They say that if English is not your first language, then it is the hardest language to learn out of any other language. That's because we have so many different meanings for the same word, and so many different words that mean the same thing. It's quite confusing, really, especially if you happen to be a foreigner just learning our language. Take the word "there", for instance. It can mean so many different things depending on the way you spell it: There, they're, their (there once was a girl who wrote a blog, she said, "they're trying to use their strange language to take over the world!"). And the funniest part about that word in particular, is that most of us who actually speak English as our first language don't even know how to use the correct spelling in the correct context. "Huh?", you say? Well that's not the only stupid thing we who speak English do. What about the word "lead"? Do you know that that word can be used and pronounced in two completely different ways, yet spelled the same?
Example: "My dad's mom has a lead foot" or "I like to lead people to strange conclusions".
See what I mean? Or how about words that if you add punctuation in the right spot it completely changes the word? For instance, you can change "its" (meaning "my cat likes turkey, it is its favorite food), by adding an apostrophe in between the T and S, making it "it's" (meaning "it's time for me to stop giving English lessons and get to the point already"), therefore giving it a whole other meaning than "its".
Or "ill" (as in "I am ill"), which can be changed with an apostrophe to "I'll" (meaning "I'll go to the doctor").
Are you keeping up with me, or are you falling asleep yet? Let's move on...
Also, we American's who speak English seem to have forgotten how to spell things as we used to, before we became "American's". I mean, have you not noticed that in Brittan and elsewhere (there's another one: Where, wear, ware) in Europe, they spell certain words differently than we do? Like "color". They spell it "colour" instead. Or "favorite", spelled "favourite" in Europe. Did we not get the memo on how to spell correctly? Because I do believe we American's are the only ones who spell words like that the way we do. I could be wrong, there could be people outside of the United States who spell color the way we do, but most people from Europe that I've ever seen do indeed spell it colour. Or how about how we greet each other?
Anonymous person: "Hey, what's up?"
Me: "Uh...The ceiling above my bed, currently."
Do you understand my point, here? My point being: Why do we say things like, "what's up?", when we clearly mean something other than the literal sense (sense, since, cents, all pronounced the same) of what is directly above us? It does not make any rational sense to me.
So, besides our language being the hardest to learn, I also find it to be the strangest of them all. Especially in the past few years that I have been writing, which has given me plenty of examples of how strange our language really is. Because although we all speak it on a daily basis, the strangeness of it can be hidden until we have to write it all the time. Then we notice, "hey, 'there', 'their', and 'they're' are all spelled differently, yet sound the same when spoken!". And it truly is amazing how many words we use in our daily lives that turn out, aren't even words at all (in the technical sense)!
But, I suppose there is nothing we can do but embrace our strangeness (funny, you can add a "ness" to just about anything and it's still a word) the best we can, by continuing to confuse innocent foreigners just by saying three simple words: Hey, what's up?
Just something to think about, everyone.
Blog ya later, Miss Eccentric.
P.S. Long time no blog, eh? Here's hoping you'll get to see more of me after this here blog. We'll see though, 'cause I don't have all the free time I used to.
Welcome, to all of those insane enough to walk this blog!
As you might have noticed, this here blog is one big archive of the ramblings of an insane author. So insane, in fact, that I wouldn't be surprised if you went mad just reading said blog...Good luck ;)
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I lied. This is not, in fact, a "directory" as the title above might suggest...This is merely a warning of what you might find on this blog. I believe I have already warned you of the insane ramblings archived in this blog, but I must say, if you are not prepared for the tomfooleries that can be found here, you might just want to close this tab, shut your computer down, and walk away slowly in order to keep your OWN sanity in check. Fair warning >;)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The English language: Say what?!?
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strangest language,
the english language,
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You really do listen to me don't you! I loved being your teacher, but the tables have turned a little, you are all grown up and are teaching me some things. You are a great writer and that will take you all the way through life. My Daughter is brilliant and that is the best gift anyone could ever receive, to read your words, to see them on the page......Love.
ReplyDeleteDamn it, you're making me teary-eyed! Thanks, Mum. I love you too, and I can't believe you actually think I taught you something! I have you to thank for teaching me the beginnings of everything I know, and yes, I really do listen to you!
ReplyDeleteLuvs, your daughter the Eccentric one.