When reading English have a dictionary handy

Adam has recently drawn our attention to the very large numbers of words that may or may not be in use, in modern English. A lot of these words are very infrequently used, or used only within limited circles.

I can remember when I was at school one particular boy singing the 'artichoke' song. For some reason the word 'artichoke' seemed interesting, so he made up a song with the word repeated endlessly.

When I was learning to drive, my father used to tell me to 'use more throttle' etc. Now-er-day, driving instructors have standardised their instructions, and they only every talk about stepping on the gas, which of course, an Americanism.

NATO have deliberately restricted the number of words that the armed services are allowed to use in their communications.

My main point was that last night, I went into Tesco, and I had a look at the children's books to see how easy they were to read. As well as Jacqueline Wilson, there were books by Roald Dahl. The chapter of one of his books was called 'The Baby Austin' and in it were descriptions of using the clutch and the choke. (It did not go into the intricacies of double de-clutching.) This would be quite difficult for a lot of British people to understand, let alone Americans. So even reading a children's book, you really need a very good dictionary.

.
DANNY
The Champion of the World

By Roald Dahl

CHAPTER 6 - "Mr. Victor Hazell"
& CHAPTER 7 - "The Baby Austin"

VOCABULARY:

brewery - smug - precisely - indicate - estate - superior - wriggle - dread - snob - inspect

prickly - swerve - glimpse - cozy - stealth(ily) - ruin - inflamed - twilight - petrified - immense

..

1. Who is Mr. Victor Hazell?

2. Why doesn’t Danny’s father like Mr. Hazell?

3. What is meant by decarbonizing?

4. Explain why twilight is the best time to catch pheasant.

5. Why did Dad wear the navy blue sweater and peaked cap to go poaching?

6. What did Danny think when he woke up at 2:10 in the night?

7. Make an open mind to show Danny’s thoughts and feeling as he was driving the Baby Austin?

*** I have no idea what this expression 'make an open mind' means. I can only imagine that it is some sort of diagramatic display of what someone is thinking like a 'mind map'. ***

http://www.lifestreamcenter.net/DrB/Lessons/Danny.htm

More on having an open mind.


Would anyone care to export their mind?




Mind Mapping in 4 Easy Steps

Create a Mind Map
Take notes to your Mind Map
Customize your Mind Map
Export your Mind Map


http://www.matchware.com/en/products/mindview/default.htm

Spot the deliberate mistake


On top of every thing else, native speakers are constantly making mistakes.


"Now-er-day, driving instructors have standardised their instructions, and they only every talk about stepping on the gas, which of course, an Americanism."


Now-er-days, driving instructors have standardised their instructions and they only ever talk about "stepping on the gas", which of course, is an Americanism.


British people are fed on a diet of all things American. So British English and American English are not hugely different. However there were quite a few words in Barrack Obama's books that I did not understand. Particularly words that are associated with American politics. But it is not difficult to find a specialised vocabulary. Also Barrack Obama is using words that appeal to 'ordinary Americans' that are not found in more formal academic writing. He is trying to write - as he speaks.

This was the point MrP was making else where. That users of Microsoft Word are encouraged not to use 'the passive voice' but to express themselves with more conviction.

The vocabulary is restricted only in pidgin English.
Why don't Germans and French restrict their language to 200 words so foreigner tourists can understand them better? lol

Austin A30

http://ned.ronet.ru/0/Autosalon09.htm

***Spot the deliberate mistake***

Here's one I noticed in particular:

***British people are fed on a diet of all things American***

My main point was that last night, I went into Tesco, and I had a look at the children's books to see how easy they were to read. As well as Jacqueline Wilson, there were books by Roald Dahl. The chapter of one of his books was called 'The Baby Austin' and in it were descriptions of using the clutch and the choke. (It did not go into the intricacies of double de-clutching.) This would be quite difficult for a lot of British people to understand, let alone Americans. So even reading a children's book, you really need a very good dictionary.
>>

Just because 90% of English vocabulary isn't used doesn't mean we're fucking dumbasses! When will people realize that Americans find British English FUCKING EASY to understand? There seems to be this myth that Brits can understand American,but Americans are retarded and can't understand Brits.

And no, I've never needed a dictionary when reading a children's book, and especially not a VERY GOOD one!



<<.
DANNY
The Champion of the World

By Roald Dahl

CHAPTER 6 - "Mr. Victor Hazell"
& CHAPTER 7 - "The Baby Austin"

VOCABULARY:

brewery - smug - precisely - indicate - estate - superior - wriggle - dread - snob - inspect

prickly - swerve - glimpse - cozy - stealth(ily) - ruin - inflamed - twilight - petrified - immense>>


What the hell? Those are the most basic words imaginable! I knew them all by the time I was 5.

Did you follow the link?

The link was to a school in L.A.

You might find these words easy, but I am sure that a lot of people don't.

How many people know what a "Baby Austin" is?

This is a Forum for people learning English. Not for Americans who are meant to have a passing knowledge of English.

I think that I am right in saying that most Americans drive automatics. So how many Americans know how to use a clutch, let alone, double de-clutch?

This is your message to people learning English? When reading English have a dictionary handy? Wow, we'd never figure out. Thank you, Robin Michael.

"This is your message to people learning English? When reading English have a dictionary handy?"

I have just been reading "Empire of the Sun" by J. G. Ballard. The first time I read it I really found it quite difficult to understand. First of all it introduces a number of new terms. But perhaps more importantly, it creates a very strange world, in which there are dead bodies all over the place. It was only after I read the article in Wikipedia about the battle of Shanghai, that it started to make sense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shanghai

So, perhaps my message is - wehn reading English, have your laptop handy.


From another Post

Don`t listen to them. If you want to be a poet, do it. If you want to write in English, do it. Two of the English language`s best writers were not native to the English language. I`m thinking here of Ann Rand and Nabokov. I am sure there are more. Most native English speakers have to read Nabokov`s "Lolita" with a dictionary at hand.

<<I think that I am right in saying that most Americans drive automatics. So how many Americans know how to use a clutch, let alone, double de-clutch? >>

I last touched a clutch pedal in 1974. Using a clutch these days is like using a fountain pen, manual film camera and light meter, slide rule, log tables, etc. I did all those things back in the day, but no longer need to.

<<<<I think that I am right in saying that most Americans drive automatics. So how many Americans know how to use a clutch, let alone, double de-clutch? >>

I last touched a clutch pedal in 1974. Using a clutch these days is like using a fountain pen, manual film camera and light meter, slide rule, log tables, etc. I did all those things back in the day, but no longer need to. >>


Yes, but Robin Michael seemed to be implying that because we don't use them we don't know what they are and need to look them up in the dictionary. That's just retarded, it will be many generations yet before people don't know what they are. I mean, I know what log tables, fountain pens, light meters, slide rules and manual film cameras are even though I haven't used any in my life.

R. Dahl was my favorite author in elementary school. I grew up on a diet of his books. No I did not find the, the least bit difficult to understand.

What is a 'spaz'



Spaz - From spastic, the disability.

Means a person that acts insane or mentally retarded

Dave ran around screaming with his tounge hanging out like a spaz


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spaz


I don't think that is a very nice thing to say about anyone. Why is there never a monitor around when you need one?