WORDS

@Philippa I dont iike that either. Reach out sounds like someone wants to paw me. Totally creepy!

 

The only word that psssses me off more is veggies.
There might be a perfectly delicious recipe but when I see that word, I scroll with extreme prejudice.

 

The word that i don't like is when people say absolutely instead of just yes or no.

 

Why is English so irrational? There's a current tendency to spell the past tense of "to lead" as "lead", like the metal, rather than "led". I find this irritating but understandable. The past tense of "to read" is, to be fair, "read" and not "red". What's the past tense of "to plead"? I've heard both "pled" and "pleaded"... but should "pled" actually be spelt "plead"?

 

I once convinced my foreign colleague that since there's just one of him the proper way is to say he is Portugoose.

English language is a wonderful joyride of illogicalities. Then again, all languages have their bright moments. (The Child still doesn't quite believe me that an eyeball is in fact eye-egg in Finnish )

A classic:
A Finn and a Swede were arguing which ones mother tongue sounds more beautiful. Since they couldn't find any solution they asked help from an english linguistic, who asked both of them to translate the following poem by Percy Shelley into their own languages.

"Island, island, Grassy island, Grassy island´s Bride."

It was the Finn's turn first. He translated:

"Saari, saari, Heinäsaari, Heinäsaaren Morsian."

Then the Swede translated:

"Ö, ö, Hö-ö, Hö-öns Mö."

 

Both are correct.
The English language like the English race is a mongrel collection from all the races that have invaded us or we have invaded.

 

I'd agree about the mongrel nature of the English language, @NigelJ - but my dictionary, and the Internet, insist that the past tense and participle of "to lead" is "led".

 

The OED has led in lead v1 "to go before, alongside, to direct by direct or indirect means."
Cannot see more without subscribing, which is always a temptation for me. I used to be able to log in via my library card, then they cancelled the subscription, I complained and they told me nobody used it; making me an extra corporeal existence. Needless to say I am still aggrieved, angry, annoyed, cross, furious, indignant, irate, irritated, piqued, resentful, vexed etc.

 

I learnt that sulphur and sulphate were correct spellings. However that was too complicated for our US cousins who insisted that the rest of the world had to use sulfur and sulfate. Although they were happy with phosphorous and phosphate; go figure.

 

Whatever we think about the English language it is often the first choice of those wishing to learn a 2nd language.
We used to host students from various countries who attended the local college to learn English. The evening meal was the time everyone got together resulting in an extra lesson which often continued for several hours. Our African Grey parrot was always in attendance and would join in. The students learned quite a few phrases from him which they weren't taught at college. Their favourite was probably learning that the proper thing to say when you accidentally dropped something was "Oh sh*t "
The other aspect of language to consider is how long before those languages which use the male and female gender - Le / La for example - will feel the pressure to include all the extra genders we apparently have now. Language is continually evolving but be interesting to see how that will be dealt with in the future.

 

Actually I think you probably do. We know what LBGT stands for but they have now added Q which appears to be the term used for those who currently identify as Dogs, Cats, Horses etc etc. or even Dinosaurs