English is Difficult
Here’s an excerpt from “Stuff You Didn’t Know,” which (among other things) explains why English (though lacking grammatical gender), is still unbelievably difficult for non-native speakers:
The combination “ough” can be pronounced in nine different ways. The following sentence contains them all: “A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed.”
Whoah. Perhaps Sagert could enlighten us with regard to other difficulties he sees from non-native speakers.
Comments
Caley +1
It seems like prepositions are hard…I have a neighbor who moved to the US from Columbia 35 years ago and she still says she is “in her way over” or “in the phone.” She also says she works at “es-school.” We’re pretty sure her English is getting worse the longer she lives here…
Nils
It is pretty interesting to think about how difficult our own language is to learn when compared to other languages. Personally, I find it most difficult to speak rather than write in foreign languages, so if I was trying to become a proficient English speaker, as so many people have to do today, I am pretty sure I would have a hell of a time with it. And a lot of Americans criticize immigrants who can’t speak English perfectly as stupid or inferior. That seems pretty unfair once you think about it.
Amber
I find that amazing. Yay English!
Sagert +2
Haha, where to begin… I agree with Caley, prepositions are always hard, as are articles (you try explaining the rules of when to use “a” and “the,” and then try explaining those rules to someone who isn’t a native speaker). Woulda coulda shoulda is also really hard, especially when you get into “would have had” territory. We also speak with a truckload of idioms. And grammar - there’s correct grammar, incorrect grammar, and then correct uses of incorrect grammar (usually in dialects). I could go on all day, but I won’t. Then there are things that just do and don’t exist in different languages - Japanese has politeness tenses that can’t compare to anything in English. Fun times.
Alexander Micek +1
I guess I hadn’t realized the extent of our use of idioms. And, come to think of it, our prepositions are a bit… goofy. The first thing that pops into my head (a weak illustration of the idiom thing) is that American phrase “I took an exam.” Canadians say “I wrote the exam.” To a foreigner, neither one would make the least bit of sense. Where did you take the test? If you wrote the exam, why did you get a grade on it?
I agree with you Nils — millions of people all over the world know English, and it makes everything from international commerce to world travel very easy for native speakers. The least we can do is have patience with those who are picking up this weird language. As the quote goes: “If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers.”
Nils +1
I gave Alex’s comment a heart because that quote is funny.
Dan McKeown
I gave Sagert a heart because he does not live here and he can hear the wonderful butchering of English all the time. Also, Sagert, say hi to my parents if you run into them over the next few weeks (they are in Japan).
Nils
I just gave my previous quote a heart because I felt bad that I haven’t been given one in a while.
Dan McKeown
Well I have Caley a heart because she posted on here first.