Why don't tough and dough rhyme - Arika Okrent
video description
Date: 2024-05-23
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 18
Echo81Rumple83
long story short: we were conquered several times in the past, then the phenomenon (i mean, fenominan) of the meme and vernacular evolution took its course. and then there's Mandarin, which is totally based on tonal sounds rather than different sounds for different letters/diphthongs based on a word's definition.
clearly, the two most difficult languages to learn for non-native speakers, even for both chinese and english's native speakers tryna learn each other's languages X3 and me with learning disabilities when it comes to the english language, i'm surprised i managed to come out of it unscathed, i never realize how eldritch it is from a distance.
reply
long story short: we were conquered several times in the past, then the phenomenon (i mean, fenominan) of the meme and vernacular evolution took its course. and then there's Mandarin, which is totally based on tonal sounds rather than different sounds for different letters/diphthongs based on a word's definition.
clearly, the two most difficult languages to learn for non-native speakers, even for both chinese and english's native speakers tryna learn each other's languages X3 and me with learning disabilities when it comes to the english language, i'm surprised i managed to come out of it unscathed, i never realize how eldritch it is from a distance.
reply
ghostderazgriz
I think English gets a bad rap for its inconsistency.
Consistency is great for learning, but it's not great for expression.
English's many exceptions make the language confusing for sure, but it also makes the language more fluid. The more exceptions a rule has, the more suggestive the rule feels, and so long as you know the core information of what you want to say, you can express yourself without the need to remember 50 tenses, gender forms, verb order, or sentence structure. I enjoy that flexibility of not being perfectly structured.
reply
I think English gets a bad rap for its inconsistency.
Consistency is great for learning, but it's not great for expression.
English's many exceptions make the language confusing for sure, but it also makes the language more fluid. The more exceptions a rule has, the more suggestive the rule feels, and so long as you know the core information of what you want to say, you can express yourself without the need to remember 50 tenses, gender forms, verb order, or sentence structure. I enjoy that flexibility of not being perfectly structured.
reply
awesomehpt8938
Well at least in English we don’t have to worry about everything being either masculine or feminine or even neutral like either in the Romance language or with German.
For example why in Spanish is a car masculine but a table is feminine They’re inanimate objects they shouldn’t need a gender
reply
Well at least in English we don’t have to worry about everything being either masculine or feminine or even neutral like either in the Romance language or with German.
For example why in Spanish is a car masculine but a table is feminine They’re inanimate objects they shouldn’t need a gender
reply
PLScypion
How to make English language: Take parts of Germanic (Anglo-Saxon variety is best) languages, part French, part Latin, sprinkle it with Flemish flavoring, stir thoroughly with a printing press and then throw the mixture into a vowel shifting blender for roughly 500 years, give or take 50.
reply
How to make English language: Take parts of Germanic (Anglo-Saxon variety is best) languages, part French, part Latin, sprinkle it with Flemish flavoring, stir thoroughly with a printing press and then throw the mixture into a vowel shifting blender for roughly 500 years, give or take 50.
reply
almightyswizz
The problem is the gh in enough where I’m from we pronounce enuth not enuff so the ghoti wouldn’t be fish rather it would be thish which isn’t a word anybody else says enough with a th and not an f
reply
The problem is the gh in enough where I’m from we pronounce enuth not enuff so the ghoti wouldn’t be fish rather it would be thish which isn’t a word anybody else says enough with a th and not an f
reply
markmunroe-hz8rf
One thing that makes English different from other languages, is that you can express yourself in various ways, whilst other tongues, the tones are limited.
But that's just my personal opinion.
reply
One thing that makes English different from other languages, is that you can express yourself in various ways, whilst other tongues, the tones are limited.
But that's just my personal opinion.
reply
antonfeirer3408
As someone who speaks German, learning English was pretty easy once I accepted that some things just were the way they were and couldn't be changed. Happens in German all the time: D
reply
As someone who speaks German, learning English was pretty easy once I accepted that some things just were the way they were and couldn't be changed. Happens in German all the time: D
reply
nguisin7732
I've realized that I'm learning a very complicated language. Btw am I learning a language which has been reformed and changed a lot to make an almost perfect version as today lol
reply
I've realized that I'm learning a very complicated language. Btw am I learning a language which has been reformed and changed a lot to make an almost perfect version as today lol
reply
mst671
when I learnt writing English, for some words I memorised how to pronouce it in my language, so in my head when writing beautiful I think Be-au-ti-ful or for language lan-gu-a-ge
reply
when I learnt writing English, for some words I memorised how to pronouce it in my language, so in my head when writing beautiful I think Be-au-ti-ful or for language lan-gu-a-ge
reply
coleashraf9621
At 4: 09 the hus pronunciation reminded me of how we tend to pronounce house in Scotland. I guess because Scots and Scottish English have retained more Germanic roots
reply
At 4: 09 the hus pronunciation reminded me of how we tend to pronounce house in Scotland. I guess because Scots and Scottish English have retained more Germanic roots
reply
annafilou
Ok, that doesn't really explain it though Why did they pick the same spelling for different sounds when they standardized it And why don't they at least fix this mess now
reply
Ok, that doesn't really explain it though Why did they pick the same spelling for different sounds when they standardized it And why don't they at least fix this mess now
reply
ambroiseperret6460
some french words snuck in
yeah something like 40% of the whole english language, there is more french in english than there is english in english.
reply
some french words snuck in
yeah something like 40% of the whole english language, there is more french in english than there is english in english.
reply
Sevara0806
As a person who learned english intentionally, l didn't even notice anything wrong/weird when learning it. I just got used to it as l listened and read
reply
As a person who learned english intentionally, l didn't even notice anything wrong/weird when learning it. I just got used to it as l listened and read
reply
Becky_Cooling
To anyone who has learnt English as a second language: Well done! English isn't easy, even if (like me) you've spent your whole life speaking it!
reply
To anyone who has learnt English as a second language: Well done! English isn't easy, even if (like me) you've spent your whole life speaking it!
reply
Wurfeln
In a way, English spelling is very similar to Chinese characters. They have some components that gives you hints but doesnt exactly tell you anything.
reply
In a way, English spelling is very similar to Chinese characters. They have some components that gives you hints but doesnt exactly tell you anything.
reply
pinkgreenmelon2209
English is so reasonably complicated. It reminds me of how hard spelling bees were when the words were actually so simple.
reply
English is so reasonably complicated. It reminds me of how hard spelling bees were when the words were actually so simple.
reply
topi1374
omg
I never realised until now that daughter with the guttural ch sounds like Tochter, the german word for it
thank you!
reply
omg
I never realised until now that daughter with the guttural ch sounds like Tochter, the german word for it
thank you!
reply
matematixyt
wonderful! can't get enough of these english spelling is complicated but there's actually a reason behind it typa things
reply
wonderful! can't get enough of these english spelling is complicated but there's actually a reason behind it typa things
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
