 | Blogs > I_Am_1_Rib_Short > Gary's musings > English is a crazy language |
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There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger, neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England. Neither French spaghetti nor French fries were invented in France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English forgranted. But if we explore its paradoxes we find that quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea, nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groc, and hammers don't ham? If preachers preach and teachers teach, why don't ushers ush, or deacons deac? If teachers taught, why don't preachers praught?? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose and two geese! One moose, two meese?? One index, but two indices? Why can you make amends, but not just one amend? One mouse, two mice!! One house, two hice?? If you drive versus drove, did you arrive or arrove? If you have a bunch of odds and ends, and get rid of all except one, what is it, an odd, or an end? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?? In what language do people recite at a play, but play at a recital? or ship by truck, and send cargo by ship? If your feet smell and your nose runs, are you built upside down?? Why doesn't Buick rhyme with quick? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same thing? If I am uncouth, are you couth? ........jus wonderin' The first woman to answer all these questions correctly, well.....   Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece! |
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 8/4/2008 10:02 pm |
If you take the PH from elephant, to O from women and the TI from action then PHOTI spells fish.................... Belief in God represents a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints
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7/26/2008 8:05 pm |
I too, am afflicted with noticing vocabulary, punctuation and typos. Sometimes I wish I could turn it off...rawwwwrrrr. International magazines, newspapers, even one translation of the bible.....misistakes (did that one on purpose, didja katch it?) When in Rome do as the Romans do..if you wish to gain esteem and avoid grief, then it's wise to respect the customs of the majority within any culture you may find yourself. Male chauvinist pig. The word chauvinism originally meant excessive patriotism. "Male chauvinism" became a description of a man preoccupied with male pursuits during the 1950s, and the word "pig", borrowed from a slur on policemen, was added by the women's movement in the 1970s. So do I get a prize here  , for at least trying??So now, why didn't I print "1950's", or "1970's" instead of "1950s", or "1970s" with the apostrophe "s" obviously missing. For the same reason you don't spell "CD's" to pluralize "CD" The "'s" doesn't denote plurality, but ownership. See what i mean. Seeing these kinds of things drive me nuts! (And believe me, sometimes THAT is a short trip  )Now the real question here is: ARE YOU OPEN TO INTERPRETATION??  Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/26/2008 7:23 pm |
That's awesome! I've heard some of those before. Gallagher was big on playing with words. Pro in progress vs Con in congress, etc. I'm an interpreter so I notice vocabulary..especially when people use the wrong word or pronounce it improperly. Soo...I interpret the intention of the speaker. Now...if you can come up with a list of idioms and their true meanings.. I might be willing to pay you for that one LOL Everyone knows the meaning of 'it's raining cats and dogs' or 'slow as cold molasses running uphill in january' but people come up with some crazy stuff. And moving from the north to the south...different! Oh my Lord Jesus help me now. Actually I've interpreted that phrase a million times in the high school. HAHAHAHa
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7/24/2008 4:58 pm |
Hey I drive a BMW...whats your problem??  so is that hwy you never showed up for our date? We could have had such fun too  Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/24/2008 2:36 pm |
Hey I drive a BMW...whats your problem?? so is that hwy you never showed up for our date? We could have had such fun too Luv is patient, kind, unselfish, hopes 4 the best...
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7/22/2008 11:32 pm |
If I had not majored in theology, I guess etymology or philology would have been an option - I just love words, the meanings and origins of words, etc. Of course, English, like many languages, is a cosmopolitan conglomeration of other languages. Words used to migrate with people; but now through the world's media and the internet, words can migrate even without people! So when we have those those transatlantic debates about why wrath rhymes with cough, and why potato doesn't rhyme with tomato, I imagine the origins of the respective words will hold the key? Oh, by the way, did you know that the "wh" at the beginning of words such as which, why, who, when, etc - so wonderfully articulated by the opium smoking caterpillar in Disney's version of Alice in Wonderland - comes from the ancient Saxon language, which originally spelt the words hwich, hwy, hwo, etc??? CB Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/22/2008 10:47 pm |
If I had not majored in theology, I guess etymology or philology would have been an option - I just love words, the meanings and origins of words, etc. Of course, English, like many languages, is a cosmopolitan conglomeration of other languages. Words used to migrate with people; but now through the world's media and the internet, words can migrate even without people! So when we have those those transatlantic debates about why wrath rhymes with cough, and why potato doesn't rhyme with tomato, I imagine the origins of the respective words will hold the key? Oh, by the way, did you know that the "wh" at the beginning of words such as which, why, who, when, etc - so wonderfully articulated by the opium smoking caterpillar in Disney's version of Alice in Wonderland - comes from the ancient Saxon language, which originally spelt the words hwich, hwy, hwo, etc??? CB
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7/22/2008 4:12 pm |
Thanks for the laugh! Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/22/2008 1:42 pm |
Thanks for the laugh!
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7/22/2008 12:04 pm |
It's all in the fing, baybeeeeeeee!!  Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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 7/22/2008 2:35 am |
Wouldn't you know it, I've become the "fing" reunion agent   PenelopeCaptive of Hope
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7/21/2008 9:05 pm |
You saaaaaaaaaw me finging????  Oh I know...it was when I overtook you on the freeway!!!! I finged you good, didn't I!!! Hey Gary? I live in a hice....but I have no mice.... And Gary I have a confession...I am a humanitarian...and I do eat humans /:> /:> /:> And Gary? one more thing....if Vegemite is an Australian food, why is it owned by Americans? And if it is owned by Americans, why don't you have Vegemite in America?  And Gary? Thanks for taking the time to listen to my meaningful dialogue!!! My pooky woooky shnooookems!!!   So you "finged" me when I was "thumbing" (hitchhiking lol) on the freeway, didja?? meaningful??? you sure know how to give new meaning to words dontcha Your lil poopsy doopsy Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 8:43 pm |
Oh I'm a fing-er from waaaaaaaaaaaay back!!! There are many more like us...we just have to wait for them to come out of the fing closet!!! Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 7:43 pm |
I saw you "finging" that's what BMW owners do Oh I know...it was when I overtook you on the freeway!!!! I finged you good, didn't I!!! Hey Gary? I live in a hice....but I have no mice.... And Gary I have a confession...I am a humanitarian...and I do eat humans  And Gary? one more thing....if Vegemite is an Australian food, why is it owned by Americans? And if it is owned by Americans, why don't you have Vegemite in America? And Gary? Thanks for taking the time to listen to my meaningful dialogue!!! My pooky woooky shnooookems!!! PenelopeCaptive of Hope
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7/21/2008 7:35 pm |
GASP!!! I had NO IDEA there were OTHER PEOPLE out there that had fingable fingers! and here I thought I was the only one all this time. PenelopeCaptive of Hope
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7/21/2008 6:50 pm |
What do you mean you didn't get any blind dates???? Och man, are ya daft? You were supposed to be one of mine, but ya didna show up!!!  . The last time I had checked, I didn't see anyone. I got busy and forgot to check back in. Sorry Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 6:18 pm |
I didn't get ANY blind dates 
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7/21/2008 5:24 pm |
Nuances even lol canna spell!! Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:21 pm |
Well the answer is obvious to me...God has a sense of humour and so do you, and I like it Keep posting these funny thoughts of yours Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:19 pm |
 Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:18 pm |
GASP!!! I had NO IDEA there were OTHER PEOPLE out there that had fingable fingers! and here I thought I was the only one all this time. Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:16 pm |
Hi Gary!  At least the Smileys conduct themselves accordingly, lol. Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? Oh, English is so misunderstood! Blessings and my continued prayers my friend!  PS You are mentioned several times in my blog today, enjoy! Well, I didn't get any blind dates, but I did get mentioned Thanks for your prayers, much needed. And of course you know you've got mine! Bless you, Gary Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:14 pm |
I don't know about you but my fingers fing!!! Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:13 pm |
The answer to each question is.................... . . . . . . . . . . .....wait for it........here it comes...... . . . . . . . . . ............BECAUSE......  Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:12 pm |
I can't give an explanation for any of the specific examples you have given, but I suspect that the reason for all the inconsistency is that England was in the past invaded and conquered by all sorts of different peoples speaking all sorts of different languages. Thus rules on plurals, tenses etc would be different, so two similar words coming from different languages of origin would have different forms for the plural etc. I'm not really a linguist so I don't really know if that's the right answer. {However I have 'O' level qualifications in English, French, German and Latin!} The ultimate answer for the origin of languages is of course the Tower of Babel. Peter  Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:09 pm |
Can't answer a single one so guess that leaves me out.  Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:08 pm |
The first woman to answer all these questions correctly, well..... Now I'm just wondering... didn't you get enough women in the 'blind dates'??? Other than that - yet again had me almost falling off the chair laughing... English is so amazingly odd... Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 5:07 pm |
I always wondered about Hot Dogs and Chili Dogs, both are Hot and neither are dogs Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 3:08 pm |
Nuances even lol canna spell!!
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7/21/2008 2:02 pm |
Well the answer is obvious to me...God has a sense of humour and so do you, and I like it Keep posting these funny thoughts of yours Luv is patient, kind, unselfish, hopes 4 the best...
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7/21/2008 12:18 pm |
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7/21/2008 11:28 am |
I don't know about you but my fingers fing!!! Jn:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. --Jesus.
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7/21/2008 10:40 am |
Well???? Did I win?????
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7/21/2008 7:40 am |
Nope, don't know the answers to all of the questions. Guess I'm not your woman. Blessings to you. Nancy Let us share one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ
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7/21/2008 7:04 am |
I always wondered about Hot Dogs and Chili Dogs, both are Hot and neither are dogs Jn:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. --Jesus.
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7/21/2008 6:13 am |
. . .
. . . Continue to be faithful, deliverance is near, obedience must be seen, be an unconditional blessing as He continues to bless you. This time is short, serve Him well, serving all. Without exception. Know? Yes? ? .
Meow ? .
.
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7/21/2008 5:27 am |
Hi Gary! At least the Smileys conduct themselves accordingly, lol. Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway? Oh, English is so misunderstood! Blessings and my continued prayers my friend! PS You are mentioned several times in my blog today, enjoy! NOTHING that happens, happens for NOTHING Who Do YOU Think YOU Are? Got Unanswered Prayers??? This Post Rated XXX-If Sensitive, Please DON'T Read A Call To All Christians Who Will Pray!!! New Members at BigChurch, WATCH OUT!!!
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7/21/2008 5:21 am |
I don't know about you but my fingers fing!!! Penelope Captive of Hope
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7/21/2008 4:54 am |
The answer to each question is.................... . . . . . . . . . . .....wait for it........here it comes...... . . . . . . . . . ............BECAUSE......
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7/21/2008 4:30 am |
I can't give an explanation for any of the specific examples you have given, but I suspect that the reason for all the inconsistency is that England was in the past invaded and conquered by all sorts of different peoples speaking all sorts of different languages. Thus rules on plurals, tenses etc would be different, so two similar words coming from different languages of origin would have different forms for the plural etc. I'm not really a linguist so I don't really know if that's the right answer. {However I have 'O' level qualifications in English, French, German and Latin!} The ultimate answer for the origin of languages is of course the Tower of Babel. Peter "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2 v 15
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7/21/2008 4:24 am |
mamááááááááá ♥ ~RBK~ ♥
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7/21/2008 3:57 am |
Can't answer a single one so guess that leaves me out. Check out these blogs! viruses inside your mind (For a mind antivirus!) My True Love! (For looking for your true love)
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7/21/2008 3:34 am |
The first woman to answer all these questions correctly, well..... Now I'm just wondering... didn't you get enough women in the 'blind dates'??? Other than that - yet again had me almost falling off the chair laughing... English is so amazingly odd... One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4 Advert Block....
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7/21/2008 1:54 am |
That was interesting, I love the nusances of language. Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 1:33 am |
That was interesting, I love the nusances of language.
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7/21/2008 12:45 am |
Ohhhhhhh noooooooooooooo, if forgiveness can be had, simply nod your head up and down. Eph 2:10 We are his workmanship (poiema, or poem, or work of art) created in Christ Jesus. God is an artist and you are His masterpiece!
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7/21/2008 12:07 am |
Ummm, you left me speechless... With Love and Laughs from the Lahli a.k.a.Lorilei
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