Denis Hard

A few more: Race someone for something - compete against [someone] for a prize. Race against [someone or something] - try to win some kind of race against someone or something [to see who's faster] Wrap [one's car] around something - drive a car into something at a high speed.

Literature, like art, is created with the specific purpose of trying to teach something. While it may appear like just an ordinary story, if you scrape below the surface, you'll find lessons that could be helpful to you or future generations. I particularly like metaphorical literature, like George Orwell's "Animal Farm." Contemporary fiction on the other hand, is written simply to entertain the reader.

I agree with Trellum. There's nothing to worry about. A kid can learn a language by just hearing it spoken. So regardless of whether your child is learning Spanish half the day or not, since you speak English at home, quite naturally, he'll pick it up and be equally proficient in both languages.

But the book is too bleak. Heathcliff character is revolting. Okay but that's my opinion. Though of course, I must admit, the book [Wuthering Heights] is well-written. However, the nature of the story[or to be specific, that kind of story] doesn't appeal much to most people. They like a fairy-tale sort of ending. . .and they lived happily ever after. Like Jane Eyre. I guess that's the only thing that makes the two books get the sort of reception they get from readers.

I never did like Shakespeare's work [i'm just eccentric, that's all]. Anyway, my favorite English play is actually translated from Russian: The Governement Inspector. I like the play because I can identify with it. I've lived in places where corruption is the order of the day and when you see it satirized, well, it's satisfactory enough for me.

I learned French as a kid. We only used it occasionally in class and though at that time, I could construct complete sentences in French, once I stopped taking the lessons, I began forgetting the language. Right now, all I can manage is "bonjour" and nothing more. . . So I believe if you don't speak a language for a long time even if it's your native language, you'll start struggling to construct correct sentences. . .and if it takes much longer, you may actually lose it [though you may understand it anyway].

It all depends on the time and place. If you are in a dark or dimly lit place [like some pubs I've been in] body language is practically of no value there. IMO, the tone of your voice you use is more effective in communicating your feelings.

Some say it's real. A mine shaft collapses burying some poor miner and luckily he survives. To get rescued, he projects images of the accident to a close friend or family member who then leads a rescue team to the place. Um, that's just one example of telepathy in action. Hmmm? So, is this a real language or something entirely different?

The Road by Ian McCormack. It's one of the bleakest books I've ever read and the most emotionally provocative. It spells, albeit in a metaphorical sense what we can expect in this world should a third world war destroy the world as we know it. Would people act civilized? Not likely.

The Foundation Series is great. Just go ahead and read it. But in addition to it, you could take a quick look at some of Asimov's greatest short stories: Nightfall. Evidence. The dead past. The last question. It's a subjective list. . .

I read The Dream Merchants when I was still struggling to ground myself in business. The semi-fictional story is quite inspiring. The main character a common, poor guy favored by chance, works his way up and gets to be very rich [in Hollywood]. It helped me realize that no matter how far down you think you are, if you keep working at changing who you are [and what you are], you'll end up being successful anyway.

For those learning English, I'd recommend a website called https://www.vocabulary.com/. It's one of the best resources for learning, mastering and keeping track of new words you've learned. It's far much better than recording the words in some note-book and looking them up later.

To curse effectively, you should sound harsh. IMO, since German is one of the most harshest sounding languages and their words then regardless of the number of swear words they have, it's certainly the best language for cursing.

This discussion may be merely academic but let's go at it. If you've read [both books] Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights then let's talk. Taking into account the overall effect of both stories and the feelings they left you with at the end, which of the two books would you recommend to a friend? And. . .uh, why?

I like most of his books so I wouldn't like say, such and such a book is much better than the other. Good choice though but. . . The Foundation Series is quite long. . .

To add to that list: [to] not grow in trees - mostly used in reference to money. Not abundant in supply. bark up the wrong tree[?] - follow the wrong course/ ask the wrong person for something/ to make a a wrong choice. hit the hay[?] - go to sleep/bed. [not] Let grass grow under your feet - not delay in doing something.

I knew some kids whose parents were Polish and even though the parents conversed in Polish, they never addressed the kid in Polish [but when they did occasionally, maybe asking him to get them something, he'd do it]. Since the kid hang out with English speakers, he could speak English fluently but could not speak his native tongue though he understood it. So, well, yeah that happens.

I've made new year's resolutions before and never got keep so for next year these are my goals: 1. Keep my new year resolutions. 2. Forget about the past and move on [don't ask why]. 3. Move into another town where I won't run into old acquaintances and phony friends. That's about it. I'd rather keep it simple.

I once lived in a place where kids who went to school had to be taught English [as a second language] and they had to be fluent in it because the missionary teachers who taught them could only speak English. In two or three years, the kids would be almost be as good as native speakers [except for the accent]. SO, I guess teaching kids a foreign language early in life is always a good idea because when they get to high school they're already proficient in another language. . .

Nice stuff. It took me a long time to get to a point where I could write well enough to hold anyone's interest. And oh, those learning to write should remember it's all about practice. The more you write, the better you become.

Strange that no one Isaac Asimov's books. It's not that he was merely a prolific writer, most of his work was pretty decent IMO. For fantasy my favorite writer is Robert E Howard.

It wouldn't bother me. I'm used to being stared at so if people talk about me for a change, that would be fine by me. Reacting in any way would give those talking about you the idea that this bothers you and they'd just to annoy you, talk in the native tongue. So to avoid such and any other misunderstandings that may arise, I let it go.

Those who would benefit from everyone knowing English wold be entertainers and maybe authors because they'd be more people to sell their stuff to. Apart from that, any other effects would mostly be negative. If Karl Marx's books could enslave millions then imagine the sort of influence literature created with the specific purpose of misleading people could do. IMO, we're better off as we are right now.

Quite interesting. . . Unless someone is bilingual then s/he can't make a good interpreter. I've, more than once heard interpreters make mistakes but they just go on like nothing happened. I don't know, maybe they just presume everyone in the room doesn't know both languages. . .

Languages like Latin, Sumerian, etc., are not spoken anywhere in the world currently. Of course the exception might be Latin because Roman Catholic priests must learn it. But supposing you have no interest in Catholic literature or Latin classics [none of which I know of] is there any point in learning such languages?