BS: English as taught in Nordic countries

Subject: RE: BS: English as taught in Nordic countries
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Sep 20 - 03:23 AM

the spelling of Capitalisation as used by one American [Capitalization] on this forum is in my opinion an abomination.

well the use of zeds (never zeees) does raise my hackles. But it has to be said that English (English or American) is anything but logical. A bastard language is bound to throw such lack of spelling/pronunciation logic or consistent orthogonality.
so / though / bow / hoe / snow
cow / bow / bough / how

or even Edinburgh / Peterborough / Middlesbrough.

and don't even get me started on OZ / Kiwi use of nouns automatically as verbs ................. despite the obvious / logical / orthogonality!

Subject: RE: BS: English as taught in Nordic countries
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 01 Sep 20 - 04:58 AM

or even Edinburgh / Peterborough / Middlesbrough.

Loughborough (LUF-bar-a) uses 'gh' twice with different pronunciations.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: English as taught in Nordic countries
From: Mrrzy
Date: 01 Sep 20 - 04:13 PM

Ok you asked for this. Read out loud:

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Other may stumble, but not you
On hiccough, thorough, laugh and through.
I write in case you wish perhaps
To learn of less familiar traps:
Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard, and sounds like bird.
And dead: it's said like bed, not bead;
Ford goodness' sake, don't call it "deed"!
Watch out for meat and great and threat
(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt).
A moth is not a moth in mother,
Nor both in bother, broth in brother.
And here is not a match for there,
Nor dear for bear, or fear for pear.
There's dose and rose, there's also lose
(Just look them up), and goose, and choose,
And cork and work, and card and ward,
And font and front, and word and sword,
And do and go and thwart and cart
Come come, I've barely made a start!
A dreadful language? Man alive,
I'd mastered it when I was five!

Subject: RE: BS: English as taught in Nordic countries
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Sep 20 - 03:09 AM

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: English as taught in Nordic countries
From: Jos
Date: 03 Sep 20 - 02:25 PM

It is surprising how often I hear people talking about Saint John's wort as if it was Saint John's wart (have they never encountered 'word' or 'worm' or 'world' ... ?).

Subject: RE: BS: English as taught in Nordic countries
From: HuwG
Date: 03 Sep 20 - 04:26 PM

Doug Chadwick, Loughborough, pronounced "Loogabarooga" by the Australian Post Office.

Subject: RE: BS: English as taught in Nordic countries
From: leeneia
Date: 05 Sep 20 - 08:35 PM

Huw, I think that's delightful.

Subject: RE: BS: English as taught in Nordic countries
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 06 Sep 20 - 05:07 AM

I went to the doctor to tell him I was having trouble pronouncing my 'f's and 'th's.

He said "You can't say fairer than that, then..."