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Chinese restaurant called 'translate server error'
I'm not sure what Chinese string this restaurateur fed to the translation software used to to generate the giant sign hanging over the entrance, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't: TRANSLATE SERVER ERROR. I'm not sure what Chinese string this restaurateur fed to the translation software used to to generate the giant sign hanging over the... more
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Who Is Responsible for the Failure of English Ed in Korea?
What's the problem of English Education system in South Korea? Why Korean study English for long long time but when they meet English native speakers, they are hard to speak or write English? (From OhmyNews International) What's the problem of English Education system in South Korea? Why Korean study English for long long time but when they meet English ... more
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Acceptance for custard creams
Custard creams have made it into the new Oxford English Dictionary. Defined as a biscuit with a vanilla flavoured filling, the biscuit made it after being voted by 9 out of 10 people as they're favourite biscuit. Other new words include 'sleb' and 'muffin top' (best cut down on the biscuits then). The phrase 'car crash' has also gained a new meaning. Custard creams have made it into the new Oxford English Dictionary. Defined as a biscuit with a vanilla flavoured filling, the biscuit... more
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Underground with the English
"Underground With the English" is a quirky, laugh-out-loud anthropological look at the behaviors of the English. Anthropologist Kate Fox, who wrote best-seller "Watching the English", gives us unique insight on English unwritten rules that puzzle many foreigners such as Queuing, Weather Talk, Tube Etiquette, Class Conciousness, Excessive Politeness, Banter, Pulling, and Obsession with sports! Why is it the English seem to love to queue (aka line up), talk about the weather at any opportunity, or apologise when you bump into them?! I test Kate's claims, such as 'reflex apology' by purposely bumping into a plethora of English people in busy train and tube stations to see if the 'Excessive Politeness Rule' holds true. Are the English really tea-drinking, fish-and-chip eating, polite, dry-humoured, reserved, stiff-upper types or are these just stereotypes? Americans, like myself, who come to England often think: we're both Western cultures who speak the same language, how different can we be? But after six-months of living in the UK and many hilarious and insightful interviews later, I uncover what gets lost in English translation and what it is that make the English, just so darn English. "Underground With the English" is a quirky, laugh-out-loud anthropological look at the behaviors of the English. Anthropologist Kate ... more
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Jury convicts Entwistle of double murder
A jury took less than two days to convict Neil Entwistle of murdering his wife and infant daughter, rejecting the defense's theory that the young mother shot her 9-month-old before committing suicide.
The Entwistle murder case concerns an English-born man, Neil Entwistle, convicted of murdering his American wife, Rachel, and their infant daughter Lillian on January 20, 2006 in the United States.
The bodies of 27-year-old Rachel and 9-month-old Lillian were found on January 22, in the master bedroom of the couple's rented Hopkinton, Massachusetts home where the Entwistles had been living for only ten days. Autopsy results showed that Rachel died of a gunshot wound to the head, and the baby died of a gunshot wound to the stomach.
His trial for murder began on June 2, 2008 in Woburn, MA.
He was found guilty on all 4 charges on June 25, 2008.
A jury took less than two days to convict Neil Entwistle of murdering his wife and infant daughter, rejecting the defense's theory tha... more -
Father's Day cards were banned in Scottish schools
Thousands of primary pupils were prevented from making Father's day cards at school for fear of embarrasing classmates with single mothers and lesbians.
Telling those kids:" forget about your DAD on father's day "is very much in line with years of feminism, no fault divorces and same sex life style.
This must be comprehensive education !!!!
.
Thousands of primary pupils were prevented from making Father's day cards at school for fear of embarrasing classmates with single mot... more -
English Children Can't Read English
In the country that gave birth to the English language, one in five 11 year olds can't read and have failed to master mathematics.
(Article from OhmyNews English)
Is it the problem of UK Education system or other? In the country that gave birth to the English language, one in five 11 year olds can't read and have failed to master mathematics. ... more -
World Wide Words Newsletter
For those of you who speak/read/write the English language, and who love etymology -- the origin of words -- this newsletter may delight you. Written by Michael Quinion, this newsletter is the best I've found. Written in a witty, humble, clear way. And subscriptions are free. Check it out.... For those of you who speak/read/write the English language, and who love etymology -- the origin of words -- this newsletter may delig... more
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United Kingdom Talk Tuesday 27th May 2008
Tuesday's edition of my three times a week talk show. Watch the show here on Current TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats.
In today's show :
I've ironed !
The monster from outta space.
Posh or common ?
www.Thebritishpages.com
Could you listen to the show for 270 hours or more ?
My pushing thing.
Spell checker or Oxford English Dictionary ?
Wanna do a radio show live ?
Where is my bow & arrow ?
Water everywhere.
A slightly damaged eye.
Pet pictures.
You may need to be medicated.
Half a hedge.
De-friended !
Locations for the show.
Just a fingernail left.
The tooth fairy explores.
Nasty racism in the garage.
Buying my car outright soon.
"Sounds of Bracknell" are coming !
A nice smell.
My facebook - Chris Reardon London
Doug's had one of them old projectors.
Did you keep any of your old toys ?
Who's got the dearest petrol.
Watch out for the shampoo.
http://unitedkingdomtalk.forums4free.org/
Email :
chris@unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
WWW.UNITEDKINGDOMTALK.CO.UK Tuesday's edition of my three times a week talk show. Watch the show here on Current TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats. ... more -
13 words not found in the English language
These words do not have direct equivalents in English. Some of them would definitely be useful for us English-speakers, what do you think?
1. Waldeinsamkeit (German): the feeling of being alone in the woods
2. Ilunga (Tshiluba, Congo): a person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time, to tolerate it a second time, but never a third time
3. Taarradhin (Arabic): a way of resolving a problem without anyone losing face (not the same as our concept of a compromise - everyone wins)
4. Litost (Czech): a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery
5. Esprit de l’escalier (French): a witty remark that occurs to you too late, literally on the way down the stairs…
6. Meraki (Greek): doing something with soul, creativity, or love
7. Yoko meshi (Japanese): literally ‘a meal eaten sideways’, referring to the peculiar stress induced by speaking a foreign language:
8. Duende (Spanish): a climactic show of spirit in a performance or work of art, which might be fulfilled in flamenco dancing, or bull-fighting, etc.
9. Guanxi (Mandarin): in traditional Chinese society, you would build up good guanxi by giving gifts to people, taking them to dinner, or doing them a favour, but you can also use up your gianxi by asking for a favour to be repaid.
10. Pochemuchka (Russian): a person who asks a lot of questions
11. Tingo (Pascuense language of Easter Island): to borrow objects one by one from a neighbour’s house until there is nothing left
12. Radioukacz (Polish): a person who worked as a telegraphist for the resistance movements on the Soviet side of the Iron Curtain
13. Selathirupavar (Tamil): a word used to define a certain type of absence without official leave in face of duty
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Of course, I’m just relying on the accuracy of online resources for this information, if you speak any of these languages please let me know if there are any errors or inaccuracies above. These words do not have direct equivalents in English. Some of them would definitely be useful for us English-speakers, what do you th... more -
Make english America's "offical" language
And maybe increase spending on education too?
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Superintendent Threatened over Spanish Pledge of Allegiance
For many years now, Edgerton High School in Wisconsin has allowed students in its Spanish class to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish over the Intercom one day of the school year. It also invites foreign exchange students (the school now has three) to say it in their own language.
This year, when Spanish students recited the Pledge on March 11, it caused a ruckus.
Parents complained. They demanded that the Spanish teacher, the principal, and the superintendent be fired. And they intend to press the issue at the school board meeting on April 28. For many years now, Edgerton High School in Wisconsin has allowed students in its Spanish class to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in ... more -
Artist tracks the way we use language
"WordCount™ is an artistic experiment in the way we use language. It presents the 86,800 most frequently used English words, ranked in order of commonness.
The goal is for the user to feel embedded in the language, sifting through words like an archaeologist through sand, awaiting the unexpected find. Observing closely ranked words tells us a great deal about our culture. For instance, “God” is one word from “began”, two words from “start”, and six words from “war”. Another sequence is "america ensure oil opportunity".
"WordCount™ is an artistic experiment in the way we use language. It presents the 86,800 most frequently used English words, ranked in... more -
Origin of curse words
Discretion: Profanity. If you're sensitive to that.
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History of the English language
Like philology? Me too. A brief summary of the history of the English language.
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Have you ever quoted Shakespeare? More than likely
If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow than in anger, if your wish is father to the thought, if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, stood on ceremony, danced attendance (on your lord and master), laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool's paradise - why, be that as it may, the more fool you, for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare; if you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge (at one fell swoop) without rhyme or reason, then - to give the devil his due - if the truth were known (for surely you have a tongue in your head) you are quoting Shakespeare; even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I were dead as a door-nail, if you think I am an eyesore, a laughing stock, the devil incarnate, a stony-hearted villain, bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then - by Jove! O Lord! Tut, tut! for goodness' sake! what the dickens! but me no buts - it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare. (Bernard Levin. From The Story of English. Robert McCrum, William Cran and Robert MacNeil. Viking: 1986). If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned agai... more
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The "is-is" Epidemic
Steve's Grammatical Observations brings you a close examination of commonly overlooked grammatical blunders we commit on a daily basis. Preposterous!
Do you say "is-is"? Steve's Grammatical Observations brings you a close examination of commonly overlooked grammatical blunders we commit on a daily basis... more -
Judge to man: 'Learn English or it's jail for you buddy'
A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail.
The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County, PA Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.
The men, Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo, plus a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario, all needed translators when they pleaded guilty Tuesday.
"Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?" the judge asked them.
What do you guys think...Outlandish or progressive? YOU decide?! A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail. ... more -
English will become many different "global dialects"
There are more people speaking English in India than in the rest of the native English-speaking world.
What does this mean to everyone? It means, what one person may presume to be "proper" English, may just be your dialect. There are more people speaking English in India than in the rest of the native English-speaking world. ... more -
Morrissey -- Irish Blood, English Heart
***Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!***
Irish blood, English heart, this I'm made of
There is no-one on earth I'm afraid of
And no regime can buy or sell me
I've been dreaming of a time when
To be English is not to be baneful
To be standing by the flag not feeling
Shameful, racist or partial
Irish blood, English heart, this I'm made of
There is no-one on earth I'm afraid of
And I will die with both my hands untied
I've been dreaming of a time when
The English are sick to death of Labour
And Tories, and spit upon the name of Oliver Cromwell
And denounce this royal line that still salute him
And will salute him forever
***Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!*** Irish blood, English heart, this I'm made of There is no-one on earth I'm afraid of ... more
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