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Learning English?
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P. Rockwell
P. Rockwell
Well-Connected

Jun-30-2005 20:23

I'm trying to learn Italian. But since I'm from Potato Land, where we speak with as many grunts as we do nouns. So this semester while everyone has been learning Italian, I have been learning English. (Did anyone else not know that the Perfected Present is really in the past?)
So with all these non-native English speakers around I thought ya'll (3rd person plural-Italian Loro :) might enjoy some of these.

Replies

DaRu
DaRu
Well-Connected

Jul-8-2005 20:20

into English from Tamil.

There are, now, in the world more non-native speakers than native speakers of English. But, surprisingly, in Indonesia, native speakers are the most sought after, for teaching English.

The Dutch are indeed very clever. When they invite you for a “Dutch treat”, don’t be carried away by their kind offer. It is clearly a trap. Wheat they mean is that each person is expected to pay his or her own share of the bill. The only consolation, for which we must be ever grateful to the Dutch, is that they don’t make us pay for their entertainment too!

Euphemisms come in handy for “soft” landings. Price “increases” hide behind “price adjustments”. Governments usually get away with “deficit” budgeting for “over-spending”. For laying off hundreds of workers, companies these days resort to “down-sizing”.

The Jakarta Post editors relish using words like “inking the document”, “kicking off a meeting”, etc. Don’t you feel a little uneasy, reading these phrases?

According to a UNDP report, English is used in almost 80 percent of Internet websites. Those who browse the Internet are called Netizens. I’m afraid that the recent “Internet addiction” by youngsters will be a “world-wide-worry” soon. We should take steps to arrest this trend before the next generation becomes “Nutizens”.

“Pauses” are quite important in spoken English, as the “commas” in written English. This is a story about two neighbor families. One day, the husbands were discussing spending the weekend at a nearby resort. That evening, one of the wives met the neighbor’s husband. She asked him what was the discussion about. He replied that there was a proposal to go on a picnic during the weekend. She then inquired: “Who are all going?” “You my wife I your husband”, said the man, without batting an eyelid. I leave it to you to guess the lady’s reaction.

Surely, we cannot do without English in whichever field we are employed. Well, then, why don’t we all enjoy

DaRu
DaRu
Well-Connected

Jul-8-2005 20:23

the humor in English with all its nuances (nuisances)?

by : D. Chandramouli

Tell us what you think of this article

Sorry this was really really long, but I thought it was interesting and might be enjoyed, since it goes along with what's been shared so far. If a moderator feels it's too much, then you have my permission to delete it all. Love ya'll.

DaRu
DaRu
Well-Connected

This reply has been deleted by a Moderator

DaRu
DaRu
Well-Connected

Jul-8-2005 20:33

Oops!, I clicked the button twice. I need the assistance of a Moderator please! Thank you kindly.

Ms Cevasco
Ms Cevasco
Well-Connected

Jul-9-2005 00:02

Hehe, guess the lady said; No, I don't think so, and walked away leaving the suprised man..=)

Hertz
Hertz

Aug-11-2005 09:11

I hate reading so much English... *yawnz*

ichiban
ichiban
Well-Connected

Aug-11-2005 10:20

Hey DaRu you said "The English Language didn't involve at any one time,but over thousands of years" R U sure?? Is that like when they say that man has INVOLVED to his environment?? Or are we meaning EVOLVED!? Sorry couldn't resist I must be somehow related to Det. SmartAss
I notice that because of the great use of slang english causes numerous learning problems.Sayings that are not universal create unspeakable problems like I am told in England you can suck or take a drag on a "fag" here you might want to call it a smoke or cigarette.

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Aug-11-2005 16:33

Well as I smoke my dutch fag, which is not spiked by a dutch coffee shop of the non-Starbucks variety. As I sit here thinking in Dutch. Very tired. No dictionary at hand.

....I still understood that DaRu meant to say evolved instead of involved. Even though English is my second language.

I doubt you are related to Det. Smart Ass though. You don't look alike. hahah. Plus, as she is good personal friend of mine, when I was staying at her home, she never once corrected my english, or made fun if it. She is too nice and too polite to do so.

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Aug-11-2005 17:34

DaRu, you mentioned that in Bahasa Indonesia they use the word pardigma. I speak a little bit Bahasa indonesia. (Malaysian is almost identical)
I can carry full conversation when A) it is about food, luckely 40% of all conversations, B) it is about a topic of things that were introduced during the Dutch rule.

Paradigma, as this is a dutch word. I am guessing was introduced by the dutch. Many (richer) Indonesian had their schooling in Holland itself, or from Dutch teachers.

DaRu
DaRu
Well-Connected

Aug-11-2005 18:23

LOL Ichaban, I wasn't paying attention or at least didn't catch the mistake. Thankfully, jstkdn taught me how to cut, copy and paste so now I can type, spell check it, then hopefully not have so many errors...LOL. Thanks for bringing it to my attention though. If I could make corrections, believe you me, I'd go back and correct a lot of messages I've posted in the past...LOL. Thanks for the support jstkdn, you're the best!

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