UK Karting - Notice Board (Combined Forum) : Re: One for the deep thinkers!

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Re: One for the deep thinkers!
Posted by 'itpro' on 16 Jan 2009 @ 14:58

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itproJoined: August 2001
Total Posts: 6
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The reasons for this stuff are not hard to understand!.

English is VERY much a mongrel language. We have 'borrowed' words and phrases from other languages. We are also VERY happy to mix in 'foreign' words unlike 'stiff' languages such a French who even have a MINISTRY to try to keep words like 'weekend' and'computer' OUT!

We also have VASTLY more words in general use than in MOST other languages. I think I have read that we (the English) have an average of about 3000 words in regular use (even in papers like the Sun.....) whereas most other languages get bye with about 1000.

So.... assuming that we don't discuss a wider RANGE of subjects than other countries, then, we must have more words for EACH 'item' than do other languages. In that way, we have a chance to select single words which carry the same subtlety of meaning where other languages need to use MORE words to carry the same meaning.

Thirdly, we allow the use of 'apostophe s' which hugely simplifies the 'possession' of something. E.g:-

"Dave's cat"

..... is a MUCH more compact way of saying---

"The cat of Dave"

..... which is the way that a number of languages do it!

********

On a final note.... We do NOT spell 'plough' or 'cough' or 'though' strangely AT ALL! They are spelled EXACTLY as they are pronounced......
......
......
...... however..... they are spelled EXACTLY as they were pronounced when the spelling got 'fixed'! It was effectively 'fixed' when Caxton started printing. At THAT time, 'plough' was pronounced something like 'ploogch'! Once the 'standard' way of spelling was (effectively) 'fixed' by all those books produced by early printed works, the language CONTINUED to change it's pronounciation but we left the spelling STUCK back in earlier centuries!

The Germans (well.... those people who would COME to be called 'Germans') had EXACTLY the same problem but THEY made a formal change in the spelling rules throughout their history, the Kaiser effectively decided to simplify the spelling based on a book written in 1880. They have CONTINUED formally to change their language over the years with OFFICIAL (tee hee!) changes in 1860, 1901, 1996 and even 2006 (when, for example) the old 'doubleS' [which looked like a B] being replaced with 'ss').

Still..... you have to ask yourself how successful it has been...... take something a beautiful as discussions about 'amour' (love). Imagine trying to be seductive with your 'lady friend' in German. When you get to the discussing the beauty of her nipples, you need to use the descriptive word of "Brustwarze"..... with a direct translation of 'Breast Warts'.... that goes down a storm.... I can tell you!

Ian

Message Thread:

One for the deep thinkers! by 'John' (15 Jan 2009 @ 12:51)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'chriskasch' (15 Jan 2009 @ 12:55)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'DavyBoy' (15 Jan 2009 @ 13:25)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'NikG' (15 Jan 2009 @ 14:06)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'NikG' (15 Jan 2009 @ 14:10)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'Hootsman' (15 Jan 2009 @ 18:45)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'John' (15 Jan 2009 @ 23:03)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'TeamKermit' (16 Jan 2009 @ 0:05)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'John' (16 Jan 2009 @ 0:30)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'raceinstructor' (16 Jan 2009 @ 9:54)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'itpro' << You are here!

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'blobslosak' (16 Jan 2009 @ 15:05)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'Hootsman' (16 Jan 2009 @ 16:49)

Re: One for the deep thinkers! by 'itpro' (16 Jan 2009 @ 21:18)

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