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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
The subject is there.
Singular or plural?
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
I just run the two r's together and have no problem. To me, the lack of agreement between subject and verb is far more jarring than the flow of saying "there's" verus "there're."
I quite agree, nikeblack -"therur" rolls off the tongue perfectly as well as "there's."
As to finding Gareth difficult - that's probably because it is a Celtic name introduced into a largely Saxon environment, and the two never did mix all that well, in any situation. Try saying "Gareth Thistlethwaite" - without pausing for a drink in the middle!
Do any Welsh words that start with a "th" sound? If not (as I believe) then that sort of problem wouldn't occur.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156 |
Actually, I think my Dad's problem with Gareth stems from his tendency to roll all his R's, Italian-style (since that's what he is). It comes out as Garrrrruth, if he makes it all the way to the th without laughing. But I don't think my tongue likes that name much either. But rural? Am I the only person who just can't stand to say that word? It comes out "rrl". No audible vowels!  Just like there're = therr.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 544 |
I too get stuck on "rural," with the little hooks on the top of the r's getting all tangled up in the middle of the a, and it always sounds odd to my ear. Happily, I'm a city boy.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 87
journeyman
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OP
journeyman
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 87 |
Yup. There are some English, Anglo-Saxon?, words that defy the tongue. I new at least one Iranian who could not say world to save his life. The rld combination was too much and, indeed, upon examination of tongue posiiton, I must agree.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
A quote, I have a quote! "...let us reach into the inkwell jewel box and withdraw two sets of exquisite superscript signs--"for the right ear," for the left--and hang them from the lobes on either side of the word...(they) possess an understated, overlooked beauty that transcends the merely chic. (Do they not resemble, say, the windblown teardrops of fairy folk, commas on a trampoline, tadpoles with stomach cramps, or human fetuses in the first days following conception?)"--Tom Robbins, from his latest novel
I would normally type in the name of the novel if I had a clue how to underline book titles on this poor, handicapped half-a-computer I was given by my sister, and I just sent my flak jacket to the cleaners! (laugh) I don't have a clue how to use the cute little smiley faces either. So, if you are interested and can take it straight without the underline, let me know. Better yet, post it if you know it!:>
consuelo
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
There are certain dialects in the Southern United States (Appalachia?) where, for a possessive indicative they say "that's your'n" or 'that's their'n" .
rural
And can you imagine the difficulty of an Asian-language-speaking English student with this?... lular?
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
When I was teaching English in Singapore about 15 years ago, I had a lot of Japanese students. By a cruel twist of fate, most of them lived in River Valley Road.  Bingley
Bingley
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379 |
<<What I hate is when people use quotation marks for emphasis. For example, there was a sign at a 7-11 store that read: There will be a $15 charge for "each" returned checks!>>
Thanks for that, Alex Williams. For years I've wondered what the hell or on Earth quotation marks would be doing sighting every "each" or "any". You've taken one load from my shoulders and replaced it with another. But you may still return all your checks to me.
A summer frolic to everyone, and a mid-summer dream.
IP
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
consuelo, I bet my computer is older than yours! For tips, click on http://markup in your posts when you go to post, or better yet, go to Max's wonderful website, which will answer all your questions and then some: http://maxq.airscapenet.com (but please don't abuse the emoticons! *whistling*) .
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