Australian and American English
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I thought that Icelandic was very close to Norwegian ? Also I think the language in the Orkney Islands is related. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
Colin Davies wrote: I thought that Icelandic was very close to Norwegian ? Indeed they are. Iceland was founded by Norwegians in excile if I remember correctly. I read somewhere that Icelandic hasn't evolved much and that it's very similar to the ancient "nordic" language(s). I remember my teacher explaining that the nordic languages comes in two pairs, {Icelandic, Norwegian} and {Swedish, Danish}. But I can't get this into my brain. Swedish is more like Norwegian than Danish, at least in my mind. :) Colin Davies wrote: Also I think the language in the Orkney Islands is related. Where are the Orkney Islands? Somewhere on the Scotish coast? I remember an old scotish teacher of mine explaining that the scotish english was very much influenced by nordic languages. Mainly because my ancestors came there invading, fishing or whatever they did. :) -- Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face.
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What if all the people of the world could understand each other? That could be an important contribution for the old dream of "the end of all wars". So many conflicts are based on missunderstanding caused by lack of communication. So at one time somebody tried to come up with a universal language, Esperanto. It never caught on. But today we may have a world language evolving, English. Is that good? Well, any world language is better than no world language. But it really should have been French or German. Why? Because they are much more presice. Both the two languagea have a heavy grammar, but when you know that grammar you know the language! English has little grammar, but a vast number of small rules and specialities that makes it virtually impossible to master it fully if it isn't your mother tounge.
French is really very difficult, 90% of the french don't speak it correctly :) I would say German, because the pronunciation seems easier, but it sounds really...german ;) Everybody should learn at least two languages, it helps to understand how different people may think.
Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop
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Don't make us bomb you.
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Colin Davies wrote: I thought that Icelandic was very close to Norwegian ? Indeed they are. Iceland was founded by Norwegians in excile if I remember correctly. I read somewhere that Icelandic hasn't evolved much and that it's very similar to the ancient "nordic" language(s). I remember my teacher explaining that the nordic languages comes in two pairs, {Icelandic, Norwegian} and {Swedish, Danish}. But I can't get this into my brain. Swedish is more like Norwegian than Danish, at least in my mind. :) Colin Davies wrote: Also I think the language in the Orkney Islands is related. Where are the Orkney Islands? Somewhere on the Scotish coast? I remember an old scotish teacher of mine explaining that the scotish english was very much influenced by nordic languages. Mainly because my ancestors came there invading, fishing or whatever they did. :) -- Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face.
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Where are the Orkney Islands? Somewhere on the Scotish coast? Yes, just found a link on the web about it but it said the language was dead. However I distinctly remember meeting a young guy from there that claimed to speak it. :-) Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
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Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Where are the Orkney Islands? Somewhere on the Scotish coast? Yes, just found a link on the web about it but it said the language was dead. However I distinctly remember meeting a young guy from there that claimed to speak it. :-) Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
Colin Davies wrote: Yes, just found a link on the web about it but it said the language was dead. However I distinctly remember meeting a young guy from there that claimed to speak it Poor guy, I guess he must have bit it recently. Either that or he thought he was pretty tricky by claiming to speak a language he knew no one could prove he didn't speak. Ryan Johnston
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Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Where are the Orkney Islands? Somewhere on the Scotish coast? Yes, just found a link on the web about it but it said the language was dead. However I distinctly remember meeting a young guy from there that claimed to speak it. :-) Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
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The main reason is probably because it was a byproduct of American dictionaries -- after the American Revolution, after Noah Webster and others produced American dictionaries with different spellings of words. As people began using the new spellings, they began pronouncing words slightly differently, and the changes evolved over time. After the Revolution, Webster, Franklin, and others also wanted to break more completely with the English, and one way was to change the 'common' language. They thought about changing the common language to Latin, Greek, etc, but settled for just changing the spellings and then the pronunciation of words. As children learned to read the new spellings, the language gradually changed... _"No one goes to hell because of their sin, but because of rejecting God's method of salvation: His Son's life for yours..."
"It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." --Samuel Adams_
Chris Hambleton wrote: After the Revolution, Webster, Franklin, and others also wanted to break more completely with the English, and one way was to change the 'common' language. They thought about changing the common language to Latin, Greek, etc, but settled for just changing the spellings and then the pronunciation of words. As children learned to read the new spellings, the language gradually changed... Is this documented anywhere, I'd be interested in a reference or two. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
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Your arguments seem valid. I was taught British English in school when I was young, but I'm more or less americanized now. Easier to spell, and in some cases easier to speak too. "Can't", for instance, is way too difficult to say in British English. A slip of the tongue (why isn't this word spelled "tung"?) and the vowel is exchanged for another vowel, changing its meaning into something obscene. :rolleyes: Chris Maunder wrote: as opposed to the French (not even going to attempt to write it phonetically) I seriously think that the french language should be revised. I mean, if they spelled the words using only the letters they actually pronounced, they'd save a lot of money. Book sizes would be reduced by 25-30%, I'm sure! -- Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face.
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: "Can't", for instance, is way too difficult to say in British English. Uh? How so? It's pronouced exactly how it looks - how else could you say it? :~
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
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Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: tongue (why isn't this word spelled "tung"?) I think it is because it was originally (and still in some places) pronounced "Tong". Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: and in some cases easier to speak too How the hell does that work? They are both sound the same (minus the accents, which are abundant here), only the US english is the dumbass version to write/read. Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: americanized grrrr..... Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: Easier to spell I found learning english (the proper english) easy, well its my first language, spellings of words in english are based on the various languages that english consists of. Generally, longer words are french origin. "Magnificent" and "Formidable". Shorter words are either Anglo-Saxon or More modern german origin. The fact is, for some reason, Americans changed the spellings of words to make them easier to learn, I assume its the lazyness factor again. But for some reason have decide to make everything US English now. In a "Choose Language" menu, you will have about 20 languages, "US English" will be there but not british english. It annoys me. Do you know how frustrating when first learning to program and found that the reason my apps/pages didnt work because I was using the words "Centre" and "Colour" rather than the American counterparts. Damn you. English is one of the few languages where for one item you can have several equally viable/related words. E.g. "Cow" was the anglo-saxon word, but "Beuf", the french word (sorry about my spelling) became the name of the meat "Beef".
We brought out this new and very similar version of our expensive software because the old version was......old....It's a good enough excuse for Microsoft so its fine for us.
Jonny Newman wrote: Americans changed the spellings of words to make them easier to learn, I assume its the lazyness factor again. Not lazy... efficient. ;P colour -> color humour -> humor etc... Quicker, shorter, more efficient. While you brits were still typing we created the internet!!! ;P ;P ;P ;P Mike Mullikin :beer:
Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps. - Emo Philips
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I blame the Americans ;) Languages evolve. I used to doggedly stand by my convictions that Americans got it wrong, but when you think of a word like 'centre' and realise that we now pronounce it 'center', as opposed to the French (not even going to attempt to write it phonetically) 'centre' you realise that maybe the Americans got it right. Plus, some words that the Americans seemingly mis-pronounce are actually the way the English pronounced them way-back-when. There is, however, no excuse for how American's pronounce Celtic and Notre Dam(e) ;) cheers, Chris Maunder
Chris Maunder wrote: no excuse for how American's pronounce Celtic and Notre Dam(e) What? You mean it's not kel' tik and Not'ra Dahm? I guess dinna ken anything in skul! "How many times do I have to flush before you go away?" - Megan Forbes, on Management (12/5/2002)
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What if all the people of the world could understand each other? That could be an important contribution for the old dream of "the end of all wars". So many conflicts are based on missunderstanding caused by lack of communication. So at one time somebody tried to come up with a universal language, Esperanto. It never caught on. But today we may have a world language evolving, English. Is that good? Well, any world language is better than no world language. But it really should have been French or German. Why? Because they are much more presice. Both the two languagea have a heavy grammar, but when you know that grammar you know the language! English has little grammar, but a vast number of small rules and specialities that makes it virtually impossible to master it fully if it isn't your mother tounge.
Haakon S. wrote: But it really should have been French or German. Why? Because they are much more presice. Both the two languagea have a heavy grammar, but when you know that grammar you know the language! You're right, they both have a heavy grammar. German grammar can result in sentences sounding really awful - even for German ears. Most Germans don't use the full range of our grammar. I had to learn French at school and I thought it had a really nice grammar until I noticed that for each rule there are about 10 exceptions - it was horrible! (Excusez moi, KaЯl!) Haakon S. wrote: English has little grammar, but a vast number of small rules and specialities that makes it virtually impossible to master it fully if it isn't your mother tounge. That's also true, I'm still learning ... :) I prefer the English language, because of its simplicity. In English, I can express something with one word, for which it would take a whole sentence in German.
heinz r. vahlbruch
If IntelliSense doesn't have it, it ain't worth calling - Anonymous
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I'm curious to know why these dialects are different from eachother. Does anybody know? -- Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face.
As has been mentioned language always changes and evolves, if you leave your mother country and return after a few years you find that there are lots of words that have suddenly apeared. English is easy! try this poem http://www.nanceestar.com/KidsGrammar-Frame-Main.html[^]
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants. - Isaac Newton 1676
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Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: "Can't", for instance, is way too difficult to say in British English. Uh? How so? It's pronouced exactly how it looks - how else could you say it? :~
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
It's got such a long and hard a (the vowel). It should be a short a! But then again, you've spoken it ever since you started speaking, so for you it's natural. :) -- Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face.
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French is really very difficult, 90% of the french don't speak it correctly :) I would say German, because the pronunciation seems easier, but it sounds really...german ;) Everybody should learn at least two languages, it helps to understand how different people may think.
Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop
KaЯl wrote: I would say German, because the pronunciation seems easier, but it sounds really...german Jaa. Vee pronounce everry letter in everry vörd. :-D Seriously, German is easier to read and speak than many other languages. But writing it can be really tough at times. They've got so damn long words! And the different German dialects... :~ Why can't every German speak Hochdeutsch? KaЯl wrote: verybody should learn at least two languages, it helps to understand how different people may think. Couldn't agree with you more. I know I use different brain paths when I think in English. And I believe that may very well trigger other thoughts and emotions than I'd expect if I were using Swedish. -- Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face.
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Chris Hambleton wrote: After the Revolution, Webster, Franklin, and others also wanted to break more completely with the English, and one way was to change the 'common' language. They thought about changing the common language to Latin, Greek, etc, but settled for just changing the spellings and then the pronunciation of words. As children learned to read the new spellings, the language gradually changed... Is this documented anywhere, I'd be interested in a reference or two. Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
You are the intrepid one, always willing to leap into the fray! A serious character flaw, I might add, but entertaining. Said by Roger Wright about me.
You just responded to one. Just one left now.. :) [edit]Hmm. You were asking for references, not the actual document. My bad :) But he you responded to may infact be an authority on this subject![/edit] -- Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face.
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Jonny Newman wrote: Americans changed the spellings of words to make them easier to learn, I assume its the lazyness factor again. Not lazy... efficient. ;P colour -> color humour -> humor etc... Quicker, shorter, more efficient. While you brits were still typing we created the internet!!! ;P ;P ;P ;P Mike Mullikin :beer:
Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps. - Emo Philips
Mike Mullikin wrote: Quicker, shorter, more efficient. While you brits were still typing we created the internet!!! Just remember that several technologies using for/in the internet were pioneered by brits. AFAIK, packet technologies were british made/assisted. And lest we forget that without a certain british physicist CodeProject and every other web site would not exist.
We brought out this new and very similar version of our expensive software because the old version was......old....It's a good enough excuse for Microsoft so its fine for us.
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Haakon S. wrote: But it really should have been French or German. Why? Because they are much more presice. Both the two languagea have a heavy grammar, but when you know that grammar you know the language! You're right, they both have a heavy grammar. German grammar can result in sentences sounding really awful - even for German ears. Most Germans don't use the full range of our grammar. I had to learn French at school and I thought it had a really nice grammar until I noticed that for each rule there are about 10 exceptions - it was horrible! (Excusez moi, KaЯl!) Haakon S. wrote: English has little grammar, but a vast number of small rules and specialities that makes it virtually impossible to master it fully if it isn't your mother tounge. That's also true, I'm still learning ... :) I prefer the English language, because of its simplicity. In English, I can express something with one word, for which it would take a whole sentence in German.
heinz r. vahlbruch
If IntelliSense doesn't have it, it ain't worth calling - Anonymous
Heinz R. Vahlbruch wrote: I had to learn French at school I like the "had to" :-D . With a gun on your head? :laugh: Heinz R. Vahlbruch wrote: (Excusez moi, KaЯl!) Don't apologize, French is for me a very, very difficult language to learn. However, because the language is very accurate, you can be very subtil and precise to express ideas. if English is like VB, French would be C++ :-D
Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop
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It's got such a long and hard a (the vowel). It should be a short a! But then again, you've spoken it ever since you started speaking, so for you it's natural. :) -- Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face.
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: It's got such a long and hard a (the vowel). It should be a short a! Well some regions do pronounce it with a short a, e.g. 'k-ant' rather than the correct way 'car-nt', but there are plenty of other words containing a long hard a such as 'car' or 'carpet', so just imagine 'can't' has a silent 'r' in it: carn't. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Websters' spell it that way anyway... :rolleyes:
David Wulff http://www.davidwulff.co.uk
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Heinz R. Vahlbruch wrote: I had to learn French at school I like the "had to" :-D . With a gun on your head? :laugh: Heinz R. Vahlbruch wrote: (Excusez moi, KaЯl!) Don't apologize, French is for me a very, very difficult language to learn. However, because the language is very accurate, you can be very subtil and precise to express ideas. if English is like VB, French would be C++ :-D
Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop
KaЯl wrote: if English is like VB, French would be C++ Then German would be Java? But do you mean the spoken french or the written french? For me these are two different languages.
Holy Sh*t! I'm speechless. (hey, that's a first) Marc Clifton, The Lounge
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Don't make us bomb you.
:laugh: cheers, Chris Maunder