I live in Russia and have not found a restaurant that serves haggis. On the oth
r hand, New Year's Day is coming up; tradition in this part of the country is t
eat boiled collard greens and black eyed peas, with a side of cornbread. This i
s supposed to bring You good luck and money for the Year to come according to f
lk superstitions.
[...] boiled collard greens and black eyed peas,
with a side of cornbread.
I believe that is the same tradition with some
in the USA, at least the black eyed peas and
cornbread are.
Uh-huh. The original author of this message lives in North Carolina,
not in Russia. Denis changed only the "Subj" line & the geographical name.
I think he's trying to learn English by copying patterns & trying out
variations on them. This can be a useful learning strategy at times, but it is
confusing to the rest of us when we can't be sure who said what or whether he's
reporting accurately here in E_T what's going on in his life... [wry grin].
Mike!Hate to say it but he has a note there from COOKING that now saysHmmmm... <GRIN>
Russia but the rest was from Ruth who lives in South Carolina.
What is grin ? because I learn English from echo, Friend.
I think he's trying to learn English by copying patterns
& trying out variations on them. This can be a useful
learning strategy at times, but it is confusing to the
rest of us when we can't be sure who said what or whether
he's reporting accurately here in E_T what's going on in
his life... [wry grin].
Yes, but whatever works I guess. A friend of mine who
came here from Vietnam c1975 learned English by watching
TV shows, like "Three's Company" and "The Dukes of Hazard."
nce... where she married a Frenchman. When Dallas's father said "Does your sto
ach think your throat's been cut?" he was quite baffled. In an attempt to help
nce... where she married a Frenchman. When Dallas's father said "Does your
stomach think your throat's been cut?" he was quite baffled. In an attempt to help
I shall have to admit that this saying is quite lost on me also. :)
I think he's trying to learn English by copying patterns & trying
out variations on them. This can be a useful learning strategy at
times, but it is confusing to the rest of us when we can't be
sure who said what or whether he's reporting accurately here in
E_T what's going on in his life... [wry grin].
Yes, but whatever works I guess. A friend of mine who came here
from Vietnam c1975 learned English by watching TV shows,
like "Three's Company" and "The Dukes of Hazard."
Hmm. As a learning assistance teacher, I was called upon to help a
girl in kindergarten who came to school without a word of English.
I was told she enjoyed the movie ET so much, however, that she
watched it numerous times. If she were older I might have
recommended STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND....
Different people have different preferred learning styles... and if Denis's instruction in English thus far has been mainly from
textbooks I think it must require a great deal of courage on his
part to interact with folks who routinely use colloquial English in Fidonet echoes.
I also wonder about my speaking abilities. But well, time's going on. Maybe some day the echo writers in ENGLISH_TUTOR would be able to talk a little via Skype and have a baptism of fire. ;-) Although there is a difficulty -- you have a night when we have a day. ;)
Ah -- usually a statement: "My stomach thinks my throat's been cut" implying >that you're absolutely starving, so much so that the stomach (if it could speak
would ask what's wrong up there? :-)
LOL, I thought it was either something like that, or that it meant someone was not eating very much. :)
What is grin ? because I learn English from echo,It means a "smile."
Friend.
What is grin ? because I learn English from echo,It means a "smile."
Friend.
Not quite, on account of grin's negative connotations.
Consider, if you will, Son Houses's great song "Grinnin' in
your face". I think its best recording is by Son himself,
done acapella during the 1965 blues festival:
Unfortunately I don't seem to have it at hand in digital
form, but can easily upload it should you be interested.
Not quite, on account of grin's negativeWell, I did not say it meant "polite smile." :)
connotations. Consider, if you will, Son
Houses's great song "Grinnin' in your face".
I ought to be able to find a copy. I am curious
to hear it.
Not quite, on account of grin's negativeWell, I did not say it meant "polite smile." :)
connotations. Consider, if you will, Son
Houses's great song "Grinnin' in your face".
I appeal to the dictionary:
Here you are -- a rare alternate take:
https://freeshell.de/~antonius/file_host/SonHouse-GrinninInYourFace-alt.fla
Having no no loudspeaker connected to my PC, I ask
to let me if it happens to be the wrong file.
Maybe it is a regionalism, but "grin" is most used in
this part of the US without negative connotation as a
synonym to "smile."
I would agree grin is a word that requires context, as
does smile.
Thank you, I will give it a listen!
Thank you, I will give it a listen!
One may give a song a listen, a picture a look, an advice a
try, a film a watch, a book a read, an idea a think or two.
One of my first trips to Germany cost me a month of my
life. It actually wasn't half bad. When I heard for
the first time, "I have a stomach feeling," I had to
put it into context ("I have a gut feeling" or "I have
a strong feeling").
Skype, it might be interesting to help out--a trial by
fire! :)
One of the things I find intriguing about German is that
it's almost understandable, with a bit of fuzzy logic,
to a native speaker of English. The grammar is some-
thing else...
Different people have different preferred learning styles... and
if Denis's instruction in English thus far has been mainly from
textbooks I think it must require a great deal of courage on his
part to interact with folks who routinely use colloquial English
in Fidonet echoes.
I also wonder about my speaking abilities.
I applaud your courage too, because generating language requires a
much higher order of skill than understanding it & when you're
speaking aloud you don't have time to consult a dictionary or a
grammar book....
Maybe some day the echo writers in ENGLISH_TUTOR would be able to
talk a little via Skype and have a baptism of fire.
Interesting idea. I've often thought it would be nice to visit my correspondents from Russia & elsewhere in person, but for various
reasons the chances are slim to zilch. OTOH... one of the things
many of us have learned from COVID-19 is how to maintain contact
with our nearest & dearest via Skype (or Zoom or whatever) when we
can't go out visiting the way we used to.
Although there is a difficulty -- you have a night when we have a
day.
Yes... but it may not be insurmountable. I see when you post from
Tommi's system that you're evidently a morning person, whereas
Dallas & I are not. I'm just beginning to hit my stride at 8:00 PM
local time... [chuckle].
I am a morning person when I go to my office. I can secretly type some messages to FIDO behind my colleges backs, but it is hardly possible to do Skype talks, without having round eyes around. ;-) On weekend, of course, I like to sleep more than usual. Although, maybe at 9am Moscow Time on Sunday it can be the window, while you have 10pm.
Another problem, as I had said once, is that the Russian
language consists of longer words than English,
and because of it a Russian thinks and understands slow-
er. ;-)
So, for training hearing skills a Russian should start
hearing all the Russian video show and movies sped up by
1.5-2 times.
Unfortunately I have no such a device. To be exactly I
have it, but it often freeze after couple of minutes of
speeded up playing. ;-<
A language does not consist of words. It merely hasA machine has details or consists of details?
them. You may say that the vocabulary consist[s] of
words.
When they (the Russian animators) record sound they very
often speed up voices and dialogues.
A funny film demands speed and dynamic.
Our famous Winnie-the-Poor also speaks quicker than the
actor who voiced him.
You don't understand -- most Russian people should gain
skills in quick word processing if they want to under-
stand quick English speech.
I should never recommend this with real speech, becauseWhen my aim is focused on training my speed skills I
that way you lose all emotional content. While remas-
tering
don't pay too much attention on such details.
Besides -- you can watch two time more shows and movies.
It is shame to spend time watching serials ->
in Russian, but if you speed them up you waste lesstime and get more hearing skills.
IMHO, first, a learner should learn how to hear and un-
derstand quick speech. Then he can enjoy emotions.
When they (the Russian animators) record sound they very
often speed up voices and dialogues. A funny film de-
mands speed and dynamic. Our famous Winnie-the-Poor also
speaks quicker than the actor who voiced him.
You don't understand -- most Russian people should gain skills in
quick word processing if they want to understand quick English
speech.
First, your recommendation is not entirely exact, because learners
need to train their speech-recognition (word-processing, as you
call them) skills in the language they are learning. There is no
such thing as the general, languageagnostic speech-recognition
skills. Second, your advice is true for any other learner of any
other language.
I should never recommend this with real speech, because that way
you lose all emotional content. While remastering
When my aim is focused on training my speed skills I don't pay too
much attention on such details.
Good for you, but I grow bored and disgusted when exposed to
second-rate content. When the material is good, however, learning
anything becomes a pleasure.
Besides -- you can watch two time more shows and movies.Good for you, but I go for quality instead of quantity.
It is shame to spend time watching serials - >I should agree if your sentence ended here, but you continue:
- > in Russian, but if you speed them up you waste less time and
get more hearing skills.
You mean TV series? English or Russian ones? In my opinion, TV
series almost never rise to the level of art and remain a sort of
cultural cud.
I did moderately enjoy "Downton Abbey", though, when
it was screened on our "Kultura" channel, ad-free. Most good TV
series are by today's measures either very short or otherwise non- conventional, e.g. the original Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone", or
Tatiana Lioznova's "Seventeen moments in spring."
IMHO, first, a learner should learn how to hear and understand
quick speech. Then he can enjoy emotions.
I beg to differ, for emotions facilitate both understanding and
learing.
When they (the Russian animators) record sound they very
often speed up voices and dialogues. A funny film de-
mands speed and dynamic. Our famous Winnie-the-Poor also
speaks quicker than the actor who voiced him.
I forgot so remark that it was done not to add speed and dy-
namics, but to change the timber of the voice: Eugeniy
Leonov spoke slowly, so that the sped-up version would have
normal tempo but increased pitch.
I forgot so remark that it was done not to add speedNo -- this animation is very old
and dynamics, but to change the timber of the voice:
Eugeniy Leonov spoke slowly, so that the sped-up ver-
sion would have normal tempo but increased pitch.
at that time they could not increase pitch without
changing tempo. Such possibility had appeared only after
appearing powerful computers.
Although the fact that Englishmen talk words quicker
than Russians is obvious when we watch American movies.
For instance, when I read textbooks I have no pleasure,
but I know they are useful.
A great subject is not necessary.
For instance, I read now "The Gun Seller" by Hugh Lau-
rie. A usual not very bright subject, but the language
is super, great, marvellous and original.
Somebody in heaven and under earth like serials very
much. All life on Earth is a big serial. Besides, there
are some serials in Russia which are very pretty,
stylish and certainly are worth to be seen once. For in-
stance, the serial about a cool, stylish Russian fashion
firm and quite ugly, but very clever girl who went to
work there. Speed it up by 1.5 times and you will have a
good hearing training, without boredom.
I applaud your courage too, because generating language
requires a much higher order of skill than understanding
it & when you're speaking aloud you don't have time to
consult a dictionary or a grammar book....
Another problem, as I had said once, is that the Russian
language consists of longer words than English, and
because of it a Russian thinks and understands slower. ;-)
So, for training hearing skills a Russian should start
hearing all the Russian video show and movies sped up
by 1.5-2 times.
I am a morning person when I go to my office. I can
secretly type some messages to FIDO behind my colleges
backs, but it is hardly possible to do Skype talks,
without having round eyes around. ;-)
On weekend, of course, I like to sleep more than usual.
maybe at 9am Moscow Time on Sunday it can be the window,
while you have 10pm.
I applaud your courage too, because generating language requires a
much higher order of skill than understanding it & when you're
speaking aloud you don't have time to consult a dictionary or a
grammar book....
Another problem, as I had said once, is that the Russian language
consists of longer words than English, and because of it a Russian
thinks and understands slower.
The English language dropped many inflections during the Middle
Ages, and this trend continues with e.g. the use of the
word "actor" to describe both males & females. It doesn't
necessarily result in shorter words. But the pace of modern life
seems to be increasing as we speak... I catch myself leaving out
periods from abbreviations like "BC" because that is how others
spell them. At the same time, I count myself among those who take
awhile to think & understand.. as I do when folks like you & Anton
ask really, really good questions.
I am a morning person when I go to my office. I can secretly type
some messages to FIDO behind my colleges backs, but it is hardly
possible to do Skype talks, without having round eyes around.
I thought it might be something like that. One of the things I
enjoy about Fidonet is that we get a bunch of mail in the morning,
from people on the same continent, and a bunch more in the evening
from people on others. Just as there are people who leap out of bed
at 5:00 AM & go jogging for an hour before getting ready for work,
there are people who check their Fidonet mail every day as soon as
they're awake enough to take it in. Some apparently type up a storm immediately. But that's not my style, and I gather it's not yours
either.
On weekend, of course, I like to sleep more than usual.Ah. You're a morning person on weekdays because that's what you
have to do to earn a living. Dallas & I have been there too.
When I switched to the elementary level, others commented on how
much healthier I looked. My starting time there, BTW, was somewhat
later.
maybe at 9am Moscow Time on Sunday it can be the window, while you
have 10pm.
Hmm. By my calculations you are eleven hours ahead of us... at
least until Daylight Saving Time kicks in. Unfortunately, however,
Dallas & I aren't available nowadays on weekends when others are.
For us a Tuesday or a Thursday eening would be better. Perhaps you
have some holidays which differ from ours? Monday or Wednesday
evening might also work if your timing is flexible....
Do you you know there are bilingual books, when on the
left page is the English original and on the right page
is Russian translation. The latter is always longer.
The English language dropped many inflections during the
Middle Ages, and this trend continues with e.g. the use
of the word "actor" to describe both males & females.
It doesn't necessarily result in shorter words. But the
pace of modern life seems to be increasing as we
speak...
When I switched to the elementary level, others comment-
ed on how much healthier I looked.
First, colleagues not colleges.
At my former employer, I would be up at 1 or 2am to take
conference calls with my German colleagues. They'd wonder
why I would yawn on the calls. When I reminded them of
the time, they'd profusely apologize.
Sadly, when I'd make calls convenient to me, they were
all home and getting ready for bed. Oh, well, life goes
on.
сию и любви, а священно и world -- a gift to all living
важно то, что? они сами выду- creatures -- inclining to
мали, чтобы властвовать друг peace, good-will and love,
над другом. but worshiped their own in-
ventions for imposing their
will on each other.
As you see, the English translation is longer than the Russian
original, even though it is incomlete and omits some of the Russian
words. For example it has "grown-up men"instead of "mature, grown
up men".
My opinion, therefore, is that a good translation is generally
longer than the original because it tries to follow the author's
style on a language not adapted to it.
Maybe -- a translation is generally longer. In this
case, in addition to the fact that Russian words are
generally longer than English, it can be an additional
factor that makes it difficult for a Russian to under-
stand quick English speech. A translation from English
makes it longer! ;-)
For instance, I read now "The Gun Seller" by Hugh Laurie. A usual
not very bright subject, but the language is super, great,
marvellous and original.
Not now, but I will.
[after looking it up in Wikipedia] Whooops: I see it is very
recent, and not a short story but a novel. Usually I do not read
books by living authors to avoid any hype and let the cultural
aftermath settle down. It is easier for me to start from a short
story, as it does not require a serious commitment of time.
Speaking of Hugh Laurie, I am more likely to try P.G. Wodehouse's
stories about the immortal Jeeves & Wooster.
Somebody in heaven and under earth like serials very much. All
life on Earth is a big serial. Besides, there are some serials in
Russia which are very pretty, stylish and certainly are worth to
be seen once. For instance, the serial about a cool, stylish
Russian fashion firm and quite ugly, but very clever girl who went
to work there. Speed it up by 1.5 times and you will have a good
hearing training, without boredom.
I am sorry, but any modern Russian TV series means boredom to me:
no acting, no sound, no cinematography, no varation. They give me
neither spiritual nor aesthetical gratification.
I feel deeply
ashamed for the state of the film industry in my country. One need
only watch the excellent "The Lark" (1965) and its horrible modern
remake commercially named "T-34" (2019) to realise the depth of degeneration. Only low-budget or no-budget indie movies sometimes
manage to come out any good, but they very rare.
Do you you know there are bilingual books, when
on the left page is the English original and on
the right page is Russian translation.
The latter is always longer.
Some apparently type up a storm immediately. But
that's not my style, and I gather it's not yours
either.
An off-line discussion is a good thing, I agree. ;)
What time is too late for you? ;-)
By my calculations you are eleven hours ahead of us...
at least until Daylight Saving Time kicks in.
Google says Vancouver time is behind Moscow time by 11
hours in winter.
The 8-th of March, for instance.
I can't invent anything better than creating a
temporal e-mail box where you can send your Skype
alias: galexkotemp@gmail.com.
Do you you know there are bilingual books, when on the left page
is the English original and on the right page is Russian
translation. The latter is always longer.
One of my friends at university, who happened to be Roman Catholic,
told me she had a prayer book with English on one side & Latin on
the other. I didn't think to ask her which was longer. But I've
noticed, when I see cooking instructions written in English &
French, that it generally requires more space to express the same
idea in the latter. I realize this may be at least in part because Francophones don't use possessives the way Anglophones do. They'll
say "la plume de ma tante", e.g., where we'd say "my aunt's pen". I
don't know how this relates to Russian. But I see that if one
language has a word which isn't easily translatable into another, a
little more verbiage may be needed....
What time is too late for you?
Probably about 11:00 PM by our time, because we may talk up a storm
with you & we may take awhile to defuse afterwards... [wry grin].
By my calculations you are eleven hours ahead of us... at least
until Daylight Saving Time kicks in.
Google says Vancouver time is behind Moscow time by 11 hours inSame idea, different perspective....
winter.
The 8-th of March, for instance.Your time or our time? The evening of this day would probably work
for us. But by my calculations, it would be Tuesday morning in
Russia....: - Q
it was done not to add speed and dynamics, but to change
the timber of the voice:
Eugeniy Leonov spoke slowly, so that the sped-up version
would have normal tempo but increased pitch.
Usage note: The English language has adopted
many words from French .. e.g. "litre", "metre",
and "theatre"... which USAians prefer to spell
with an "-er" ending. That's not the case here.
USAians make the same distinction between "tim-
bre" and "timber" Canadians do in spelling, but
not necessarily in pronunciation. A few years
from now, of course, things may be different.
:-Q
The first pertains to tone colour or
sound quality... the acoustical principle which
enables us to recognize the voices of our near-
est & dearest or to distinguish between an oboe
& a clarinet when we can't see who &/or what is
involved, while the second pertains to trees or
to the wood derived therefrom.
The first pertains to tone colour or sound quality...
the acoustical principle which enables us to recognize
the voices of our nearest & dearest or to distinguish
between an oboe & a clarinet when we can't see who &/or
what is involved, while the second pertains to trees or
to the wood derived therefrom.
Thanks for the explanation, Ardith. It was a mental
sleep,
but you reminded me of this interesting phenomena,
when the same word imported by different routes
acquires different meanings. The original
meaning of `timbre' is of course wood, but the
pecuiliar warm colouration of the sound of wooden
musical instruments lent the French spelling a new
meaning.
Casting about for more examples, I looked up
friction' and `frisson' and learned the name
of the phenomena -- doublet.
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