Jump to content
Linguaholic

LauraM

Members
  • Posts

    412
  • Joined

  • Last visited

    Never

Everything posted by LauraM

  1. Yes, I agree. For the written word -- in this case essays -- that's an important point. Likewise, the cover letter; it must be impeccable. That's definitely not the time to try to override common perceptions. It's true that people do see "however" as incorrect. Language is constantly changing and it appears that more and more we are moving away from starting sentences with "however" in formal written use even though it is still grammatically correct when used in the proper context.
  2. Thanks! This is a great reference. I have bookmarked it. It's true, we have often had discussions here about the various differences between American and British English. We don't always have the same point of reference as native speakers or non-natives who may be learning one form or another or some combination. Likewise, thanks for pointing this out, Mark. I hadn't thought of it, either. But yes, it's true, in the U.S. we would typically say "Did you eat dinner yet?" It goes to show there's so much we can learn from each other about how the language is used in our respective countries.
  3. I added all of the words to my original post. I agree with you on "lolarious." I hadn't heard of this one either. It seems so unnecessary as we already have plenty of words for laughing and laughter -- chuckling, giggling, etc. On the other hand, I think "nocialising" is very useful. These days we are often in such social settings and people are busy on their phones -- or we ourselves are! -- rather than interacting with others. I think as a new phenomena a new word is justified.
  4. I find it very hard to imagine what life would be like. What comes to mind first is that even our thoughts are driven by language. What would this do to our interior lives? Would we have the same self-awareness and capacity for reflection? Would be be able to organize and plan our lives. And of course what also comes to mind is that even in the most primitive of settings human beings need to interact and to depend upon one another. We would need to communicate in some way. Without language -- whether a formalized spoken language or even gestures and body language -- I don't see how we would survive, literally. I find it a very disconcerting thought, not having language!
  5. I think this is unfortunate. As they point out in the article, with fewer and fewer universities offering foreign language study, it winds up becoming more and more of an elitist pursuit. There will be students who will want these opportunities to study foreign languages and their options will be so limited; perhaps for some it will essentially be impossible as the schools may be too far away and/or too expensive. I think that it can also have a negative effect upon students who are not yet college age; they may not see foreign language study as a realistic pursuit and may lose interest from the outset. I agree with you that more should be done to encourage language study -- foreign language study as well as study and mastery of English. Communication skills are so important in life. Plus for those who may have a more serious interest in writing as a profession, being able to master English and have the opportunity for foreign language study is especially important.
  6. It's perfectly acceptable to start a sentence with "however." What you do need to be mindful of is when to use a comma. Use the comma if "however" means "nevertheless" in the context. Your sentence is a good example of that. You said "However, I think that I can." If you do not use the comma it changes the meaning of "however." It will mean "to whatever extent" or "in whatever manner." For example: "However you go about changing your schedule please remember to let others know." Thus, in this context it means "In whatever manner you go about...."
  7. As you may know, Alice Munro was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature. It was announced just today. She is a Canadian author who is renown for her short stories. Has anyone read any of her works? Do you have any particular favorite short story collections and/ or stories that she's written that you might like to recommend? I'm curious to know as she's an author I've known about for a long time but I'm not all that familiar with her work. I've read a few of her stories over the years that were in anthologies. I also read "The Love of a Good Woman" a long time ago, and enjoyed it very much. I'll be reading some of her work again, too.
  8. I happen to run across this video today. It's an interview with Fiona McPherson, senior editor of the Oxford Dictionaries who talks about some of the new words they might consider for inclusion in the dictionary. It's quite interesting. Here are the words they are considering: Bacne = acne on one's back Appisode = an online episode of a TV program Lolarious = a verb form of LOL Hatewatch = watching something you dislike while chatting with friends who also dislike it. Dosant = a hybrid of a doughnut and a croissant Legsie = a selfie that includes only your legs. Phubbing = Snubbing someone by using your mobile phone. Nocialising = Being in a social setting, but using your mobile phone instead of socializing. Meme = The verb form of "meme" which is currently used as a noun. What do you think? Do you know of some words that you think Oxford Dictionaries should also include? Or do you know of some new words that recently have been included?
  9. I think watching subtitled movies can be very helpful, as part of an immersion process. I always found it fascinating to hear how the language was used in real-life situations, or at least least as "real life" as a movie might be. Even if you can't pick up all of the language and/or they are using unfamiliar dialects, colloquialisms or idioms, it's still useful because it can help you get used to hearing the language spoken. But I agree with others who note that it can't replace the disciplined study of the language. It can be a good supplement. I also think it's gratifying as you progress in language study to be able to understand more and more. I was quite excited as I got more proficient in Spanish to be able to get more absorbed in watching a movie and not have to spend as much time following subtitles and sometimes missing a bit of the action. So that's very motivating, to get to the point where subtitles are not needed as much or, ultimately, not at all.
  10. I think immersion is very good and can be enjoyable, but I would not rely solely on that to the extent that study of grammar and vocabulary suffers. I think it's important to learn the standard version of the language first, especially if it's a language that has a lot of dialects and/or regional differences. I would also focus on learning the proper grammar of the language. This enables you to be able to distinguish between vernacular use -- which can sometimes be grammatically incorrect. Because so much is involved in learning a language, it's worth the extra effort to make sure that you're learning correct usage. That way you have a basis to gauge and understand the more vernacular and colloquial use of the language. I would also avoid going through strictly rules and drills of grammar and word usage and try to learn about the underlying logic of the grammar.
  11. I can never spell "plagiarism" or "plagiarize" or "plagiarist" or any other of the derivatives without looking them up first. In fact, I looked it up just now to make sure I had spelled it correctly! I have trouble with other words, but that one is a sure bet for misspelling if I don't check it first. It's such a strange sequence of vowels and consonants to me. A few others that give me trouble sometimes are "changeable," "allegiance," and "gauge."
  12. Some of your favorites are also favorites of mine. I also like Mark Twain; pretty much everything of his that I have read thus far. I also like David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest," and Harper Lee's classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird." Some of my other favorite authors and favorite books include: Jayne Anne Phillips -- her short story collection, "Black Tickets" Richard Powers -- "Three Farmers on their Way to a Dance" Lorrie Moore -- "Collected Stories" There are many others but these are the ones that come to mind.
  13. I think it's not just a matter of knowing languages but which languages you know. English has long been a dominant language worldwide both for business and foreign relations, as well as for the undeniable impact of pop culture -- especially American pop culture. As others have mentioned, Chinese may become more and more important than it already is for those very same reasons. Other dominant languages would include Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Japanese and Hindu for the sheer number of total speakers in the world as well as the prominence of the countries where these languages are spoken. There are other dominant languages, but those are the ones that come to mind to me right now as examples. As time goes on, I think having proficiency in at least a couple of the major languages in the world may be highly desirable at the very least, and depending upon one's career aspirations and/or one's personal desire to communicate and take part in various dominant cultures and societies.
  14. I agree wholeheartedly. It can be difficult in the beginning as there is much work involved, and initially, you are learning and studying, and you don't yet have enough proficiency to enjoy reading, writing or speaking; it is still work at that stage. But once you get through those early, rudimentary days then it's a real pleasure to be able to speak and to understand, or to read the literature you've had your heart set on. It's similar to learning any kind of skill or technique. Kind of like learning a new team sport and then being able to enjoy it as a leisure activity. Or, if you are more ambitious, to become better and better and to compete in that sport, while enjoying the challenge of competing. Same with language. It depends upon your ultimate goals. Whatever they are, as they are within grasp, it's quite rewarding.
  15. Thanks for posting the link. I was amazed to see the array of experiences that people had. I used to dream in Spanish sometimes when I was more immersed in the language, especially when I was studying Spanish literature in college. But the dreams were not fully in Spanish; they tended to be more inspired by the study of the language. I would sometimes be able to read faster or to be more fluent. I also remember having dreams in which I was surrounded by people and could not speak the language -- not a recognizable language, but more like arriving in a country and literally not being able to speak a single word of the language and feeling desperate to communicate. I still have dreams like that from time to time.
  16. I think it would be extremely doubtful for all the reasons previously stated on this thread. We are no longer living in circumstances that would foster that kind of influence on language from one individual. These days the influence comes more so from technology and the modes of communication that it enables. Thus we see how emoticons and texting shorthand have been influential upon our language; not necessarily in a positive way. The new terminology grew out of a collective need to communicate within the constraints of texting, that messages have to be short. We do see from time to time that a celebrity or a public figure's manner of speaking might have some influence, but it tends to be short-lived or it may be just a phrase or two that everyone recognizes. I think this happens with the spoken word more so than writing. But these days, I don't think writers have that kind of influence any longer partly because, sadly, it's only a small percentage of people who read books -- aside from celebrity books and other topical books -- books of substance that will endure as classics.
  17. This is for both non-native and native speakers of English. Tell us which idioms you first encountered in English; not just in classroom study but perhaps also in everyday conversation or in books. What idioms stood out for you in some way -- you liked them, found them baffling, amusing, etc.? English is my native language and, I remember as a child hearing expressions that created strong visual impressions before I understood the idiomatic meaning. In particular I remember hearing that idiom "wild goose chase" and literally thinking of it as a cartoon, of people chasing wild geese! It struck me as strange since I didn't understand the meaning -- i.e. the pursuit of something that's not attainable. Another one that struck me was "burning the candle at both ends." Again, I tried to picture this and thought it was very odd. It means doing too much all at once or working incessantly. What are your first experiences with idioms?
  18. I found that reading poetry in bilingual editions was very helpful when I was learning Spanish. Similarly bilingual editions of other forms of literature -- short stories and novels. But poetry was especially ideal, as generally the poems were shorter in length and the use of language, though challenging at times, helped me to improve my vocabulary. I was also able to gain a deeper sense of the beauty of the language and how it could create imagery and convey emotions. In turn, this helped me to appreciate the uniqueness of the use of language and be less fixated on trying to translate it back into English.
  19. Yes, absolutely. Even the best of television drama pales in comparison to literature. I find I am very impatient with TV dramas for that reason. It's actually been quite some time that I watched any TV drama from beginning to end. I greatly prefer literature and that kind of elevating and transporting experience of seeing the world through the eyes of characters whose journey can be emotionally compelling even as it is instructive. There are some works of fiction with specific chapters or passages that I've read many times because I enjoy the language and the power of the storytelling so much. It doesn't even matter that I know the outcome. It's a chance to relieve the experience once again. And of course, discovering new books and new authors is a joy as well.
  20. In the U.S. a majority of people pronounce "herb" without the "h." In other parts of the English speaking world -- especially the UK -- it's usually pronounced with the "h." Both forms are correct; the pronunciation is a regional difference. So according to how you pronounce the word, you would say "an herb" (silent "h") or "a herb" (pronounced "h").
  21. Thanks, Daedalus, for the explanation and the Wikipedia article. I agree with you that it's good to use the comma to eliminate any ambiguity as in the sentence you used as an example. I think the article is well worth reading as it sheds much light on when it's best to use the comma to avoid such ambiguity in meaning. The use of the serial or Oxford comma does vary partly by region as you point out; it's more widespread in the U.S. and less so in the UK. And, as the article points out, even in the U.S. there is some dispute among experts.
  22. Yes, I can think of words that I hear mispronounced frequently. For instance," February." It's hard to pronounce and it often winds up sounding like Feb-yoo-ary, as people don't pronounce the first "r." It should be Feb-roo-ary. There's also "escape" which is sometimes mispronounced as "ex-cape" but it should be an "s" sound, not an "x" sound. I also hear "often" mispronounced sometimes. The "t" is silent; it should be "of-fen."
  23. I agree; motivation is extremely important. I think learning a language should be approached as any other ambition. If you have a specific goal and a deadline, that's even better. If you're about to visit or relocate to a country where the language is spoken, that's ideal as it's a very specific goal with a very specific deadline. If that's not the case, you can always set some goals for yourself. Perhaps there's a movie or a play you can strive to be able to comprehend without subtitles. Or you might want to be able to converse with native speakers locally or on Skype. Or you want to read some literature in that language. You can then target your study towards those goals. Spend time each day; schedule the time. Make the time to study. Remember your goals and your motivation at times when it's difficult. I went through this kind of process when I was learning Spanish. I wanted to be able to take literature courses in college, and so that was my motivation the summer between graduating from high school and attending college. I did a lot of studying that summer!
  24. "Can" and "may" seem similar on the surface, but there are important differences in the meanings of these words. "Can" refers to ability or capability. If someone says she can speak English, she means she has the ability to do so. If someone says she can juggle, likewise, she has the ability. "May" is asking for permission. You may be able to speak English but you don't know if it's appropriate to do so or if it's better to speak your native language. So you ask, "May I speak English here?" Or to use our other example, you can juggle. You see three apples on the kitchen counter that belong to your friend and so you ask: "May I juggle these three apples?" Sometimes people will use "can" for permission in informal settings: "Can I juggle with these three apples?" But the proper usage is "may" when asking for permission. ----- "Might" is used to express a possibility that something will happen. If you say, "I might juggle with these three apples," you're saying that it's possible that you will do so; you haven't yet decided. Another example. "I might speak English with those tourists." Again, you have the ability, but you have not yet decided. More examples: "He might go to the store to buy the laptop, but he has to find out if he can get it cheaper online." "They might leave tomorrow on their trip. It depends on the weather." Can you think of some examples to illustrate the use of "can" or "may" and/or "might?"
  25. I agree there are so many exceptions to this rule that it can be confusing and frustrating. The rule itself is not universally embraced for this very reason. Some experts go so far as to say it's not worth teaching due to the numerous exceptions. That said, there are some categories of words that are exceptions. Whether or not it's worth it to try to remember these categories is, of course another story. Some exceptions are based on how the word is pronounced. For example neighbor, weigh, and weight are exceptions because of the vowel sound; it's pronounced AY. This is a good summary of the exceptions to the rule: http://www.spelling.org/free/instructional/ie_rule.htm
×
×
  • Create New...