The joys of English spellling and pronunciation

[Dorsetmike]

Under the spreading chestnut bough
Sits a boy with a hacking cough
His mother feeds him lumps of dough
Until he says he's had enough

(And they say Chinese is difficult!)

 

[teddy]

Add to that the multiple meanings of words and the complications really set in.

Example RUBBER ie an eraser , someone who rubs, a tyre, flexible, a contraceptive, a matterial.
One could go on and on

teddy

 

[JHC]

So what ever happened to Esperanto that was going to be the World language.
Pigeon English is another mutant started in China and now spoken all over the World even in Aussie! it is in fact the official language across the ditch

 

[Dorsetmike]

Do you mean pidgin Ingrish?

 

[teddy]

Or pigin inlish?

Esperanto might work if it was invented now, but it was ahead of its time, and communication was too limited at the time. English is the obvious universal language. (mainly because I speak it.....just about)

teddy

 

[Krummhorn]

The three 2's: to; too; two!

I'll never figure out how one gets "tooh" out of "twōhh".

 

[JHC]

English is the obvious universal language.

Don't tell the French

(mainly because I speak it.....just about)

teddy

don't brag even little kids of 4 or 5 speak it.

 

[Corno Dolce]

Br. Colin,

"Across the Ditch" - Does that mean the "Straits of Malacca"?

 

[JHC]

No Comrade, down under it means the Tasman Sea just a small stretch of water that separates us from NZ's west island lol was expecting young David to pick it up and get a bit excited.

 

[GoneBaroque]

There is a story that someone asked Winston Churchill why he did not speak French. Churchill replied "I am still trying to learn English".

 

[JHC]

@ GB A woman accused our Winnie of being drunk and he replied "correct madam and you are ugly but in the morning I will be sober"

 

[Dorsetmike]

'ere y'are, the lady in question

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=be...jM4au8APUhPyRDg&ved=0CC0QsAQ&biw=1067&bih=743

 

[teddy]

I believe the word SET has more meanings than any other English word

teddy

 

[Mat]

You think English pronunciation is hard?

W Szczebrzeszynie chrząszcz brzmi w trzcinie i Szczebrzeszyn z tego słynie.

 

[marval]

If you want to confuse youself any more have a look at this.

http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/funnyeng.htm


Margaret

 

[Corno Dolce]

Dear GrandDame Margaret,

Oy Vey!!! Now my head is spinning uncontrollably.............

 

[marval]

Sorry about that CD.


Margaret

 

[Corno Dolce]

Sorry about that CD.


Margaret

No worries, dearest woman :tiphat:

 

[teddy]

Sums it up beautifully Margaret. Relying solely on a spell checker is like relying solely on a calculator.

teddy

 

[teddy]

Dual and duel. More or less identical pronunciation but totally different meanings

teddy