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Citation Station: Why is English such a complex language?

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      CommentAuthorbufar
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    I was reading the Interesting Thing of the Day, and they discuss how complex the English language is. They also say that other languages have been, in layman's terms, dumbed down so that it is easier to learn. I think that this is a good idea if it is done gradually, over the next 5+ decades. It would mabey help immigrants learn to speak English, putting an end to the insulting "Press one for English" messages on tech-support lines. Also, it would improve literacy rates nation-wide. Feel free to discuss and/or argue here.

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007 edited
     

    Haven't we already started to do this? We use so many contractions and mutilations of words like "h8" and "cu." If you're talking vocaly, then we do that with contractions.

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      CommentAuthorTrance
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    I find English easy, they say it's so hard because there are lots of rules and distinguishes, such as "then and than" or
    "There,their and they're"

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      CommentAuthorTadGhostal
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    We could simplify easily:
    1. Replace most of the hundreds of words for various emotional states with one: meh
    2. Replace all homophones with one version (replace they're, their, and there with just "there")

    The list goes on and on, and I'm sure all the meh grammar nazi's out there will be shaking there fists at me....

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007 edited
     

    I am on a personal crusade against the unspeakable and unwriteable word group of letters.

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      CommentAuthorTrance
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    *shakes fist*

    How dare you say a word that isn't in the dictionary!

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    I usually don't have a problem with groups of letters but that one gets on my nerves.

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      CommentAuthorTrance
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     
    Posted By: D League

    I usually don't have a problem with groups of letters but that one gets on my nerves.

    The M word?

    If you start cutting down the language now, it won't be long before we all turn into one of those internet teenagers that have no sense of grammar!

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    You can't speak Trance. If I need to I'll find all of your fine examples of bad grammar and post links to them.

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      CommentAuthorTrance
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007 edited
     

    I never meant to imply I had good grammar...

    However, that would be very much apprechiated.

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      CommentAuthornyarfdude
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     
    Posted By: TadGhostal

    We could simplify easily:
    1. Replace most of thehundredsof words for various emotional states with one: meh
    2. Replace all homophones with one version (replace they're, their, and there with just "there")

    The list goes on and on, and I'm sure all the meh grammar nazi's out there will be shaking there fists at me....

    I am a grammar freak, but that's actually a pretty good idea!

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      CommentAuthornyarfdude
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    (Appreciate is how it's spelled.)

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     
    Posted By: Trance

    I never meant to imply I had good grammar...

    However, that would be very much apprechiated.

    Only if I need to.

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      CommentAuthorTaed
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007 edited
     

    "A Plan for the Improvement of English Spelling"
    by Mark Twain

    For example, in Year 1 that useless letter "c" would be dropped to be replased either by "k" or "s", and likewise "x" would no longer be part of the alphabet. The only kase in which "c" would be retained would be the "ch" formation, which will be dealt with later. Year 2 might reform "w" spelling, so that "which" and "one" would take the same konsonant, wile Year 3 might well abolish "y" replasing it with "i" and Iear 4 might fiks the "g/j" anomali wonse and for all.

    Jenerally, then, the improvement would kontinue iear bai iear with Iear 5 doing awai with useless double konsonants, and Iears 6-12 or so modifaiing vowlz and the rimeining voist and unvoist konsonants. Bai Iear 15 or sou, it wud fainali bi posibl tu meik ius ov thi ridandant letez "c", "y" and "x" -- bai now jast a memori in the maindz ov ould doderez -- tu riplais "ch", "sh", and "th" rispektivli.

    Fainali, xen, aafte sam 20 iers ov orxogrefkl riform, wi wud hev a lojikl, kohirnt speling in ius xrewawt xe Ingliy-spiking werld.

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      CommentAuthorFact totum
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    Besides the weird spellings and the fact that English has more words than any other language by a long shot, there are the things like, we sit on a sofa but sleep in a bed, that drive those who are learning English as a 2nd language nuts.

    I took Latin in HS and college, and I like John Wayne's assertion, "The only good language is a dead language"

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    Same thing with how the words "good" and "food" are pronounced. Why arn't the "o's" the same?

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      CommentAuthorFact totum
    • CommentTimeFeb 2nd 2007
     

    I know I have no idea.

    Actually, often it's due to having different origins. Maybe one being from Old French and the other being from Anglo Saxon. There's are several -- many -- good books (same 'oo' sound there) that explain the origins of English. I read this one a year or 2 ago: http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-English-Biography-Language/dp/1559707100/sr=8-6/qid=1170479466/ref=pd_bbs_6/002-3950717-3858401?ie=UTF8&s=books

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      CommentAuthorbufar
    • CommentTimeFeb 3rd 2007
     
    Posted By: D League

    Haven't we already started to do this? We use so many contractions and mutilations of words like "h8" and "cu." If you're talking vocaly, then we do that with contractions.

    I ment changing the ofical speling, not the letspek speling.

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      CommentAuthorTrance
    • CommentTimeFeb 3rd 2007 edited
     

    oficial should be spelt offishul!

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      CommentAuthorUdoboy
    • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2007
     

    Anybody grok newspeak?

    • CommentAuthorjesseeme
    • CommentTimeFeb 5th 2007 edited
     

    silent letters for one :krad: for example

    • CommentAuthorSaney
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2007
     

    Why is English so complicated? Because English is an amalgam of a variety of languages. Take Anglo-Saxon, a germanic language, add some Latin words and rules, change the alphabet, add some more Latin words, add some Norse words and some Celtic words, keep stirring for a few hundred years. I can't think of another language that has had as many disparate influences over the course of it's history.

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2007
     

    And then Americans come alnog and we add our own share of slang.

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      CommentAuthorFact totum
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2007
     
    Posted By: D League

    And then Americans come alnog and we add our own share of slang.

    Word

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2007 edited
     

    That would be an interesting list; all the slang that we know of.

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      CommentAuthorFact totum
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2007
     
    Posted By: D League

    That would be an interesting list; all the slang that we know of.

    Word up

  27.  

    I will add more later :tongue:

    yo
    sup
    cuz
    Cop
    Copper
    Feds
    bag
    ball
    baltic
    beast
    Flatfoot
    bolt
    fuzz
    heat
    Gaver
    Po-Po
    biz
    bobo
    banging
    baller
    a-yo
    baked
    bah
    bimbo
    bird
    loogie
    loopy
    lughead
    lush
    wep
    nick

    -more to come

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      CommentAuthorcritdragon
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2007 edited
     

    here are some english slang words, im guessing from american culture:

    blud,
    bredda,
    wagwun,
    wun,
    chirps,
    duk out,
    ends,
    roll deep,
    jam,
    jam pure,
    gat,
    po,

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      CommentAuthorD League
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2007 edited
     

    http://www.eslcafe.com/slang/list.html

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      CommentAuthorFact totum
    • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2007
     

    Word to yo momma

  31.  

    Those are all obvious ones though. The word 'cool', as in "That guy driving the convertable is cool." is a less thought about, but still equally slang, word.

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