Language Problems

PurpleBerry

It's little wonder people find it so hard to learn English. What an odd language. Think about it...

Awesome and Awful are opposites
As are Priceless and Worthless
Daughter and Laughter don't rhyme
Laughter instead rhymes with Dafter
But daughter and slaughter do rhyme
The plural of Woman is Women but you change the sound of the start of the word, even though it's the end of the word that's changed.
The start of the word Cleanliness isn't pronounced like the seperate word Clean
People can get away with spelling Rebecca "Rebekah"
Sam, Pat, Chris and Jamie can be girls or guys names

And that's just off the top of my head!
Let's all learn Esperanto instead.

Sherifu

Nein.

boogle

Indeed

Smart Bug

Nyet.

phenomenon

Agreed. I'm actually glad that the Brits forced us to learn English. I'd hate to learn such an awkward language at school like most other countries.

I think the reason why english is so complicated is because its a mixture of many different toungues eg Germanic languages, Latin, Celtic & Viking languages etc

javaboy

Actually awesome and awful can mean the same thing. i.e. full of awe.

Awful is very rarely used with that meaning nowadays though.

briantwin

Fail........

Lets talk about Jade Goody.

Karoma

"Awesome and Awful are opposites" - Blame the Americans. Damn them.

Kintarō Hattori

OOhhh every language has its ups and downs. I can't say I'm familiar with Esperanto but by god polish is horribly hard!

Aurora Borealis

There are exceptions to the rule in most languages. Languages evolve over centuries with many historical, geographical and political influences to name just a few and unless standardised completely such anomalies will always exist. Vive la difference!

Turd Ferguson

I can haz english language nao?

kthnkbai

elmolesto

Non

Curlypinkie

English is a really easy language. Try learning Irish....
Or, hold on, I think Mandarin maybe?:cool:

Mr WibbleWobble

I speak a lot to Korean people so you have to be careful and keep it simple. Stuff like I am heading over there soon and they start seeing bouncing heads.

Language, a verbal sexual sandwhich. It can go so wrong

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

All that and it seems to be the concept of pronouncing the plural or the "th" sound that stumps people
I think english syntax is probably quite different to most continental languages as well, my german friend used to constantly use the doobie tense as the continuous, could just have been a mistake but by and large her english was excellent so maybe it's just an english oddity?

JerryHandbag

Who ever invented the most contradictory phrase in the english language....."The alarm went off"....?

Surely it should be "The alarm went ON"
Cos if it went off then you wouldnt hear it...if you get my drift.....
thats bugged me for years

xOxSinéadxOx

^ never noticed that, that's weird

nyarlothothep

extraordinary is another one? Like extra ordinary yet it means that which is not ordinary.

I think "extra" is greek for "outside" as in extraterristrial (ET) extraordinary = "outside ordinary" or not ordinary.

Anyway it's oddities like these that make English what it is!

Neamhshuntasach

English is a bastard language and should be done away with. Gaeilge ftmfwbiltmsu

Kintarō Hattori

Neamhshuntasach wrote: »

English is a bastard language and should be done away with. Gaeilge ftmfwbiltmsu

Right................... I don't see that happening anytime soon............ thankfully.

Jigsaw

English is a global language. I would like to learn Irish, I know a bit. But my first attention would be brushing up on languages I know already like French and German, because by doing so I gain the ability to speak with millions of other people in Europe. Irish is good, should be cherished and encouraged but it is not of equal practical use.

Adam

We must polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The farm was used to produce produce.
The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
The soldier decided to desert in the desert.
This was a good time to present the present.
A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
I did not object to the object.
The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
The bandage was wound around the wound.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
They were too close to the door to close it.
The buck does funny things when the does are present.
They sent a sewer down to stitch the tear in the sewer line.
To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
After a number of injections my jaw got number.
Upon seeing the tear in my clothes I shed a tear.
I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
I read it once and will read it agen
I learned much from this learned treatise.
I was content to note the content of the message.
The Blessed Virgin blessed her. Blessed her richly.
It's a bit wicked to over-trim a short wicked candle.
If he will absent himself we mark him absent.
I incline toward bypassing the incline.

set

The most overused word in the English language!

Turd Ferguson

I love the English language. You can have so much fun with it. I've already wrote a song called "Is you is what you is, or is you is what you aint?". Its garbage...

PurpleBerry

Many, many gracious thanks to OMG ROFLcakes!