Octopus!

[Matteh]

People learning English haven't got a chance.

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by Matteh

People learning English haven't got a chance.

One thing that differentiates English from many other languages is that one needs to understand and grasp the etymology of many words to have an intuitive understanding of English.

English is not my first language, and I did not feel completely comfortable with it until I learned Latin, (and a little Greek) and slowly began to understand the complex rules of English - most of which are borrowed from other languages.

Though native speakers exhibit adequate skills when writing or speaking, they sometimes lack the thorough understanding of the language that can only come from looking at it critically while trying to learn it. Obviously I am not expert on English but I do feel that I have a better command of the overall language than most people I encounter - even those who are English majors (and most of that is due to the studies of other languages).

In any case, I'd strongly recommend Latin if you want to improve your English.

[Matteh]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

One thing that differentiates English from many other languages is that one needs to understand and grasp the etymology of many words to have an intuitive understanding of English.

English is not my first language, and I did not feel completely comfortable with it until I learned Latin, (and a little Greek) and slowly began to understand the complex rules of English - most of which are borrowed from other languages.

Though native speakers exhibit adequate skills when writing or speaking, they sometimes lack the thorough understanding of the language that can only come from looking at it critically while trying to learn it. Obviously I am not expert on English but I do feel that I have a better command of the overall language than most people I encounter - even those who are English majors (and most of that is due to the studies of other languages).

In any case, I'd strongly recommend Latin if you want to improve your English.

In my experience foreigners and english synonyms is a pretty common issue.
I'll say something and know straight off that they won't get what i've said because there's just too many words in there that can mean something else.

[nightprowler10]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

One thing that differentiates English from many other languages is that one needs to understand and grasp the etymology of many words to have an intuitive understanding of English.

English is not my first language, and I did not feel completely comfortable with it until I learned Latin, (and a little Greek) and slowly began to understand the complex rules of English - most of which are borrowed from other languages.

Though native speakers exhibit adequate skills when writing or speaking, they sometimes lack the thorough understanding of the language that can only come from looking at it critically while trying to learn it. Obviously I am not expert on English but I do feel that I have a better command of the overall language than most people I encounter - even those who are English majors (and most of that is due to the studies of other languages).

In any case, I'd strongly recommend Latin if you want to improve your English.

Might give it a go this spring tbh. Was looking to pick up a class that's not for sheer necessity.

[16 tins of Spam]

Originally Posted by 33/3from3.3

Now if we were naming things which weren't sheep we'd be here forever.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by 33/3from3.3

Now if we were naming things which weren't sheep we'd be here forever.

[Hoggy31]

Who gives a ****?

[_TiGeR-ToWn_]

Originally Posted by Hoggy31

Who gives a ****?

Matteh obviously

[33/3from3.3]

Originally Posted by Hoggy31

Who gives a ****?

The Octopuses. Stick that up you Silentstriker!

[HeathDavisSpeed]

More interesting to me is why Aussies use American spelling yet NZ uses English spelling. When Australia annexe us, will they make us change the spelling to annex? Will I be watching a TV program or programme?? These are the decisions that would stop Heathdonia joining the EU. That and not being European, otherwise I'd love the relaxed passport attitude.

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Since when do Australians use American spellings?

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Originally Posted by dontcloseyoureyes

Since when do Australians use American spellings?

Recent annoyances....

Rudd's 'Labor' party
'Tire' vs 'Tyre'

Labor is a particularly high profile one if you ask me.

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Labor is the only one I can think of that can't be explained by sheer idiocy.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Or maybe it can?

[pasag]

From wiki

The ALP adopted the formal name Australian Labour Party in 1908, but changed to the American spelling of Labor from 1912. While it is standard practice in Australian English to spell the word labour with a u, the Party has spelt it without one since Labor cabinet minister King O'Malley thought he would "modernise" the name at the time, due to the apparent influence of the American labour movement