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Why English is so hard to learn

Eagle 3 · 4 · 1276

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Online Eagle 3

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Online Roger

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Thanks for that Eagle - even as a native it's interesting to see it like that   :-\

English is so hard that people from the USA struggle with it and some words they just can't learn e.g. route, for which the USA chosen pronunciation is rout - (you know, like an army or a football team), instead of the correct pronunciation, sounds like root. It's not the only example and it's an impertinence with the language we taught them. There are many other examples of this distortion, spelling too.

But the English can get their own language wrong - the River and County of 'Avon' is increasingly pronounced as a well known door to door cosmetic, AvOn - drives me potty. It's AvUn !

No offence to our American friends but please take note  ;)  ATB



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Online Hector

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Yes, interesting to see those 'heteronyms' (new word to me!) listed like that.  I think one learns one's native language (or languages) by a process of absorption, listening, imitation and repetition, so that the pronunciation of words like though, through or thought becomes automatic – depending on where you live, as regional variations (Roger) make a difference and are not 'wrong' per se.  An eminent professor from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, who had been teaching public speaking for fifty years, believed that anyone only had to live in an area for 6-12 months to absorb something of the local accent.  He went on to prove his point by getting each of the 6 of us in the group to give a short 2 minute talk on whatever.  He then proceeded to tell each of us about our background,  we had been brought up, educated, lived and worked, although the last was easy as we were all in the same profession, but he was uncannily accurate!
The American version/s of English owe more to the Latin based English words rather than the (often shorter) Anglo-Saxon base, eg; terminate for end or finish; commence instead of start, and they modified the spelling of many words to suite the sound: color, catalog, traveled etc.  I suspect this is one reason foreigners find American English easier than British English.
But whatever – language evolves and changes; who would use the word 'gay' now to describe bright or light-hearted or 'rubbers' instead of erasers (except in England – maybe!).  Language is a fascinating subject; it is a pity it is taught so badly in Thailand.


Online Roger

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Thanks for your reply Hector.

You mention 'regional variations' - pronunciation ? That's fine of course but to be honest, some speakers with 'variations' are hard to follow, even for native listeners.

The teaching of English in Thailand - I agree and don't want to offend anybody but the fact is, some of these Teachers are not good enough. Broad UK accents and English spoken by those for whom English is not  a native tongue, make the learning of English MUCH more difficult and limits the achievement of the students. (I have listened in a Class where I could barely make out what the Teacher was saying). As one of the few earning opportunities for Falang in Thailand, some are attracted who are not really good enough.

Re. the US destruction of some English words - route. The pronunciation of 'rout' is adopted even though it has a totally unrelated meaning. Yes language evolves but this is distortion.

All good fun . . . .

''If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough'' - Albert Einstein