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Sora
Arrr~ Pirates!!
Joined: Sep 16, 2006
Age: 20
Posts: 2613
Location: Europe
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 Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:30 am Post subject: English language is funny |
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You can say:
they're
we're
you're
where're
who're
but not:
there're ?
these're ?
which're ?
Seriously, why? With we're/you're I can understand the argument of 'easier pronunciation by drop of vowel' but with the others... |
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silentchaos
Toucan
Joined: Mar 08, 2008
Posts: 250
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:35 am Post subject: |
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| After rereading that a few times i think i get what you are asking....I have always had trouble with grammar so i may be off but as far as i know it is just arbitrary. Lots of rules in english don't seem to have any real purpose at all, at least not now, perhaps they did in the past. |
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iamnotaparakeet
Centurio Caesareae
Joined: Aug 01, 2007
Age: 22
Posts: 11612
Location: Domus Psittacorum
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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I've never seen where're or who're, but the spellchecker says they're ok.
Also,
It's can mean "it has", "it was", or "it is".
(S)he'll can mean "(s)he will" or "(s)he shall".
Most of the shortening is for ease of phonetic use.
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bheid
Velociraptor
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 19
Posts: 414
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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no, you're funny,
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bheid
Velociraptor
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 19
Posts: 414
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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no, you're funny,
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Sora
Arrr~ Pirates!!
Joined: Sep 16, 2006
Age: 20
Posts: 2613
Location: Europe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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| bheid wrote: | | no, you're funny, |
How come? |
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Irulan
The Borg Queen
Joined: May 18, 2007
Age: 24
Posts: 1869
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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If I were a dictator of the world I would give an order to make my native language compulsory to learn in school in all the world  And you can believe me - English seems a very simplified language if compared with Polish Polish would be even "funnier"
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Last edited by Irulan on Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bheid
Velociraptor
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 19
Posts: 414
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Sora wrote: | | bheid wrote: | | no, you're funny, |
How come? |
because i say so.
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Sora
Arrr~ Pirates!!
Joined: Sep 16, 2006
Age: 20
Posts: 2613
Location: Europe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Irulan wrote: | | If I were a dictator of the world I would give an order to make my native language compulsory to learn in school in all the world And you can believe me - English seems a very simplified language if compared with Polish Polish would be even "funnier" |
A Polish girl I know told me Polish is even more complicated than Russian, though I think it is nicer sounding and they have much better music which probably makes up for the complication. |
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bheid
Velociraptor
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 19
Posts: 414
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Sora wrote: | | Irulan wrote: | | If I were a dictator of the world I would give an order to make my native language compulsory to learn in school in all the world And you can believe me - English seems a very simplified language if compared with Polish Polish would be even "funnier" |
A Polish girl I know told me Polish is even more complicated than Russian, though I think it is nicer sounding and they have much better music which probably makes up for the complication. |
no, you're more complicated than russian.
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Irulan
The Borg Queen
Joined: May 18, 2007
Age: 24
Posts: 1869
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Sora wrote: | | Irulan wrote: | | If I were a dictator of the world I would give an order to make my native language compulsory to learn in school in all the world And you can believe me - English seems a very simplified language if compared with Polish Polish would be even "funnier" |
A Polish girl I know told me Polish is even more complicated than Russian, though I think it is nicer sounding and they have much better music which probably makes up for the complication. |
I never had an occasion to learn Russian - now in our schools this language is being replaced by English and German.
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Sora
Arrr~ Pirates!!
Joined: Sep 16, 2006
Age: 20
Posts: 2613
Location: Europe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Irulan wrote: | | Sora wrote: | | Irulan wrote: | | If I were a dictator of the world I would give an order to make my native language compulsory to learn in school in all the world And you can believe me - English seems a very simplified language if compared with Polish Polish would be even "funnier" |
A Polish girl I know told me Polish is even more complicated than Russian, though I think it is nicer sounding and they have much better music which probably makes up for the complication. |
I never had an occasion to learn Russian - now in our schools this language is being replaced by English and German. |
My school has taught it until this year. Now, the teacher's way too old to continue teaching and there's nobody else other than our headmistress who would be able to take over. Seeing as headmistresses are always busy with whatever, the class will not be available any longer.
Not much of a loss if you ask me. Now only if they found a decent teacher, a non-Russian, non-Serbian, non-Polish, non-Ukrainian student might actually be able to learn something and enjoy the class...
| bheid wrote: | | Sora wrote: | | Irulan wrote: | | If I were a dictator of the world I would give an order to make my native language compulsory to learn in school in all the world And you can believe me - English seems a very simplified language if compared with Polish Polish would be even "funnier" |
A Polish girl I know told me Polish is even more complicated than Russian, though I think it is nicer sounding and they have much better music which probably makes up for the complication. |
no, you're more complicated than russian. |
No doubt, I was always proud of being a complex and sometimes complicated individual. |
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bheid
Velociraptor
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 19
Posts: 414
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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i'm glad we agree.
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Belfast
Vast Ambivalence
Joined: Jul 18, 2005
Age: 35
Posts: 1682
Location: New England
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| Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:27 am Post subject: Re: English language is funny |
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| Sora wrote: | You can say:
they're
we're
you're
where're
who're
but not:
there're ?
these're ?
which're ?
Seriously, why? With we're/you're I can understand the argument of 'easier pronunciation by drop of vowel' but with the others... |
What about difference between "proper" written language vs. "acceptable" spoken language ? Can say all sorts of things that would need to be standardized or made grammatical if written down, but cause no strange looks when said aloud. That's what I notice most-beyond the inherent bizarreness of English.
Glad I learned it as child, bc. I'd never be able to figure it out now, as an adult. My mother came from another culture & learned Spanish first-she said learning English was very hard (counteintuitive, inconsistent), though I never noticed her having any trouble with it-she sounded (to me & to others) like English was as easy for her as Spanish.
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Prof_Pretorius
troubled Soul
Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Age: 50
Posts: 4599
Location: Hiding in the attic of the Arkham Library
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| Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:38 am Post subject: |
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The Yank comedian had an entire routine built around this, complete with blackboard so he could illustrate what he was saying.
Don't remember much, but we say "eat", so the word must be pronounced sweeter (sweater), right?
He went on and on with how english is so inconsistent with the way we pronounce words.
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