similar to Spanish. "Wrench" would be "chave inglesa", which also literally translates to "English keys".   8)

That's cool...  Maybe Spanish will help me with Catalan and Portuguese next. One language at a time, though.

Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 17, 2017, 09:24:46 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 08:30:36 PM
I gotta say, it's fascinating learning a second language in my fifties.

I'm curious...what were your expectations? :tellmemore:

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. I took 2 years of high school Spanish, but didn't do that well. None of it really stuck. I'm at the point where I recognize words and phrases, but not fluent. I'm hoping there's a point where it becomes more effortless.

My wife is also learning, but this is her 4th language. Our perspectives and approaches differ. She's coming at it from a mechanics perspective (verb conjugation and such), and I'm just memorizing at present.

One advantage I've got is pronunciation. Although, it's a disadvantage too. I've already tried a few phrases on native speakers and they assume I'm fluent. Then I have to stop and ask for English!

I'm sure I'll get there with more practice, and maybe a bit of tutoring in the future.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:34:33 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 17, 2017, 09:23:23 PM

Yo tambien tengo que aprender español. :grin:

I may have an advantage though, as Portuguese is very similar to Spanish. "Wrench" would be "chave inglesa", which also literally translates to "English keys".   8)
"chave inglesa" Muy interesante.  :smilenod:
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:46:19 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:31:12 PM
That's cool...  Maybe Spanish will help me with Catalan and Portuguese next. One language at a time, though.
My grandpa spoke Catalan, it sounds like a mixture of French and Spanish. Because I already knew Spanish, I had to take four years of French in high school while I learned English...It was not easy, but it was fun.  :)
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:49:37 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:31:12 PM
...
One advantage I've got is pronunciation. Although, it's a disadvantage too. I've already tried a few phrases on native speakers and they assume I'm fluent. Then I have to stop and ask for English!
...
I remember this stage, I think it's the most difficult and embarrassing.  ;D You know enough, but not enough...You know what I mean, right?  ;D
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:51:16 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:49:37 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:31:12 PM
...
One advantage I've got is pronunciation. Although, it's a disadvantage too. I've already tried a few phrases on native speakers and they assume I'm fluent. Then I have to stop and ask for English!
...
I remember this stage, I think it's the most difficult and embarrassing.  ;D You know enough, but not enough...You know what I mean, right?  ;D

Excactamente! I'm hoping to get past it soon.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:58:45 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:51:16 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:49:37 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:31:12 PM
...
One advantage I've got is pronunciation. Although, it's a disadvantage too. I've already tried a few phrases on native speakers and they assume I'm fluent. Then I have to stop and ask for English!
...
I remember this stage, I think it's the most difficult and embarrassing.  ;D You know enough, but not enough...You know what I mean, right?  ;D

Excactamente! I'm hoping to get past it soon.
This is when you go into high gear. Break that barrier. Laugh with those who laugh at you and with you, that's how you'll learn. People are always happy to correct you.  :snicker:

My man gets a little bit mad when I laugh at his English, and my son get a little bit mad when I laugh at his Spanish. It's part of learning another language.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:00:11 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:49:37 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:31:12 PM
...
One advantage I've got is pronunciation. Although, it's a disadvantage too. I've already tried a few phrases on native speakers and they assume I'm fluent. Then I have to stop and ask for English!
...
I remember this stage, I think it's the most difficult and embarrassing.  ;D You know enough, but not enough...You know what I mean, right?  ;D

Yeah, me too when I went to stay with a friend in France. A good ear for accent can be double edged.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 10:03:13 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:00:11 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:49:37 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:31:12 PM
...
One advantage I've got is pronunciation. Although, it's a disadvantage too. I've already tried a few phrases on native speakers and they assume I'm fluent. Then I have to stop and ask for English!
...
I remember this stage, I think it's the most difficult and embarrassing.  ;D You know enough, but not enough...You know what I mean, right?  ;D

Yeah, me too when I went to stay with a friend in France. A good ear for accent can be double edged.
:lol: The clueless look on our face must be hilarious!
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at spotting and copying accents like a lot of us English I am not good at learning the actual languages.

However I do remember learning folk songs in German, French and Italian before the age of 12. Those songs, in both English and their oroginal languages, stuck in my mind for a long time. I also mske up a tune to help remember telephone numbers - if I forget the actual digits I usually remember the tune, humming it brings the number back.

Some stutterers can get what they want to say out first time if they "sing" it.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 10:10:03 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 10:03:13 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:00:11 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:49:37 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 09:31:12 PM
...
One advantage I've got is pronunciation. Although, it's a disadvantage too. I've already tried a few phrases on native speakers and they assume I'm fluent. Then I have to stop and ask for English!
...
I remember this stage, I think it's the most difficult and embarrassing.  ;D You know enough, but not enough...You know what I mean, right?  ;D

Yeah, me too when I went to stay with a friend in France. A good ear for accent can be double edged.
:lol: The clueless look on our face must be hilarious!

It was! I told my Spanish friends immediately. They cracked up!

I'm practicing with whoever I can. So far I've been corrected by my cleaning lady and several waiters. Each time I learn a bit more ;-)
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 10:11:07 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at dpotting and vipying accents like a lot if us English I am nit good at lesrning the actusl lsnguages.

However I do remember learning folk songs in German, French and Italian before the age of 12. Those songs, in both English and their oroginal languages, stuck in my mind for a long time. I also mske up a tune to help remember telephone numbers - if I forget the actual digits I usually remember the tune, humming it brings the number back.

Some stutterers can get what they want to say out first time if they "sing" it.

Like Mel Tillis...
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:18:49 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 10:11:07 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at dpotting and vipying accents like a lot if us English I am nit good at lesrning the actusl lsnguages.

However I do remember learning folk songs in German, French and Italian before the age of 12. Those songs, in both English and their oroginal languages, stuck in my mind for a long time. I also mske up a tune to help remember telephone numbers - if I forget the actual digits I usually remember the tune, humming it brings the number back.

Some stutterers can get what they want to say out first time if they "sing" it.

Like Mel Tillis...

Not familisr with him, though I see that he is a singer, presumably one with a stutter? IIRC if a stutterer puts on a strong fslse accent that helps as well,  something to do with the brain being too busy working on something else it "forgets" about the stutter?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: joeactor on November 18, 2017, 06:26:49 AM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:18:49 PM
Quote from: joeactor on November 17, 2017, 10:11:07 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at dpotting and vipying accents like a lot if us English I am nit good at lesrning the actusl lsnguages.

However I do remember learning folk songs in German, French and Italian before the age of 12. Those songs, in both English and their oroginal languages, stuck in my mind for a long time. I also mske up a tune to help remember telephone numbers - if I forget the actual digits I usually remember the tune, humming it brings the number back.

Some stutterers can get what they want to say out first time if they "sing" it.

Like Mel Tillis...

Not familisr with him, though I see that he is a singer, presumably one with a stutter? IIRC if a stutterer puts on a strong fslse accent that helps as well,  something to do with the brain being too busy working on something else it "forgets" about the stutter?

He was a famous country singer with a pronounced stutter when he spoke. Lots of videos on him out there...
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 12:48:53 PM


Seems like speech production and singing recruit different areas of the brain (participation of the left and right hemispheres respectively, in most people), therefore it's easier for a stammerer to speak without stuttering when they sing.

About two weeks ago I went to a Saturday class on neurodevelopment and the lecturer was talking about epilepsy, with a stutter that made what he was trying to say difficult to follow. I felt so bad for the person.   
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 12:57:19 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at spotting and copying accents like a lot of us English I am not good at learning the actual languages.

IMO, much of it has to do with the fact that a lot of native English-speakers feel it simply isn't necessary to learn another language. Also, one thing I've noticed in many of my mother's students (especially among older people) is the almost pervasive belief that many have that after a certain age they won't reach fluency in a second language. Even with that mindset, they learn English with other motives such as keeping their minds active and so on.   
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 12:59:19 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 17, 2017, 09:34:33 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 17, 2017, 09:23:23 PM

Yo tambien tengo que aprender español. :grin:

I may have an advantage though, as Portuguese is very similar to Spanish. "Wrench" would be "chave inglesa", which also literally translates to "English keys".   8)
"chave inglesa" Muy interesante.  :smilenod:

Sorry, correction there: it means English key. :grin:

So it's not mucho interesante...OK... :P
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on November 18, 2017, 01:24:53 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 12:57:19 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at spotting and copying accents like a lot of us English I am not good at learning the actual languages.

IMO, much of it has to do with the fact that a lot of native English-speakers feel it simply isn't necessary to learn another language. Also, one thing I've noticed in many of my mother's students (especially among older people) is the almost pervasive belief that many have that after a certain age they won't reach fluency in a second language. Even with that mindset, they learn English with other motives such as keeping their minds active and so on.   

Well, it used to be said (by fat men with droopy moustachios, wearing baggy shorts, sandals with socks and solar topees) that if an Englishman shouts loud enough everyone understands what he says.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 01:34:04 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 18, 2017, 01:24:53 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 12:57:19 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at spotting and copying accents like a lot of us English I am not good at learning the actual languages.

IMO, much of it has to do with the fact that a lot of native English-speakers feel it simply isn't necessary to learn another language. Also, one thing I've noticed in many of my mother's students (especially among older people) is the almost pervasive belief that many have that after a certain age they won't reach fluency in a second language. Even with that mindset, they learn English with other motives such as keeping their minds active and so on.   

Well, it used to be said (by fat men with droopy moustachios, wearing baggy shorts, sandals with socks and solar topees) that if an Englishman shouts loud enough everyone understands what he says.

So that's why some speak obnoxiously loud when talking to non-native speakers? :lol:

DO..YOU...UNDERSTAND?
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on November 18, 2017, 01:43:17 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 01:34:04 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 18, 2017, 01:24:53 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 12:57:19 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at spotting and copying accents like a lot of us English I am not good at learning the actual languages.

IMO, much of it has to do with the fact that a lot of native English-speakers feel it simply isn't necessary to learn another language. Also, one thing I've noticed in many of my mother's students (especially among older people) is the almost pervasive belief that many have that after a certain age they won't reach fluency in a second language. Even with that mindset, they learn English with other motives such as keeping their minds active and so on.   

Well, it used to be said (by fat men with droopy moustachios, wearing baggy shorts, sandals with socks and solar topees) that if an Englishman shouts loud enough everyone understands what he says.

So that's why some speak obnoxiously loud when talking to non-native speakers? :lol:

DO..YOU...UNDERSTAND?

Desculpe, não entendo
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 01:49:11 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 18, 2017, 01:43:17 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 01:34:04 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 18, 2017, 01:24:53 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on November 18, 2017, 12:57:19 PM
Quote from: Dave on November 17, 2017, 10:09:12 PM
Though I am good at spotting and copying accents like a lot of us English I am not good at learning the actual languages.

IMO, much of it has to do with the fact that a lot of native English-speakers feel it simply isn't necessary to learn another language. Also, one thing I've noticed in many of my mother's students (especially among older people) is the almost pervasive belief that many have that after a certain age they won't reach fluency in a second language. Even with that mindset, they learn English with other motives such as keeping their minds active and so on.   

Well, it used to be said (by fat men with droopy moustachios, wearing baggy shorts, sandals with socks and solar topees) that if an Englishman shouts loud enough everyone understands what he says.

So that's why some speak obnoxiously loud when talking to non-native speakers? :lol:

DO..YOU...UNDERSTAND?

Desculpe, não entendo

:P
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Ecurb Noselrub on November 21, 2017, 02:11:31 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on June 16, 2017, 10:12:38 PM
Quote from: joeactor on June 16, 2017, 09:55:56 PM
Anyone else notice he's got the same first and last name?

Ricky is short for Ricardo, Yes?

Is Ricky a nickname for Richard (equivalent to Ricardo)?

Can be: Rick, Rich, Richey, Ricky - but Rick & Ricky can also be short for Frederick. 
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Biggus Dickus on November 21, 2017, 02:39:10 PM
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on November 21, 2017, 02:11:31 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on June 16, 2017, 10:12:38 PM
Quote from: joeactor on June 16, 2017, 09:55:56 PM
Anyone else notice he's got the same first and last name?

Ricky is short for Ricardo, Yes?

Is Ricky a nickname for Richard (equivalent to Ricardo)?

Can be: Rick, Rich, Richey, Ricky - but Rick & Ricky can also be short for Frederick.

I had a friend in school we all called Ricki, but her actual name was Erica...She hated the name Erica. If I remember correctly she was the first born, but her dad had wanted a son who he had planned to name Eric after the grandfather. So he named her Erica.

Ricki was cool.

Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on March 24, 2018, 06:06:51 PM
Found some images to post in this thread. :grin:

(https://scontent.fpoa13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29473181_1760211960704752_589174642324960664_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeHzyOlVe2MEUmkHx9mvMw8RYW7t4b4UsPwFN0SFof1SB1Qy0GTTLn3xUG0XPppdt4waJWZv6x6EEGHi-gwcwdK3aMXvwjzdtHlWCC-tz23D4w&oh=c1988faadc1af472ebcbc3688a624067&oe=5B34A708)

(https://scontent.fpoa13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29540951_1492843064158324_6174015217417060352_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeG5VtP8HRqVUmnM9w0Y4QZYS0AcCP4ZrSeYrb152sFCEJJniGs4pF2O7JbwNuzX9csWIJUCBlyiJXWBQ5KBoKv-tNHbtu9Q8I2uZ9Nns8P1xA&oh=b5d149aa755908ce93c20660187eb53b&oe=5B2A5C60)

(https://scontent.fpoa13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29513216_1763440150381933_983474529459769221_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&_nc_eui2=v1%3AAeH6sPNH4SxCUxJIubRNzjelXkb1GtCmDRSPSZjBKzhezpHhOls2TQ0IHYCYcemMpTYDD13ozDrHzBw7yugaPUxfZN_9k4ghKTW8o2-99GvZQw&oh=eca8ab86ec4ca3f847cd02ed4d45a6e3&oe=5B2F6EB0)
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Dave on March 24, 2018, 06:30:19 PM
Love the hyphen one!

An Arabic chap, on his first visit to my local English pub (friendly place, safe for women to go to alone, landlady had a command of English that would impress a sargent major) asked me the difference between a "proposal" and a "proposition".

I had to think about it and my answer went something like, "In business (he was a trainee banker) they can be close to synominous. If applied to that young lady one the first might get you married, the second might get you a slapped face." I had to expand of course. He treated the ladies with respect.
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on March 25, 2018, 02:20:10 PM
(https://scontent.fpoa13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29572883_1764611613598120_8277832000164288791_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=7008ee32adadefdbfd59c27bdfa87d8c&oe=5B75AE27)

I love how there's a smiley face in the second Japanese alphabet! :lol: 

It seems like those Japanese like to live live in hardcore difficulty mode! Three different alphabets!  :o
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: xSilverPhinx on March 31, 2018, 08:21:15 PM
(https://scontent.fpoa13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29597989_1770380453021236_5805530269537759118_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=9e526844cc9b7276d85ac235e59de1a5&oe=5B2E6E9C)

I thought this was hilarious! :rofl:

:P
Title: Re: Language oddities and funnies
Post by: Magdalena on March 31, 2018, 11:13:26 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on March 31, 2018, 08:21:15 PM
(https://scontent.fpoa13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29597989_1770380453021236_5805530269537759118_n.png?_nc_cat=0&oh=9e526844cc9b7276d85ac235e59de1a5&oe=5B2E6E9C)

I thought this was hilarious! :rofl:

:P
U is funny, xSilverPhinx. :snicker1: