Red: Opinions on English (was Re: basic vocab)

Zhang2323@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 2000:09:17 12:04:08 AM, microtonal@SERICAP.COM writes:
>
> >I've always rather liked English, at least once I realized that there
> >actually *is* a method to the madness.
>
>     *snarfle* English is such a magpie language it's wonder it got so
> "powerful." Then again there are IMHO many types of Englishes, even within
> America - to not neglect sayin' da whole wide world.
>     One of my favourite Englishes is Hindlish - that wonderfully ornate
> English:
>
>     Why not let the English language to relax,
>     And have a truly tropical weekend?
>     After a course of the choicest Indian rudery,
>     English may return, chastened, to its prudery.
>     No? You won't agree?
>     Forgive me, you look sickened.
>     In Shakespeare's day,
>     English was a dandy...
>
>         - Prof. P. Lal, India
>
> >It's not quite as subtle as Classical Greek or as rhythmic as Latin or as
> >liquid as French, but it's a nice, solid language.
>
>     I once read a German writer's opinion that English was like a
> bricklayer's apprentice who is just getting his skills together... there is
> bound to be a lotta messiness.
>
> >The rules make perfect sense, once you learn
> >them all, and they have very few exceptions.
>
>     *snarfle* sheesh, have you seen the actual literacy skill levels of
> American and British kids? Even native speakers have a hard time with English
> IMO.
>
> >It's very utilitarian, flexible, and at times quite beautiful (as evidenced
> by >some of the great British and American writers).
>
>     "... wipe alley english spooker, or multiphoniaksically spuking off the
> face of the erse..." - James Joyce, Irishman,  _Finnegans Wake_
>
> >It also has the great advantage of
> >a huge lexis of loanwords from all kinds of languages upon which to
> >draw, and forming new words is extremely easy.
>
>     That I agree with whole-heartedly. Makee Inglis eazy ta mutate!
>
>     czHANg
>
> > English is a whore.
> - Lars Henrik Mathiesen
>
> << One thing foreigners, computers, & poets
> have in common is that they make
> unexpected linguistic associations. >>
>     * Jasia Reichardt
>     - creative cyberneticist *
--
Daniel Seriff
microtonal@sericap.com
http://members.tripod.com/microtonal

Si iterum insanum me appelles, oculum alterum tuum edem.