MAMMAMIA
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 26, 2008
- 3,811
- 1,604
The English Language: Have you ever wondered why foreigners have trouble with the English Language? Let's face it. English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in the eggplant, no ham in the hamburger, and neither pine nor apple in the pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England and French fries were not invented in France. We sometimes take English for granted, but if we examine its paradoxes we find that Quicksand takes you down slowly while Boxing rings are square. And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. If writers write, how come fingers don't fing. If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of booth be beeth? If the teacher taught, why didn't the preacher praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Why do people recite at a play, yet play at a recital? Park on driveways or Drive on parkways? - They are crazy.
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language where a house can burn up as it burns down; and in which you fill in a form by filling it out. Ah! And a bell is only heard once it goes!
What only we can conclude is that English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (Which of course isn't a race at all). That is why when the stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out they are invisible, and why it is that when I wind up my watch it starts, but when I wind up this observation, it ends.
There is no egg in the eggplant, no ham in the hamburger, and neither pine nor apple in the pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England and French fries were not invented in France. We sometimes take English for granted, but if we examine its paradoxes we find that Quicksand takes you down slowly while Boxing rings are square. And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. If writers write, how come fingers don't fing. If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn't the plural of booth be beeth? If the teacher taught, why didn't the preacher praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Why do people recite at a play, yet play at a recital? Park on driveways or Drive on parkways? - They are crazy.
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language where a house can burn up as it burns down; and in which you fill in a form by filling it out. Ah! And a bell is only heard once it goes!
What only we can conclude is that English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (Which of course isn't a race at all). That is why when the stars are out they are visible, but when the lights are out they are invisible, and why it is that when I wind up my watch it starts, but when I wind up this observation, it ends.
