Discussion Forum
This is a forum to discuss the gray areas of the English language for which you would not find answers easily in dictionaries or other reference books.
Do You Have a Question?
Latest Posts : Opinion / Criticism
I moved to the US from Japan when I was 16, and in the 30 years I’ve lived here, I’ve noticed the ease with which Europeans communicate with native English speakers even when they have heavy accents. In contrast, Asian immigrants seem to have a harder time being understood by the native speakers. Asians typically blame the problem on their accents and their pronunciation but Americans, particularly urban Americans, are used to hearing a variety of accents. It seems to me that there is something else at work causing the difference between Asian and European ESL speakers.
Compared to the Japanese language, some of the phonemes in English are very subtle (like the th sound). So, over the phone, when we are spelling a name, we provide contextual information, like, “M as in Mary. S as in Sam,” and so on. The subtleties are lost over the phone, and we cannot differentiate between N vs. M, S vs. F, and so on. The Japanese language does not have this problem. I believe English is a more context-dependent language because there is a constant need to fill in the information lost in the subtleties.
Even when two native speakers are talking to each other, often they can’t hear each other well (e.g., noisy bar, subway platform, poor quality phone connection, etc..) but they THINK they hear everything. They are actually filling in the missing information from the context.
The reason Europeans have an easier time even with heavy accents is that their cultures are still very similar. They are able to provide better contextual information as they speak. Because Asian cultures are so different, Asian speakers are not able to provide enough contextual information in their sentences and their body language. Even if they can speak with no accent, their sentences can come out sounding foreign, like the automatic translation provided by Google—grammatically correct but incomprehensible. This makes it hard for Americans to understand especially if the speaker has a heavy accent.
A friend of mine is a pilot for Japan Airlines. As long as he is communicating within the context of air travel (like speaking to the passengers on the plane about the delays and weather forecast), nobody has trouble understanding him. This is because the cultural context in this instance is very narrow and well-defined which allows everyone to fill in the gap easily. But he has trouble understanding and being understood outside of this context because of the wide range of contextual possibilities.
If a French person were talking to an American about how he was treated at a particular restaurant, neither would have any problem understanding the cultural context since the restaurants in France function very much like the restaurants here in the US. But the restaurants in Japan work very differently. In fact, their customs in restaurants are so different that some Japanese people take an etiquette class to be able to eat at Western restaurants. (You can see an example of this in the movie, Tampopo). When you are deficient in the cultural knowledge to this degree, accent becomes a secondary issue. Even with flawless pronunciation, you could still have trouble being understood because the listeners have no idea what you are referring to.
Many native speakers find Indian English speakers hard to understand, even those who have been speaking English all their lives. We readily recognize Indian accent like we recognize Southern and British accents. So, the problem is not lack of familiarity. I think it’s the lack of contextual information because the Indian culture too is very different. We mistakenly believe that the problem is their accent.
What do you think?
I consider “data” as collective, like “sugar.” You can have a lot of sugar or a lot of data. Then “the sugar IS on the table,” or “the data IS correct.”
I do not like “the data ARE.” Never did. I worked as a technical writer and my philosophy was as I have stated. (Even though data can have one bit called datum, whereas sugar must have one grain.)
I was quite comfortable with the concept of direct and indirect speech that had been drummed into my head by a succession of teachers at the schools I attended in the 50s and 60s.
However the term “indirect speech”, like so many other facets of the English language, has now apparently undergone a change.
At least that is what one noted linguist would have us believe.
As in: the pie charts give information about the water used for residential, industrial and agricultural purposes ...
To me, “give” here sounds crude, as if the writer could not come up with the right verb; whereas “provide” sounds more appropriate, albeit just a bit high official.
So in an English exam I would have to mark the writer down? Am I correct in my thinking?
Why do people feel it necessary to add “of” to some phrases?
For example:
How big of a problem.
How long of a wait.
How bad of a decision.
Seems rather a waste of time.
I want to play a Star Wars video review as listening practice for an EFL student. However, it contains a strange construction that I can’t figure out how to explain: “Now, the question most likely on your mind, be you Jedi or be you Sith, is...”
I know that it would be easy enough to say, “It means ‘whether you are Jedi or Sith,’” but I wonder if there’s a better explanation.
I’ve noticed that “haitch” is becoming more common than “aitch” when it comes to pronouncing “H”. Why is this, and what is the thinking on which pronunciation is preferable (or even correct)? My mind goes back to my 4th year high school Latin teacher who was very fond of rendering what he obviously considered witty quotes about “Arrius and his haspirates“.
I have often noticed that in Scotland quite a few people tend to confuse words like:
- amount / number: e.g. Amount of people
- much / many: e.g. Too much eggs
- less / fewer: e.g. Less eggs
There are possibly others in this category.
Has anyone noticed this in other areas?
“Defeat to” seems to have gained preference over “defeat by” with media in the UK.
eg:- After Chelsea’s recent defeat to Liverpool Jose said...
Seems like they are confusing “defeat” and “loss”; or is this another evolution that we must suffer?
Latest Comments
Fora vs Forums
- Myramillan
- May 16, 2024, 6:01am
In addition to the reveal of the cover EA confirmed that the announcement to FC 24 takes place on the 20th of July. Fans can sign up to receive a reminder of the trailer on FC 24's website. FC 24 web site. The official announcement is likely to showcase the game, announce platforms, and reveal the date of release to FC 24. Because Mbappe and Kerr are in FC 24 Ultimate Edition's cover FC 24 Ultimate Edition front cover it is expected that the reveal will include games played by both players on their respective teams.
This FC 24 Ultimate Edition Cover unveiling provides a peek into EA's last FIFA title and marks the long-overdue debut of a female soccer player. Mbappe and Kerr are among the world's best teams for women and men respectively. EA will continue to highlight female and male soccer stars in the event that EA Sports FC releases in 2023.
FC 24 serves as a significant transition stage for EA and the title must be a hit with fans before EA Sports FC arrives. EA is preparing to release an thrilling FIFA title to the fans for the last time. EA Sports' split from FIFA caused players to have a number of doubts about the most recent FIFA game, FC 24. Thankfully, some key information about FC 24 were revealed online, in the form of Microsoft Store showcases the new game ahead of time.
Best place to buy FC 24 Coins or FUT 24 Coins on MMOexp.com.
Fora vs Forums
- Myramillan
- May 16, 2024, 6:00am
The Top 5 Madden NFL Amateur of All-Time
Madden NFL 24 Releases Assay 3 Update
Highlights Madden NFL 24 faced criticism from admirers due to a abatement in all-embracing affection and an accent on Ultimate Aggregation mode. The Assay 3 update, blue-blooded "Run It Back," introduces the Acreage Canyon and allows players to comedy as allegorical playmakers. The amend additionally brings aback Ultimate Aggregation programs like Blitz: PREM1ERE and Harvest, alms dispatch boosts, adapted players, and rewards. MMOexp VIDEO OF THE DAYSCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
EA has afresh arise the Assay 3 amend of Madden NFL 24 that offers several new features. Madden NFL 24 was arise in August 2023 and actualization an bigger Ultimate Aggregation and Authorization Mode. The FieldSENSE technology alien in NFL 23 is a allotment of this year's bold as well.
Madden NFL 24 recorded absorbing sales abstracts as anon as it was released, but players weren't adored already they approved out the new game. Admirers commented on how the all-embracing affection of the authorization had declined, and some criticized EA's accent on the Ultimate Aggregation admission instead of authoritative abundant improvements or acclimation gameplay issues. Due to this, Madden NFL 24 was abounding with abrogating reviews.
Best place to buy Madden 24 MUT Coins is MMOexp.com.
Fora vs Forums
- Myramillan
- May 16, 2024, 6:00am
As cited within the Fighter's cons, this magnificence doesn't have a ton of awesome Skill options. It has 6 alternatives, and handiest two of them are universally useful, even as the rest are pretty situational. Those two recommended choices are Second Wind and Sprint, and that is why:
Second Wind is a 50 percentage HP Heal and also cancels out the facet consequences from Adrenaline Rush. The only drawback is it's miles a one-time use in step with suit. Sprint will increase the Fighter's motion speed by way of 50 percentage for about 5 seconds or so. The Fighter is sort of as gradual as the Barbarian whilst wearing armor, so having this feature in reality gives them the danger to shut in on enemies..
Now a few gamers will swear by Adrenaline Rush over Sprint or Victory Strike over Second Wind. And, at the same time as those are exact options, they're a bit too specific to work as general replacements.
Best Perk Options For The Fighter
Now the Perks are where the Fighter really shines. Each of the Fighter's Perks, of which there are 9, are absolutely possible to apply, with handiest multiple them being tremendously higher than the rest. Additionally, quite a few those Perks upload new mechanics to the Fighter, that is exceptional to peer in evaluation to other Classes which have a group of very minute +five percent-type Perks. In preferred, but, those seem to be the high-quality options for these reasons:
Combo Attack: Each enemy is going to take at least 3 or so hits with any guns below Epic rarity from the Fighter, so this Perk is continuously caused. Defense Expert: A 10 percentage growth may not appear to be an awful lot, however whilst the Fighter is equipping units of Plate Armor that exceed 200, it is without a doubt pretty the buff. Swift: In full armor specifically, the Fighter is pretty sluggish, so this Perk enables counter that on top of using Sprint.
Weapon Mastery: This is via far the Perk that players use the most, as it makes the Fighter so much a laugh to play. When geared up, the Fighter can use every unmarried number one or secondary weapon in the sport, inclusive of Bows, Crystal Swords, or maybe Daggers. The Best Armor The Fighter Can Wear.
All servers of Dark and Darker Gold Coins on MMOexp.com.
Why Don’t We Abolish Irregular Verbs and Nouns?
- elizabethwilliams_7
- May 14, 2024, 6:35am
The idea of getting rid of irregular verbs and nouns to make language learning easier, especially for young kids and people learning English as a second language, sounds tempting. But language isn't just about rules; it's also about history and culture. Irregularities in language reflect how it has evolved over time, and they add depth and character to communication. Trying to force big changes on a language might not go down well with people who value tradition and the unique quirks of their language. Instead of ditching irregularities completely, maybe we could focus on explaining them better and using new teaching methods to make language learning more accessible for everyone.
Why Asian English Speakers Are Hard to Understand
- jessicaalex
- May 12, 2024, 6:31pm
Professors may evaluate students based on their participation in class discussions, group activities, presentations, and workshops. Participation assessments consider students' engagement, https://www.assignmentuk.co.uk/write-my-assignment contributions to discussions, critical analysis of topics, and ability to collaborate with peers.Homework assignments are practice tasks designed to reinforce learning do my assignment for me of class. They can include readings, exercises, online quizzes, and problem-solving tasks. Homework assessments evaluate students' understanding of material, ability to apply concepts, and completion of assigned tasks.
Why Asian English Speakers Are Hard to Understand
- jessicaalex
- May 12, 2024, 6:30pm
Professors may evaluate students based on their participation in class discussions, group activities, presentations, and workshops. Participation assessments consider students' engagement, contributions to discussions, critical analysis of topics, and ability to collaborate with peers.Homework assignments are practice tasks designed to reinforce learning do my assignment for me of class. They can include readings, exercises, online quizzes, and problem-solving tasks. Homework assessments evaluate students' understanding of material, ability to apply concepts, and completion of assigned tasks.
Is there a grammar of spoken English?
- elizabethwilliams_7
- May 8, 2024, 6:32am
The conversation is about three ideas on how grammar works in spoken English. The first idea says that spoken English doesn't really have a proper grammar, but this view isn't taken too seriously because it's based on old thinking that only written language has grammar. The second idea thinks that spoken English follows the same grammar as written English, just with some differences in how often certain things are used. The third idea believes that spoken English does have its own grammar, different from written English, and it's about how conversation naturally flows and creates its own rules.
Why Asian English Speakers Are Hard to Understand
- pacejeremy
- May 7, 2024, 1:33pm
Take a look at this insightful essay discussing the role changes of midwives over the past 20 years. https://www.nursingpaper.com/examples/the-role-changes-of-midwives-over-the-past-20-years-essay/ a fascinating read that examines how midwifery has adapted to meet the needs of modern healthcare systems and diverse patient populations.
Why Asian English Speakers Are Hard to Understand
- pacejeremy
- May 7, 2024, 1:33pm
Cool
The company 'are'
Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel for students grappling with their academic workload. By availing themselves of OnlineClassAssignment.com services, individuals can access expert assistance tailored to their specific needs. Whether it's seeking guidance on a challenging concept or enlisting the help of DNP capstone project writers, these services offer a lifeline to students navigating the complexities of online education.