Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: FuzzyUK on 29/11/2009 22:56:09
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English spelling has more complicated rules than most other languages.
Why does the word comb have a 'b' in it when that syllable is never pronounced?
If the plural of mouse is mice, then logically the plural of house should be hice, but we say houses instead. Daft, ain't it.
By the way, did you hear about the old woman who lived in a shoe? She soled her house. Or should she have sold her house?
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The estate agent advised the old woman to resole her house before she tried to sell it.
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I hope she ties up the deal...
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_PuZoLkvmBbc%2FSWY_te8AztI%2FAAAAAAAAB98%2Fs3X2OTmScS0%2Fs320%2FOld%2BWoman%2BShoe.gif&hash=1070cf05eba49393d9e12a24f8ad0654)
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If English were spelt fonetikly (phonetically) we mite (might) not have so many oportuneties (opportunities) to make puns.
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The main reason is because English has been arrived at from many other language sources: from Gaelic, Norman French, Saxon English for example, with older languages (e.g. Latin) and newer imports (e.g. Hindi, Gujarati) also contributing separately. Words were adopted and adapted over time.
It is interesting fact that most modern European languages, and older languages such as Latin and Sanskrit, have a common root as Indo-European except for Finnish and Hungarian (which are related) and Basque (which is unique).
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also the dictionary has a part to play
there was a schism when putting them together "should we be phonetic" or "should we use the greek,latin root"
most of the early dictionaries were of cause spelt wrong (they had nothing to check the spelling with) and this has also stayed in the popular culture of language/spelling, so a word that was spelt "wrongly" has just stuck that way
and some of the definitions were just a way the author to put across his views.
Spelling is difficult in english but
Grammer is the killer in most other languages ie French masculine feminine. german has three sexes! thats enough to bamboozle anybody
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time for a quote from bill shakespere a great put down line
"i was looking for a fool, and i found you"
as you like it
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also the dictionary has a part to play
there was a schism when putting them together "should we be phonetic" or "should we use the greek,latin root"
most of the early dictionaries were of cause spelt wrong (they had nothing to check the spelling with) and this has also stayed in the popular culture of language/spelling, so a word that was spelt "wrongly" has just stuck that way
and some of the definitions were just a way the author to put across his views.
Spelling is difficult in english but
Grammer is the killer in most other languages ie French masculine feminine. german has three sexes! thats enough to bamboozle anybody
When I was at school we used to get texts like that as exercises in English lessons. We had to correct the grammar and punctuation.
Incidentally the same three bamboozling genders are present in English; he, she and it.
(BTW, I know English might not be your first language but...)
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Grammer is the killer in most other languages ie French masculine feminine. german has three sexes! thats enough to bamboozle anybody
The only three sexes I'm aware of are men, women and vicars
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the English language does have genders, he, she ect. but Chem the french words have genders, for example, boat has a gender, lock smith has a gender, and the way you pronounce and spell them are different and TOTALY changes the sentance, phrase, or in some cases verse
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Chem i belive i have already told you that i have major difficulty with spelling and yes grammer. a little secret English is my first language, i would love for you to help me, but to help you must correct me. developmental feedback its called i need to see where iv gone wrong, what i should of done, and what i need to look up in the future, not just say what you write is S*** that only leads to despondency, and gives people no will or ambition to improve themselves.
dyslexia is not just about reading or writing
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i think, at this point i should mention the point of communication. it is no the spelling grammer or the choice of words! it is in fact to pass 1 idea across to another person. if the person does not understand, the you find other mediums. why should it matter if a person cannot spelll does not know a ' from a , if the point can be clear enough to pass a massage then it has worked.
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rant over, back to the subject. English is a mungral language the word chess comes from arabic meaning "the king is dead" (just what i have heard somewhere).
if you say brown cow in a Scottish accent in Sweden it meens brown cow there.
In English, if you are like me (a limited vocabulary) you can get your point across.
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In English, if you are like me (a limited vocabulary) you can get your point across.
Interesting, geo driver. Sometimes I can best communicate without language, but with my piano. Not necessarily with an audience, but just to express myself. We're all different.
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thats the whole point. pass the message on. music can stir up so many feelings sometimes it can be alot easer using a media like music or forums. just to get the message clear in your own head.
with the german thing i did'nt know that no future tense. i have a germanic girl working for me i will ask her and keep you posted
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English is quite "promiscuous". It doesn't mind where words originated. French, on the other hand, is rigidly controlled to prevent its "corruption" by promiscuous langages, like English.
I wonder which will die out first?
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Chem i belive i have already told you that i have major difficulty with spelling and yes grammer. a little secret English is my first language, i would love for you to help me, but to help you must correct me. developmental feedback its called i need to see where iv gone wrong, what i should of done, and what i need to look up in the future, not just say what you write is S*** that only leads to despondency, and gives people no will or ambition to improve themselves.
dyslexia is not just about reading or writing
I aplologise for any offense caused.
However I stick by the factual correction that English has three genders just like German.
The difference is that French has linguistic genger whereas the Germanic languages have natural gender (most of the time).
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off the point a bit. i have noticed that in school the subject is not the most important thing, to teach. love for the subject is
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geo driver, that was so beautifully put. Thank you!