Why Is The English Language Stupid? - Page 2

CelesJessa · 05-26-2010, 03:53 PM

According to my word origins classes, the guy who standardized the printing press can be thanked for a lot of the crazy spellings.

See, things used to be spelled a lot more phonetically, because there wasn't really a standardized way to spell anything, so everyone just spelled everything however it sounded right to them.

Then the guy who standardized the press decided to spell things based on how he sounded things out, while everyone else was pronouncing it differently or something.

I wasn't really listening in class though, as you can probably tell from my notes.

I did listen in my linguistics class, but that was Japanese linguistics.

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk · 05-26-2010, 03:57 PM

If you think english is bad, then for gods sake stay away from welsh!!

Seriously how the hell do double Ds make an "ef" sound?

POS Industries · 05-26-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawk

If you think english is bad, then for gods sake stay away from welsh!!

Seriously how the hell do double Ds make an "ef" sound?

Because I swear to god the Welsh have no concept of vowels.

My ancestors apparently decided to abuse the "and sometimes Y" clause like a motherfucker. Apologies all around.

The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk · 05-26-2010, 04:03 PM

Your apologies don't make up for all the time spent having to learn that shit for 11 years of my life!!

I demand recompense!

Seil · 05-26-2010, 03:24 PM

Hooked on Phonics, worked for me!

Why do we use silent letters to change the sounjd of a word instead of just spelling a word phonetically? Like changing "Through" to "thru" or something. But that would mess up "threw" and aiojmfiosnmgkl. I give up.

bluestarultor · 05-26-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seil

Hooked on Phonics, worked for me!

Why do we use silent letters to change the sounjd of a word instead of just spelling a word phonetically? Like changing "Through" to "thru" or something. But that would mess up "threw" and aiojmfiosnmgkl. I give up.

Well, at least on the "gh" thing, it's probably all a corruption of a rough aspiration, better known as that sound that kinda sounds like you're hawking up a lugie.

Bells · 05-26-2010, 03:26 PM

You guys know how freakin hard was for me to learn your language with just pokemon and videogames?...

Here i am, being told that "Th" in english has a somewhat muted F sound (how the hell do you have a Somewhat Muted anything?) like in Theater and Thanks! And here i am going "But "That" "This" "those" and many other words have no Muted F at all....".

All i can say is that English class in School was never good (3 years learning "To Be"?) So thank heavens for Poke Rap and Square Enix. )

A Zarkin' Frood · 05-26-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bells

You guys know how freakin hard was for me to learn your language with just pokemon and videogames?...

Here i am, being told that "Th" in english has a somewhat muted F sound (how the hell do you have a Somewhat Muted anything?) like in Theater and Thanks! And here i am going "But "That" "This" "those" and many other words have no Muted F at all....".

All i can say is that English class in School was never good (3 years learning "To Be"?) So thank heavens for Poke Rap and Square Enix. )

By muted F they mean more something like a lisp. No one ever taught it to me like that. They should though. My teachers always went like "Uh... put your tongue there like that and then uh... blow??? NO NOT LIKE THAT! You're doing it wrong.
I never let anyone in on my secret.

Anyway, the stuff in the opening post is by no means exclusive to English.
I'm sort of interested in linguistics, but it's been way too long since I read anything on that subject. All I know is that english belongs to the tribe of germanic languages. Which is probably where the "gh"s come from. Which are "ch"s in German and they do make sense there.

But then English is influenced by probably everything else more than any other language.

POS Industries · 05-26-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bells

Here i am, being told that "Th" in english has a somewhat muted F sound (how the hell do you have a Somewhat Muted anything?)

Our language is based entirely in guitar chords.

Seil · 05-26-2010, 03:32 PM

That is a point - how many people on NPF do not have English as their first language, and how hard was it to learn?

05-26-2010, 03:53 PM	#1
CelesJessa DA-DA-DA-DAA DAA DAA DA DA-DAAAAAA! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Zanzibar Land Posts: 6,531	this might all be wrong. According to my word origins classes, the guy who standardized the printing press can be thanked for a lot of the crazy spellings. See, things used to be spelled a lot more phonetically, because there wasn't really a standardized way to spell anything, so everyone just spelled everything however it sounded right to them. Then the guy who standardized the press decided to spell things based on how he sounded things out, while everyone else was pronouncing it differently or something. I wasn't really listening in class though, as you can probably tell from my notes. I did listen in my linguistics class, but that was Japanese linguistics. __________________

05-26-2010, 03:26 PM	#7
Bells That's so PC of you Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In a Server-sided Dimension where time is meaningless Posts: 10,490	You guys know how freakin hard was for me to learn your language with just pokemon and videogames?... Here i am, being told that "Th" in english has a somewhat muted F sound (how the hell do you have a Somewhat Muted anything?) like in Theater and Thanks! And here i am going "But "That" "This" "those" and many other words have no Muted F at all....". All i can say is that English class in School was never good (3 years learning "To Be"?) So thank heavens for Poke Rap and Square Enix. ) __________________ *BELLS STORE : Clothes! You wear* them! Free US Shipping Subscription System? WTF?! Zazzle Black!**

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-26-2010, 03:24 PM	#5
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	Hooked on Phonics, worked for me! Why do we use silent letters to change the sounjd of a word instead of just spelling a word phonetically? Like changing "Through" to "thru" or something. But that would mess up "threw" and aiojmfiosnmgkl. I give up.

05-26-2010, 03:32 PM	#10
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	That is a point - how many people on NPF do not have English as their first language, and how hard was it to learn?