Using English on TBBS

[scotpens]

The “liftback” designation may have originated with the early-70s Toyota Celica models which featured such a door.

Example

Looks like a shrunken Mustang.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I have a 4WD, DH has a liftback. DS1 has a station wagon, DS2& 3 drive sedans.

I learn new words every day, what on earth is a liftback?

It's like a hatchback or top-hinged station wagon door, but typically more sloped than vertical (similar to a fastback profile.) The "liftback" designation may have originated with the early-70s Toyota Celica models which featured such a door.

Example

Ew, i hate where the side-view mirrors are located.

 

[M'Sharak]

The “liftback” designation may have originated with the early-70s Toyota Celica models which featured such a door.

Example

Looks like a shrunken Mustang.

I'm pretty sure that the resemblance to the fastback Mustang was no coincidence.

 

[sojourner]

Isn't that a shooting brake?

 

[Jim Gamma]

Paradigm has probably come from a Latin-inspired spelling, as in the 18th century when spelling was standardised, those responsible used a LOT of Latin-inspired spelling even for words that didn't come from Latin.

(I've just been reading a book on this... )

Was the name of that book Brother, can you paradigm?

No - The Language Wars.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Isn't that a shooting brake?

No, a shooting-brake is more squared off. Fast-back is more of an angle, as in the above picture.

 

[Trilliam]

FTR, DH's car looks nothing like a 1970s/early 80s Celica - funnily enough, what he was saving for when we met. Think "Ford XR5 Turbo".

 

[Naira]

I was fluent in English (at least I hope so!) before I joined. In my country, almost everyone in my generation can speak at least two foreign languages (blame it on our parents and the fact that fluency is foreign languages is a plus when looking for a job).

I find it no harder communicating in English than my native tongue. However, this is because I practice English a lot via my studies (at post-graduate level, almost everything I read - books, conference papers etc. - are in English), the Internet, films and songs... I am not that good in German, which I am also supposed to know, since I can't practice speaking it unless I actively try to.

What I find interesting is that, even since the first years I started learning English at the age of 10, when communicate in English, my brain falls into "English mode" and I also think in English.

 

[captcalhoun]

you must think in RUSSIAN!

a no-prize if anyone can ID that quote.

if my grammar's ever flaky on here, it's because i'm typing fast and some what stream of consciousness.

 

[iguana_tonante]

you must think in RUSSIAN!

a no-prize if anyone can ID that quote.

Tee hee. Soviet stealth jets for the win.

 

[TerokNor]

I love this accent Jack Wild is using for his interpretation of Dodger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPGRUrvuNGk&feature=related

Though I guess its some sort of working/ poor class accent of the past, right? In movies always the poor ones are talking that way. So guess its no good learning to talk that way. *L* But it does sound SO charming!

TerokNor

 

[Deckerd]

I know I'm late but I got to page 2 two of this thread where you guys were talking about accents and the squiggly things on top of letters. Kind of wish there was something on the keyboard to activate the symbol list because I don't know how to type the e with the apostrophe above it, or the n with the ~ over it. It seems more of a hassle to type a language like Spanish than to speak it, while I might contend the reverse is true with English.

Each language has its own keyboard. I have an Italian keyboard, so the accented letters used in my language have their own key: they are just as easy to type as any other letter (à è é ì ò ù). I guess it's the same for French, Spanish, Czech, etc.

It's finished in soft leather with walnut trim and also has a built-in caffe bar.

 

[danellis]

And WTF is a "leftenant"? That's UK English, maybe even archaic, but it's bothersome.

And why is Greenwich pronounced "Grennich"?

Because that's how it's pronounced lol

A qick look at wikipedia suggests that the Saxon name was "Grenewic" which means "green village/town" which would explain it all.

what's worse is, it's spelt Lieutenant, but pronounced Leftenant. i always say 'loo-tenant'...

and, no, it's not archaic.

according to wikipedia, it's the French's fault, people misread lieu as leuf and thought it was lef.

Always wondered where that came from! Thanks very much.

dJE

 

[Deckerd]

'ene' has the same sound as 'een' since they're both early printing's efforts to denote a long vowel. When they were coined, they would both have been pronounced 'ain' rather than the short vowel form 'en'. To understand English orthography you need to know a bit about OE, ME and early printing forms. That's why the way words are written often has little bearing on the way they are pronounced. Greenwich got its current pronunciation from usage, not from its orthographical form.