Re: [lace-chat] English is hard to learn
On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 13:31:55 +1000 (EST), Helene wrote: >Since this thread seems to be still running, I just want to add my "thrupence". >What about the verb to hang, which has got 2 past tenses hanged and hung, which >mean different things? The original English was to hang, hung(past), hung(past >participle). When did we start using hanged? Is it another American usage, >since they seem to have done a lot of it during the "cowboys and Indians" era, >at least according to popular literature? :-)) I don't think that this is an exclusively American usage. 'The highwayman was hanged' sounds to me like normal British usage. >As for accents, my DH always moans because I don't have a French accent when I >speak English, and would love me to. I learnt English in France and England and >came to Australia when I was 21. When I'm in England, the English seem to pick >some Australian whiff, and they ask me not "Are you Australian?", but "Do you >live in Australia?", which I think is a nice distinction. However, neither them >nor any other English speaker seems to be able to pick that I am French. That's because you have mastered the 'th' sound. The archetypal French accent when speaking English uses a z sound for th. If you can pronounce th, you can't possibly be French. Also by being very fluent you are running counter to our stereotype of English spoken by French people. When I'm in Germany I get asked if I'm from the Netherlands or Denmark. I obviously have a foreign accent, but I can't be English because the English have such a poor reputation at languages. I can hear when Dutch or Danish is being spoken from the very gutteral ch sound, a bit like a Scot pronouncing loch, but more so. German has an aspirated ch sound, which English speakers usually tend to underplay, so maybe I'm over compensating. -- Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. Oscar Wilde Steph Peters, Manchester, England [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] English is hard to learn
Helene Gannac wrote: What about the verb to hang, which has got 2 past tenses hanged and hung, which mean different things? The original English was to hang, hung(past), hung(past participle). When did we start using hanged? I was taught (in school, in Scotland) that pictures may be hung, and people may be hanged - in the sense of being suspended. But didn't the judge say "hung by the neck until you are dead"? Or maybe that was "hanged" - my brain is confused now. So I don't know which is correct. And then there's the other sense, as mentioned in Edith's joke list (I liked the whole list, Edith): Q. How can you tell when a man is well-hung? A. When you can just barely slip your finger in between his neck and the noose. But I think that's always "hung". Well, or otherwise. BFN, Margery. [EMAIL PROTECTED] in North Herts, UK To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] English is hard to learn
Since this thread seems to be still running, I just want to add my "thrupence". What about the verb to hang, which has got 2 past tenses hanged and hung, which mean different things? The original English was to hang, hung(past), hung(past participle). When did we start using hanged? Is it another American usage, since they seem to have done a lot of it during the "cowboys and Indians" era, at least according to popular literature? :-)) As for accents, my DH always moans because I don't have a French accent when I speak English, and would love me to. I learnt English in France and England and came to Australia when I was 21. When I'm in England, the English seem to pick some Australian whiff, and they ask me not "Are you Australian?", but "Do you live in Australia?", which I think is a nice distinction. However, neither them nor any other English speaker seems to be able to pick that I am French. According to where they come from, they ask whether I am South African, Canadian, New Zealander...It's quite funny to see their face when I say I'm French! They get even more confused since I'm from the South of France and look more Italian or Spanish than the archetypal French. While I'm writing, I'll say hello to everyone. I'm back home after 2 1/2 months "home" in France, and slowly picking up the threads of normal life. You'll nev er guess how pleased DH and I were to feel cold and wet on our first day back!! After 2 weeks, the novelty has worn off a bit... I'll send a brief note about my trip, but we didn't do anything "lacy", so it will be brief! Mind you, I managed to buy some books, including Mick Fouriscot's 3rd volume on Lace (sort of encyclopedia) which had just come out. By for now, Helene, the froggy from Melbourne, Australia. http://search.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Search - Looking for more? Try the new Yahoo! Search To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] English is hard to learn
I don't much care which way they wear them - I'd jusl like them to remove them indoors! Cowboy (the dimestore variety, expecially) fall into this category, too!!! Just a little ettiquite! Linda, the string-a-holic in Oregon - Original Message - From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2003 9:12 PM Subject: Re: [lace-chat] English is hard to learn > In a message dated 09/05/2003 3:58:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > << they're quite happy to wear the current teenage > 'uniform'.baseball > cap on back to front >> > > Re: the baseball cap worn backwards.my husband has always found this > "fashion trend" objectionable (to put it mildly). I found his solution > amusingHe said he'd like to walk up to people wearing their hats this way, take them > off, turn them around and replace them on the head correctly, with the > admonition, "I know this didn't come with directions, but this is the way it's to be > worn." > > Vicki in Maryland where the humidity is down and the temps are hinting at > autumn > > To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: > unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --- > [This E-mail Scanned for viruses by Onlinemac.com] > > --- [This E-mail Scanned for viruses by Onlinemac.com] To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] English is hard to learn
In a message dated 09/05/2003 3:58:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << they're quite happy to wear the current teenage 'uniform'.baseball cap on back to front >> Re: the baseball cap worn backwards.my husband has always found this "fashion trend" objectionable (to put it mildly). I found his solution amusingHe said he'd like to walk up to people wearing their hats this way, take them off, turn them around and replace them on the head correctly, with the admonition, "I know this didn't come with directions, but this is the way it's to be worn." Vicki in Maryland where the humidity is down and the temps are hinting at autumn To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] English is hard to learn
> 'Hoodie' in the US might come from neighbourhood, but we tend not to use > that word here. Teenage boys in both Chicago and London currently refer to their hooded tops as "hoodies", not sweatshirts as they were once called, but I don't know about gangs Sue Babbs (in Chicago, with a teenage son who still has friends in To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] English is hard to learn
Hi Spiders, At 09:09 AM 04-09-03 +0100, you wrote: >Dear Lace Chatters, > >Jean Nathan wrote:- > >> (snip) >> They said was that people who move to another region keep using some of >the >> words from their region of origin to hang on to their roots, but that it >> isn't done consciously. > >My husband says that I regain my Lancashire accent when I'm visiting my home >area, and I notice that he regains his in Wiltshire: neither of us were >conscious of this until it was pointed out. > And according to my DH, my Geordie accent reveals itself when I talk to little kids, animals or lose my temper :-) Bye for now, Shirley T. - Adelaide, South Australia where my 'host of golden daffodils' are throwing golden light everywhere. To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] English is hard to learn
>From Tamara: <> Then there are words invented by the young find their way into the > language, > like "hoodies", which is how the youngsters that gather together on > street > corners refer to themselves after the hooded fleece tops they wear. Are you sure? It's been my understanding that the ethymology of this one comes from 'hood -- as in neighbourhood> 'Hoodie' in the US might come from neighbourhood, but we tend not to use that word here. About the only time it's heard is in "Neighbourhood Watch", where we're all supposedly watching out for crime in our immediate surroundings. It doesn't happen in practice. Most people don't know who their neighbours are. I was talking to the lady who lives next door to me yesterday saying that the only way I see anyone, or we get to know what's going on, is because I've got a dog who thinks everyone's his friend and people talk to me because of him. The British reserve isn't a myth - we tend to keep ourselves to ourselves. In winter you might not see anyone for months as those who work go leave home in the dark and come home in the dark. We refer to the area where we live as just that "this area", or just the district of Poole it's known by "Creekmoor" which covers an area of a few square miles. The kids (boys) here probably picked up the word from the US, but, not knowing anything about neighbourhood, they say it's from their hooded tops. They gather in their 'gangs' and wear them with the hoods up so they can't be recognised - they're not always up to no good, it's just what they do. They'll also put the hoods up if they walk towards someone at night to look menacing. We've only one group of youngsters in this area, and we all know who they are, so putting the hoods up to look menacing doesn't actually cut much ice with the people round here. It's just a teenage thing. They don't like school uniforms and will do anything to make themselves look individual, but they're quite happy to wear the current teenage 'uniform' outside school, currently trainers, crop trousers, hooded top and baseball cap on back to front, preferably either wearing roller blades or carrying a skateboard. Girls wear a tight skimpy top and parachute trousers (trousers with a lot of straps hanging from them). Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace-chat] English is hard to learn
Dear Lace Chatters, Jean Nathan wrote:- > (snip) > They said was that people who move to another region keep using some of the > words from their region of origin to hang on to their roots, but that it > isn't done consciously. My husband says that I regain my Lancashire accent when I'm visiting my home area, and I notice that he regains his in Wiltshire: neither of us were conscious of this until it was pointed out. > > Additionally, words are introduced from other cultures, which most of us > accept. The French tried to exclude foreign words from their language but > haven't managed to prevent words like "le football" and "le punk" from > coming into common usage. (snip) Is it true that this phrase exists in French: "le parking acoustique"? Or is it just an English joke, describing those who don't park by eye, but rather by ear? Linda Walton, (in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, U.K., where it's a beautiful morning, but decidedly an Autumn morning). To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] English is hard to learn
There was a discussion on language development, regional dialects and accents on the radio yesterday. They said was that people who move to another region keep using some of the words from their region of origin to hang on to their roots, but that it isn't done consciously. Additionally, words are introduced from other cultures, which most of us accept. The French tried to exclude foreign words from their language but haven't managed to prevent words like "le football" and "le punk" from coming into common usage. Until quite recently you'd always hear an English person saying "university", now we've adopted "uni" from the Australians. Then there are words invented by the young find their way into the language, like "hoodies", which is how the youngsters that gather together on street corners refer to themselves after the hooded fleece tops they wear. Jean in Poole To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace-chat] English is hard to learn
Tamara writes >"... I dare say they're the future of the US-English, and y'all had better start expaning y'all's irregular verbs table... :) Reminds me of my old French lessons and all those French irregular verbs. We were taught them to the tune of "Over the Waves" - Allez, arrivez, descendre, devinir - and that's as far as my memory takes me. Noelene in Cooma [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nlafferty/ To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
