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Chatterbox Winter 2017-2018

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 5:07 PM

Paul of Covington
And Spanish.

You have to watch a few things - "J" and "LL", f'rinstance.  For some reason, it took me a little while to figure out I was looking a signs on the highway for "La Hoya..." (La Jolla)  And there's the "N" with the mark over it as "NY" in canyon.  Cabrillo I learned early during my time on the left coast.

One such item in Samoan that give people the fits is the "G" in Pago Pago.  The totally uninitiated pronounce it "Pay-go Pay-go."  Folks somewhat familiar  with the pronunciation will say "Pang-oh Pang-oh."  In reality, it's more like "Pongo Pongo," except the G isn't as hard as in pang.  It's hard to explain.

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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 4:48 PM

Concerning English, how would you pronouce "Taliaferro," as in the town in Northwest Georgia?  I understand that the natives say, "Tolliver." And, I know of a personal name, "Prioleau"--which is pronounced "PRAYlow"--don't ask me to explain; I simply know the fact. I hope the family quit perpetuating the name; I knew of three men in the family with it; I saw two of them (cousins), and one of them was Prioleau, Junior. 

Johnny

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 4:34 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Compared to English spellings, Polish is easy.  You just pronounce it the way it looks (every letter is sounded).

 

   And Spanish.   You can look at any word that you have never seen or heard before and know exactly how to pronounce it.   The only exception is "X".   It's usually the same as in English, but in "Mexico" and "Texas" it's pronounced like "H", and in Aztec and Mayan words it's pronounced "SH".

   English is crazy.   How do you pronounce "ough"?

   Though.   Through.  Thought.   Tough.  Bough.  Cough.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 2:28 PM

afternoon

Damp and windy here in Nw Ohio.Ns has an eastbound coal train in the siding.They also sent a big mixed frieght east after I got off work.Chores and such to do here.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by smayham on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 7:39 AM

Long ago I spent a year in the easternost part of Congo, where they spoke a simplified form of Swahili. No dipthongs. Strictly phonetic. Say every vowel (ex: "taa" = light, pronounced "tah-ah"). Say every consonant. Odd grammar, but very regular, so once you get the hang of it, most all the words work the same way.

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 6:50 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH
Compared to English spellings, Polish is easy.  You just pronounce it the way it looks (every letter is sounded).

The Polynesian languages are similar.  That includes all of the vowels.  Faafetai (Samoan - "thank you") is five syllables.

Of course, diphthongs are always fun.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 6:42 AM

Compared to English spellings, Polish is easy.  You just pronounce it the way it looks (every letter is sounded).

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by tree68 on Monday, January 22, 2018 5:04 PM

Norm48327
I'm sure you get the picture without my going into further explanation. Think other languages are complicated? A word in English can have several meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

And this is the very basis of the malapropism.  I once worked with someone who never used a nickle word if a twenty-five cent word would suffice - even if it wasn't really the word that fit the situation....

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, January 22, 2018 3:26 PM

Balt,

Wanna hear pusedo English spoken; visit the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The natives of Ocracoke speak a versinon of Gullagh that is almost understandable to the tourists. Hearing them speak can be a trip.  Been there and have tried to interpret some of their conversations, sometimes unsucessfully.

For the most part they appear to be cut off from the rest of society and the local spoken word seems to reflect that.

Been to Ocracoke several times and have learned how the natives talk. It is not all that different from the rest of the country but the locals are entitled to their quirks.  My visits there found them to be a very interesting bunch of Americans to get to understand.

I have only flown there three times and wish to return to gobble down more of the seafood that they offer.

If you love seafood it will be well worthwhile to take a detour on your way south.

Norm


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Posted by Mookie on Monday, January 22, 2018 3:12 PM

Norm48327
Neice

Norm - this is i before e - but I will tell you a story, since you brought it up :  Couple in hospital were having a baby.  But she had twins (boy/girl) and they had no names for twins.  So his brother offered to name them for the couple.  This really pleased the couple, so they inquired what were the names he picked out.  "Well, Denise for the girl."  That sounded really great to the couple.  And the boy?  "DeNephew, of course!"

Moo

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, January 22, 2018 3:04 PM

Norm48327
I'm sure you get the picture without my going into further explanation. Think other languages are complicated? A word in English can have several meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

And different pronounciations depending upon the context in which it is used.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, January 22, 2018 2:54 PM

erikem
when I was in grammar school (grammar was taught every year--even through high school), I learned "...except when sounded as 'a' as in neighbor and weigh." I recently noticed another exception--which I do not remember at the moment.

The "I before E except after C" was indeed a  "gotcha". Thanks to an aunt who was a teacher in the early nineteenth century it still haunts me some days.

Only English majors know reality, and then only if they are willing to go back and study the Old Oxford Dictionary and learn the origional meaning of a word. I'm sure some of them will soon be along to correct us.

Neice, neighbor, weigh, still sometimes boggle my mind. Some days it is tough getting one's poop in a scoop.

Homonyoms can also confuse. Which way was he weighed? Was his wait equal to his weight?

I'm sure you get the picture without my going into further explanation. Think other languages are complicated? A word in English can have several meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

Norm


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Posted by erikem on Monday, January 22, 2018 2:34 PM

Deggesty

 

 
Norm48327

I admit to being old [chronologically but not mentally] just yet. One of my aunts was a teacher who said "I before e except after c" was a concrete rule. High shcool proved her wrong.

 

 

 

when I was in grammar school (grammar was taught every year--even through high school), I learned "...except when sounded as 'a' as in neighbor and weigh." I recently noticed another exception--which I do not remember at the moment.

 

 

I can think of a weird one....

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Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, January 22, 2018 2:24 PM

afternoon

More snowmelt here in Nw Ohio.Ns has an eastbound in the siding.Also the local has plenty of cars to pick up in town.Chores to do.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, January 22, 2018 1:52 PM

Norm48327

I admit to being old [chronologically but not mentally] just yet. One of my aunts was a teacher who said "I before e except after c" was a concrete rule. High shcool proved her wrong.

 

when I was in grammar school (grammar was taught every year--even through high school), I learned "...except when sounded as 'a' as in neighbor and weigh." I recently noticed another exception--which I do not remember at the moment.

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, January 22, 2018 1:48 PM

Left the truck outside the garage this morning because I'd planned on working on a project inside the garage this afternoon.

Fortunately, I decided to put it in, only I wish I'd thought of that earlier, as it already had a coating of ice.  Freezing rain is so much fun.  I've got some salt down on the driveway, but putting down sand right now would be a waste of time as it would just get coated over...

Schools are closing, or curtailing after school activities.

I just hope all the drivers settle down - I really don't want to have to go out in this mess.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Mookie on Monday, January 22, 2018 12:57 PM

Sir C - I told Houston Ed we were having a Blysard.  Obviously you are, too!

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, January 22, 2018 12:16 PM

I admit to being old [chronologically but not mentally] just yet. One of my aunts was a teacher who said "I before e except after c" was a concrete rule. High shcool proved her wrong.

Norm


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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, January 22, 2018 12:14 PM

Eight inches here yesterday...The locals were out dancing in the streets. The Californians, Texans, newly minted drivers and those too cheap to put sufficient tread on their tires were all in group therapy in the nearest ditch or trying to be one with a nearby tree.

Duncan loved it! Cold and snow don't phase a scottie.

I-70 from Denver to Kansas remains closed today.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by switch7frg on Monday, January 22, 2018 11:55 AM

WinkMs. Mookie, those letter twisting words were in school , 3rd grade they were hard to remember  which  letter came first --- as i before e or e before i, there for I went  out to recess .

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, January 22, 2018 11:31 AM

Murphy Siding
Each flake has a little, tiny label that says: "Made in Nebraska, the Corncobb State".

Knock-Offs - the real ones know how to spell - cobby....

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, January 22, 2018 10:08 AM

Murphy Siding
We're clear up to 2 inches of snow already.

I don't even bother to shovel that dusting... Smile, Wink & Grin

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, January 22, 2018 8:55 AM

Mookie
 
Murphy Siding
Most of it suspiciously looking like it was sent from Nebraska.  

 

   Mischief

 

 

Each flake has a little, tiny label that says: "Made in Nebraska, the Corncobb State".

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, January 22, 2018 8:42 AM

Murphy Siding
Most of it suspiciously looking like it was sent from Nebraska.  

   Mischief

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, January 22, 2018 7:28 AM

 

We're clear up to 2 inches of snow already. Most of it suspiciously looking like it was sent from Nebraska.Storm

 

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, January 21, 2018 8:07 PM

Mookie
Kelo land?  Is that a sister to kilo land?  Bet they are looking at No Dak and just can't read....

http://www.keloland.com/weather/home

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Mookie on Sunday, January 21, 2018 8:00 PM

Murphy Siding
It's OK that you're a little slow there. We still love you. The weather dorks are screaming "up to 12-18 inches of snow OR MORE! possible in parts of KELOland". At the same time, they're backpeddling and talking about how it might be closer to 2-4" based on some alternate weather models etc. 

Hey, John Boy - not sure how to take all the love...  Maybe put it in perspective - that and $9 will get me a latte....

Kelo land?  Is that a sister to kilo land?  Bet they are looking at No Dak and just can't read....

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, January 21, 2018 7:25 PM

evening

Foggy here in Nw Ohio.Under an advisory until tomorrow.The sperry bug made it out of our siding at work.Going to watch some more football.

stay safe

joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Sunday, January 21, 2018 7:24 PM

Mookie

Sir C:  I get the very normal, every winter feeling that this will be us (4-8) in about Feb/Mar/& April....We are, as usual, a little slow here....

 

It's OK that you're a little slow there. We still love you.Kisses


The weather dorks are screaming "up to 12-18 inches of snow OR MORE! possible in parts of KELOland". At the same time, they're backpeddling and talking about how it might be closer to 2-4" based on some alternate weather models etc. Dunce

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, January 21, 2018 6:54 AM

Paul of Covington
Can you northerners please keep your weather up there?

We've been saying the same thing to our neighbors to the north, however "Alberta Clippers" are a way of life here in the winter.

There have been a few days when you would have preferred our weather to your own - it's been warmer here than in Central Florida.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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