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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Mrs. Malaprop was, indeed, a character in the play The Rivals.
The play was by Sheridan. (That's some more old theatre knowledge -- that I probably should have thrown out! ) cheers, Peter Marucci |
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professorpopcorn New user Taunton Somerset U.K. 79 Posts |
No wonder English is so hard to learn.
I've just seen a headline in a newspaper that said "campaign pronounced success"
When you're smilin'
When you're smilin' The Whole World Smiles With You !!! Tra-la-la www.profpopcorn.co.uk |
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x-treem Inner circle 1133 Posts |
Just to continue this interesting thread I wanted to add my annoyance with American dialect.
American’s (yes, I am one) have the laziest speech in the world. An example that comes to mind is, “I’m gonna hitchu.” A correct response would be, “bless you,” had it been in plain English, “I am going to hit you,” I would have ducked and avoided serious pain. Contractions are another pain; ain’t ain’t a word (though I believe it is in a dictionary) ain’t – ain not? Ain not what? My all time greatest annoyance is with the word borrow, “He borrowed me $5,” “Can you borrow me $5.” WHY not use loaned, loan, or lend “Can you lend me $5,” first off it is a SHORTER word, lend vs. borrow. Finally is ‘dem and ‘der, “‘dem ‘der guys are gonna doed it.” HUH? BTW I have been working very hard on my three biggest mistakes; then vs. than, were vs. where and to vs. too, I have seen considerable improvement since I came to the Cafe. Coincidence? You be the judge.
A direct from text adaptation : The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Starring Mickey Rooney in his final role.
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x-treem Inner circle 1133 Posts |
Peter, were the Bowery Boys and The East Side Kids the same group?
A direct from text adaptation : The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Starring Mickey Rooney in his final role.
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
X-treem writes: "My all time greatest annoyance is with the word borrow, “He borrowed me $5,” “Can you borrow me $5.” WHY not use loaned, loan, or lend “Can you lend me $5,” first off it is a SHORTER word, lend vs. borrow."
Good point -- except that "loan" and "lend" are not interchangeable. "Loan" is a noun: "I went to the bank for a loan." "Lend" is a verb: "I asked the bank to lend me some money." In other words, you can't say (well, you CAN but it's wrong): "The bank loaned me the money." There's no such word as "loaned". You should say "The bank lent me the money." Sigh! Don't pay any attention to me; I'm just "a voice, crying in the wilderness". |
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x-treem Inner circle 1133 Posts |
Good eye, I DID put that in there to see if anyone would catch it....No, really I did!
I spent a lot of time writing that message and editing it just so that I would not look foolish with my own words, then I decided to play a little just to see if I was overly paranoid about the way I was writing or if anyone would actually pay attention. The proof is that I used lend rather than the other two to prove my point. I figured Peter might catch on. I was right.
A direct from text adaptation : The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Starring Mickey Rooney in his final role.
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professorpopcorn New user Taunton Somerset U.K. 79 Posts |
O.K. then.
What about the abbreviation for 'world wide web'.It takes 3 times as long to say !!!!!!
When you're smilin'
When you're smilin' The Whole World Smiles With You !!! Tra-la-la www.profpopcorn.co.uk |
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Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
"You say tomAYto, I say tomAAto; you say potAYto, I say potAAto. TomAYto, tomAAto; potAYto, potAAto - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off". (Usually played in key of G Major).
The late great George Gershwin. |
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Georgia Boy Regular user 102 Posts |
What about words that make no sense?
Why do they call them APARTments when they're all stuck together? Why do you drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? Any more out there? |
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ChrisZampese Veteran user Hamilton, NZ 341 Posts |
Ahhh language. It is so embedded in our culture.
It helps us define ourselves and others. It brings a sense of community for those who speak the same language. This brings me to say: Why stop those who use "ain't," "dem," "youse guys," "hitchu," etc., from using them, or berate them for it? That is their language. It defines them and their culture and community, and they can communicate with like-minded individuals without problems. Words can paint beautiful pictures, but like any art the beauty is really in the eye of the beholder.
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are
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S2000magician Inner circle Yorba Linda, CA 3465 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-09-02 05:42, x-treem wrote: A typical American conversation at 12:30 pm: "Jeet?" "No, jew?" :) |
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wayman Special user England - Sunderland 589 Posts |
Is the term "WET PAINT" an instruction or a warning?
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Kathryn Novak Special user PA 574 Posts |
English is my first language and even I don't speak it right a hundred percent of the time. Not only do you have to factor in all those exceptions to the rules, as well as contraptions, there are also accents to figure into this little devil of an equation named English. (English and Math during the same day while at the Café, I think I'm going to have a heart attack...) For instance, in the old days of the gold rush in good old California: "There's gold in them thar hills!" Throw a Southern accent into that and it is almost impossible to decipher. As for the "I" question: Americans (at least where I live) are very self-centered people.
If anyone sees my sanity, please return it to
me. |
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R2 Special user 935 Posts |
I am very proud to be in the same entertainment group as the rest of you extremely intelligent folks....I am feeling very very self conscious right about now....
Does my spanish accent show in my posts? |
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