The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language

Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by cgriswald on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @08:44AM (#21824679)

TLDR: Similarly spelled words are pronounced differently, like in an old Gallagher bit: https://youtu.be/X74j1wK_sa0

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by krige on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @08:53AM (#21824763)

that's small time. even identically spelled words are pronounced differently, see polish (shoe polish) / Polish (nationality)

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by ColinWright on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @09:44AM (#21825306)

Or entrance versus entrance, alternate versus alternate, refuse versus refuse, and more.

Edit: Sorry, I should perhaps not leave that hanging. These depend on your emphasis. More specifically:

* en-TRANCE (hypnotise) versus EN-trance (doorway);

* AL-ternate (switch between) versus al-TER-nate (the other thing);

* re-FUSE (to decline) versus RE-fuse (rubbish).

Not to mention the multiple meanings of "lead", "set", "row", "bow", and more.

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by StavrosK on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @08:57AM (#21824808)

Even worse are bow, row, lead, etc. English is crazy.

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by dfawcus on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @07:52PM (#21831081)

If you're going to mention 'bow' one should also remember 'bough' for additional fun.

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by dfawcus on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @08:04PM (#21831157)

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall.

When the bow breaks, the army will fall.

When the bow breaks, the actor will fall.

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by StavrosK on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @07:54PM (#21831098)

That's a homophone, not a homograph :/

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