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Beautiful English

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Helsinki, Finland

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Originally posted by mochiron
i have heard a bit of Finglish but forgot it now. I lived in Moscow for many years. Popped over to Helsinki a lot. Only Know Kiitos..But that word gets me quite far... same as Pazhalsta in Russian. Plus Finland has good beer, great women. and beautiful countryside. Suomi RULES
You knew that! 🙂

Seitse
Doug Stanhope

That's Why I Drink

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Originally posted by mikelom
You could say the same about the Beatles.... how low is this going?
low?

catfoodtim

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Seitse
Doug Stanhope

That's Why I Drink

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The post that was quoted here has been removed
We must wait some hundred years to know if you are right, because
at this point, for example, Latin is much more plural than English,
since it has much more ramifications.

z

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I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde
Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the
olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit
pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a
porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by
istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

catfoodtim

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S

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I've always been a supporter of language evolving, to meet the needs of its users and indeed of the ability to manipulate the rules of language, to meet other aesthetic or pragmatic ends. Language has always changed over time, it absolutely has to, since it reflects the cultural, socio-political and technological trends of its users. New slang, new inventions, new procedures, laws, art and general ways of life all call for changes and additions to a language.

But here's where I get a bit annoyed. People like Tolkein advocated the use of an evolving language, he had a simply stunning passion and ability for English and his writing reflects that. Irrespective of the story lines I think the Lord of the Rings is one of the most beautifully crafted pieces of English in our literary history. He was for change and introduction, but he had a massive knowledge of English from which to call for this. I have a much lesser well to draw from, but I constantly try to improve my knowledge of the grammatical rules, vocabulary and stylistic approaches. In doing so I hope to have enough of a 'lingual arsenal' (which I think might be the absolute opposite to 'cellar door' 🙂) to confidently bend and sometimes even break those rules, and to twist that vocabulary and perhaps innovate my own style. Those people that lack a decent knowledge of structural English, or worse are too lazy to use it and yet cry out about the beauty, adaptability and flexibility of it when they are corrected, are appealing to something they don't really have. Language is all about communication, but there's a big difference in getting your point across like a drooling chimpanzee, or getting your point across as a clear and eloquent master of your language.

I think we should all aim to be more eloquent masters, than drooling chimpanzees. If we choose to bend the rules, lets at least say we can gainfully use them first, so when a GRAMMAR NAZI attacks your use of English, just think for a moment; is it a good thing for you to take note and improve your lingual skills, or would you prefer to continue being less adept at your language than you could be?

m
Ajarn

Wat?

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Originally posted by Starrman
I've always been a supporter of language evolving, to meet the needs of its users and indeed of the ability to manipulate the rules of language, to meet other aesthetic or pragmatic ends. Language has always changed over time, it absolutely has to, since it reflects the cultural, socio-political and technological trends of its users. New slang, new invent ...[text shortened]... ls, or would you prefer to continue being less adept at your language than you could be?
well 前述 ! 😉

IM
Primal Primate

holiest of holies

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Originally posted by Seitse
The empire shall fall, yet it shall live in its linguistic heritage
throughout the centuries of existence of its conquered.
well, if the empire falls, do us a favour and preserve English, okay, not some version of Manglish.😉

EDIT: and think of us when you're struggling with those Mandarin typewriters and computer keyboards.

IM
Primal Primate

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Originally posted by Starrman
I've always been a supporter of language evolving, to meet the needs of its users and indeed of the ability to manipulate the rules of language, to meet other aesthetic or pragmatic ends. Language has always changed over time, it absolutely has to, since it reflects the cultural, socio-political and technological trends of its users. New slang, new invent ...[text shortened]... ls, or would you prefer to continue being less adept at your language than you could be?
nice. reminds me of something Dali is supposed to have said about art: that the aspiring artist should first learn to be an excellent draughtsman - i.e. learn the rules and become proficient, then break them.

s

England

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english as we know it is made up from latin, french, spanish and roman, just we could not get any right so said the words simply, thats why it caught on tho america had a big influence.

IM
Primal Primate

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Originally posted by tomtom232
Fixed.
thanks, you destroyed the irony.😛

m
Ajarn

Wat?

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Originally posted by stoker
english as we know it is made up from latin, french, spanish and roman, just we could not get any right so said the words simply, thats why it caught on tho america had a big influence.
Erm, can you give me a Roman word please? 😛

IM
Primal Primate

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Originally posted by stoker
english as we know it is made up from latin, french, spanish and roman, just we could not get any right so said the words simply, thats why it caught on tho america had a big influence.
wrong. English is basically a Germanic language descended from those brought to England by the Angles and the Saxons (Anglo-Saxons, Angle-ish, get it?), and other tribes. it was heavily influenced by Norman French after the invasion in 1066 A.D., and by the languages of learning - Greek and Latin. it has also imported words from around the far-flung former British empire.

m
Ajarn

Wat?

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Originally posted by Iron Monkey
wrong. English is basically a Germanic language descended from those brought to England by the Angles and the Saxons (Anglo-Saxons, Angle-ish, get it?), and other tribes. it was heavily influenced by Norman French after the invasion in 1066 A.D., and by the languages of learning - Greek and Latin. it has also imported words from around the far-flung former British empire.
My gosh, you are so serious. Sorry, God! 😉

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