I Love English
Poem written by Feral From Malanda and davisr (Rhonda)70 total reviews
Comment from Chrissy710
Loved this, so witty and fun to try to read and yes how confusing the English language is. I teach international students and they often look at me with a weird look, not only is the English confusing but being Australian we also use a lot of STRINE in our every day speech. All sounds Ok to us but to non English background it must sound like garbage. Very well written deserves a 6 stars.Cheers Christineð???
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
  |
Loved this, so witty and fun to try to read and yes how confusing the English language is. I teach international students and they often look at me with a weird look, not only is the English confusing but being Australian we also use a lot of STRINE in our every day speech. All sounds Ok to us but to non English background it must sound like garbage. Very well written deserves a 6 stars.Cheers Christineð???
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
Thank you so much for the wonderful 6 star rating. You are awesome, and even in the States, our kids struggle with these words. Thanks again, you're the best!
Rhonda
-
Your, or could I say yore, and should I say you're welcome lol😀
Comment from gamay
Hello Ronda ,Im gamay im a friend of Fez from Philippines i like work and i read your last poem and its very nice and i tried to read more when i can. .Im still praticing in reviewing and still i dont have confidence until now with my english . Take care God bless.
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
 |
Hello Ronda ,Im gamay im a friend of Fez from Philippines i like work and i read your last poem and its very nice and i tried to read more when i can. .Im still praticing in reviewing and still i dont have confidence until now with my english . Take care God bless.
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
Thank you so much, Gamay! It is wonderful to hear from you, and I appreciate your review. That is so sweet, thank you,
Rhonda
Comment from Nosha17
All these wonderful homonyms just highlight how beautiful our language is. There are 200 million people learning English at the present time in China-there must be something in it or why would they bother? It is the universal language and it is up to us as English speakers to make sure it is properly preserved and spoken.
I know your verse was only meant for fun, but it will maybe make people aware of how important these spellings are and help them not to fall into these traps. Guess, I shouldn't mind, keeps me in editing work!!
I have noted recently that in some prose written by non-native English speakers their English is better than some native speakers!!!!! Anyway, to your poem, most enjoyable fun read, with excellent rhyming and great play on words.
Faye.
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
|
All these wonderful homonyms just highlight how beautiful our language is. There are 200 million people learning English at the present time in China-there must be something in it or why would they bother? It is the universal language and it is up to us as English speakers to make sure it is properly preserved and spoken.
I know your verse was only meant for fun, but it will maybe make people aware of how important these spellings are and help them not to fall into these traps. Guess, I shouldn't mind, keeps me in editing work!!
I have noted recently that in some prose written by non-native English speakers their English is better than some native speakers!!!!! Anyway, to your poem, most enjoyable fun read, with excellent rhyming and great play on words.
Faye.
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
Thank you so much! The poem, obviously was written for fun, but the greater purpose being to bring to light some of the nuances of our language that allows us so much flexibility in meaning. For Fez's part, he has the unique perspective of being able to see both sides of English, as the learner and the learned. For someone who grew up as he did, he has great flexibility and comfort with the language. Thanks for taking the time to give it a detailed review,
Rhonda
Comment from alexisleech
Hilarious! I bet it took ages to bind that all together so well. This was an excellent example of the little things that end up tripping us all up in the English language. I think after you've been here for a while you go into edit mode every time you read anything. It's beginning to drive me nuts!
Another great poem to cheer our day. Thanks guys!
Alexis x
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
|
Hilarious! I bet it took ages to bind that all together so well. This was an excellent example of the little things that end up tripping us all up in the English language. I think after you've been here for a while you go into edit mode every time you read anything. It's beginning to drive me nuts!
Another great poem to cheer our day. Thanks guys!
Alexis x
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
I think that was one of the reasons we wrote it, to poke fun at ourselves as editors, but also to highlight the difficult landmines we travel through when trying to write. On the other hand, multiple meanings help when you are trying to rhyme! Thanks for the review,
Rhonda
Comment from Sasha
This is terrific and I completely understand the confusion. I live in Mexico and the locals find English beyond confusing and are always asking me why we have so many words that mean that are pronounced the same but spelled differently and don't mean the same thing. I never have a good answer because I have trouble with some of the same words myself and I was born in the US and almost flunked English grammar. My spelling is atrocious and I still haven't figured out when to used effect or affect...I could go on and on. Your poem does a perfect job describing the frustrations of trying to learn English--something I am still trying to do.
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
|
This is terrific and I completely understand the confusion. I live in Mexico and the locals find English beyond confusing and are always asking me why we have so many words that mean that are pronounced the same but spelled differently and don't mean the same thing. I never have a good answer because I have trouble with some of the same words myself and I was born in the US and almost flunked English grammar. My spelling is atrocious and I still haven't figured out when to used effect or affect...I could go on and on. Your poem does a perfect job describing the frustrations of trying to learn English--something I am still trying to do.
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
Thank you so much for the review and for understanding the purpose of the poem. Not only did we have fun writing it, but it helps us all to think about the things that frustrate us as well. Lay and Lie I don't think I will ever get!
Rhonda
Comment from flip86
I am a bilingual myself and having an accent speaking is one problem I experienced but I got by for 29 years of living here. It was hurtful, embarrassing and , degrading sometimes. I would hear people say, "Speak English!" but can they write? is what I always defend of myself, a silent defense mechanism inside of me. You did an excellent job with same sounding words and meanings. That is hard to come up with but with your expertise, it reads wonderful. It amused me to the max. Keep writing and thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
|
I am a bilingual myself and having an accent speaking is one problem I experienced but I got by for 29 years of living here. It was hurtful, embarrassing and , degrading sometimes. I would hear people say, "Speak English!" but can they write? is what I always defend of myself, a silent defense mechanism inside of me. You did an excellent job with same sounding words and meanings. That is hard to come up with but with your expertise, it reads wonderful. It amused me to the max. Keep writing and thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
Thank you so much for sharing your own story and frustrations as a second language learner. I know it must have been hard, but it seems you have mastered it as you work your way through it better than most who were born in an English speaking nation. Fez is multi-lingual, too, and I think that's one reason he chose our topic this time. Thanks for your review,
Rhonda
-
You are very welcome. Nowadays, I just take it with a grain of salt. Thank you too for your sympathy and empathy. Did I write it right?
-
Hey, sympathy and empathy, those were two good ones to have added to our poem!
Comment from tfawcus
There have been many delightful examples such as this of the pitfalls one finds in the English language, a minefield for foreigners and tricky navigation for the natives, too. Your poem picks out some of the old favourites and gives them a poetic twist. I remember working for a Belgian years ago who once said to me,"I cannot understand this bloody language. You cut a tree down then chop it up!"
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
|
There have been many delightful examples such as this of the pitfalls one finds in the English language, a minefield for foreigners and tricky navigation for the natives, too. Your poem picks out some of the old favourites and gives them a poetic twist. I remember working for a Belgian years ago who once said to me,"I cannot understand this bloody language. You cut a tree down then chop it up!"
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
Thank you so much for the colorful review. I love the way you responded to it as it is encouraging and helpful. Funny quote at the end. I think that about sums our language "pitfalls" well.
Rhonda
Comment from TPAC
Similar Words Rules. Poet, and or writer, gives to reader the tricky relationship found in certain words, work captures improper usage of words in line structuring, these words misdirecting from the writer aimed to say intents, disruption bring incoherent statements in lines acclaims. Super lesson for all, I know I drank it up having in my work done this abuse
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
|
Similar Words Rules. Poet, and or writer, gives to reader the tricky relationship found in certain words, work captures improper usage of words in line structuring, these words misdirecting from the writer aimed to say intents, disruption bring incoherent statements in lines acclaims. Super lesson for all, I know I drank it up having in my work done this abuse
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
Thank you so much for your very detailed and thorough response. I also appreciate your opinion and comments on your own experience.
Rhonda
Comment from mfowler
This is so obviously a collaboration between you two. I could feel the larrikin humour of Fez coming through and the interest of the schoolteacher is there too, as you've chosen and parodied all of our favourite words that kids love to mess up. Each verse is brim full of great examples and great humour about the quirks of our great language.
Very entertaining and original.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
|
This is so obviously a collaboration between you two. I could feel the larrikin humour of Fez coming through and the interest of the schoolteacher is there too, as you've chosen and parodied all of our favourite words that kids love to mess up. Each verse is brim full of great examples and great humour about the quirks of our great language.
Very entertaining and original.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
Thank you so much! Your comments are so true. It was Fez's idea to begin with, but I love messing with the English language, so I was ripe for the picking on this one, and, shoot, if we can teach something, too, that's even more fun! Thanks a lot, or alot,
Rhonda
Comment from giraffmang
Hi there,
I read a post in the forum a few days ago saying the same thing. Funny!
It is a tricky language made even worse by regional accents which change the pronunciation of the words as well, and colloquialisms! Aargghh...
thrown write in the deep end, or should that be spelled throne - no but it should be RIGHT
they'll won't be back and certainly won't forget where they have bean. I don't think this one is intentional either They'll won't?
All the best
GMG
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
|
Hi there,
I read a post in the forum a few days ago saying the same thing. Funny!
It is a tricky language made even worse by regional accents which change the pronunciation of the words as well, and colloquialisms! Aargghh...
thrown write in the deep end, or should that be spelled throne - no but it should be RIGHT
they'll won't be back and certainly won't forget where they have bean. I don't think this one is intentional either They'll won't?
All the best
GMG
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 29-May-2015
reply by the author on 29-May-2015
-
I will check, I thought I had already corrected the "they'll" . We knew it was a mess-up. I'll go back in and see. Thanks