Re:English has been my pain for 15 years (2013)
by WalterBright on Wednesday December 22, 2021 @03:36AM
(#29646858)
Pronunciations and meanings shift all the time in English. Sometimes, words even flip meanings - like "fine" can mean anything but fine. Depends on the context!
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Re:English has been my pain for 15 years (2013)
by throwaway2037 on Wednesday December 22, 2021 @09:23AM
(#29649680)
Japanese has a similarly maddening expression for non-native speakers: "Kekko desu." (けっこです。) For example, if you have coffee and someone asks you if you want milk and sugar... to decline, you might reply "kekko desu" -- which means "it's fine as it is." It's tough to understand when to use it correctly! Still now, after more than 10 years of learning Japanese, I have memorised a few key situations when it is correct/safe to use the expression.
Re:English has been my pain for 15 years (2013)
by WalterBright on Thursday December 23, 2021 @01:42AM
(#29659314)
I adjust my use of English to the person or group I am talking to. This is sometimes derided as "coded speech", but I think it is just common courtesy.
But sometimes the word choices of ESL speakers just sound better than proper English, and I tend to pick that up, too. For example, I still find myself saying now and then:
"I'm going to make some shoppings."
"It's time for go."