Thread: The English Language

Originally Posted by rick130

Mick, you should try German !
The same word can have several meanings depending on the word preceding it, and sentence genders can be a little random....

Yes, someone is learning German atm....

Or Thai. There are five ways to pronounce each word (high, medium, low, rising, falling) and each pronunciation completely changes the meaning. I would choose the right word, but mispronounce it. Did my head in.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

In Thai (IIRC)...
My my my my (spelling??) translates to 'wet wood won't burn'. I'm not sure if each my is spelt differently, but it is spoken in a different tone.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Or Thai. There are five ways to pronounce each word (high, medium, low, rising, falling) and each pronunciation completely changes the meaning. I would choose the right word, but mispronounce it. Did my head in.

Well, my, my, my.

Apologies to Toxic

English is no doubt complicated, but that's what makes it fun.
English is a fertile language; some say fecund.
And there lies the trouble, have I just sworn at someone?

Try using the 'f' word in polite company...

Originally Posted by rick130

Mick, you should try German !
The same word can have several meanings depending on the word preceding it, and sentence genders can be a little random....

Yes, someone is learning German atm....

Did three years of German. Thought I would be OK. Tried it out on a couple of Germans I knew. All I can say is I'm glad they both spoke English so I could sort it out.

I also learned some Italian. Difference is, Italians laugh when you bugger it up. Germans, not so much.

Then we have the signboard at a new building construction in North Lakes declaring it to be the Sight of the new hospital.

Originally Posted by Milton477

Then we have the signboard at a new building construction in North Lakes declaring it to be the Sight of the new hospital.

Well you can see it from there.

I haven't been bitten by anyones dog since 1965 and it didn't belong to any of you.

Originally Posted by rick130

Mick, you should try German !
The same word can have several meanings depending on the word preceding it, and sentence genders can be a little random....

Yes, someone is learning German atm....

You'll have lots of friends when you learn German.