Search results for 'tag:Vocabulary' matching tag 'Vocabulary'

Re: "schlump" vs "slump"

Mosca — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:35:11 GMT

Really interesting - this is of special interest to me as I'm scandinavian - and I keep coming across words (often in Couplands novels) which I think are examples of a kind of casual vocabulary - that I've never heard before in english but which sound kind of scandinavian to me.

The example above of the sound immitating 'falling into water' verb appears in a norweigan dicitionary as does the "walk sluggishly, slowly, heavily, lazily".

I don't know Yiddish but it sure seems to be very similar to german (which also is close to our languages).

The "sch-" is very german to us - although it certainly appears in many of our words - on the other hand typically a lot of german words with sch- has been replaced by just s- in many german words adopted by our languages. (I say "our" languages although I'm swedish - they are mutually intelligible to us - in most cases)..

Re: Berlusconi's English

CalifJim — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:55:46 GMT

Kooyeen
What do you mean by "fluency"? Using good and understandable grammar structures, and common mainstream vocabulary? I think that would be the most important thing when being understood and communicating effectively is the main goal.

You got it! In two words, be idiomatic. Use the same (usually simple) grammatical structures, word order, and vocabulary that the native speakers use.

On the other hand, fluency also has to do with being able to speak fairly fast for long periods of time without constantly stumbling around trying to find the right word -- that sort of thing. There should be a sort of automaticity about it that only comes after long practice -- most likely living in an English-speaking country.

P.S. Rutelli's English is better, but as you point out, there are some small problems, most of which you could probably point out better than I. The lax i and lax u are always a problem for non-natives.

Re: Berlusconi's English

Kooyeen — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:55:53 GMT

I didn't understand everything that Slovakian minister said... it even took me a little to figure out that "vee veel" was supposed to be "We will", lol.

CalifJim
The surprising thing I think, for those of you who are not native speakers of English, is that these men can be understood.

Yeah, English is not my native language, so I can't know whether a certain accent is difficult or not to understand for a native speaker.

CalifJim
So concentrate on fluency, and don't beat yourselves up if you don't have a perfect accent!

Well, then I have to ask you... What do you mean by "fluency"? Using good and understandable grammar structures, and common mainstream vocabulary? I think that would be the most important thing when being understood and communicating effectively is the main goal. If I said "Today I have been to the market" with a bad accent, many would probably understand anyway, but if I said "I am market today before"... hmm.
Rutelli's English is very good compared to the others. He's got an Italian accent, but it's perfectly understandable. (Rutelli is another Italian politician).

Re: A vocabulary Question

CalifJim — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:50:51 GMT

You can have: It is easy to notice that (something).

But never: It is easy to get the notice that (something).

get the notice is receive the information.

We notified all the employees that insurance premiums were going up next month, but there was a problem with the mail delivery, so not all of them got the notice.

There is (I presume) nobody in the woods announcing that the birds are on holiday or presenting visitors written notes to that effect, so A) won't work at all!

Re: A vocabulary Question

Kooyeen — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:39:42 GMT

Hi,
I would choose D just because it's the only collocation that I am familiar with.. get the impression. So I never heard "get" used that way with any other of those choices, and I picked D.

A Question From an Offical Exam

Gencebay90 — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:25:02 GMT

An attempt to -- a poem should never be made before the poem is well understood.

A) compare
B) support
D) mean
C) determine
E) evaluate

Again a vocabulary question from an offical exam in question. Could you please explain the choices one by one, pleasee ?

Thanks in advance

A vocabulary Question

Gencebay90 — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:24:18 GMT

Hello,

Below is a question from an offical exam in Turkey. What I want to know is why the choice A is not possible here. The correct answer is D

Thank you

If you go down to the woods in August, it is easy to get the -- that the birds, like so many of us, are on holiday.

A) notice
B) desire
C) consciousness
D) impression
E) evidence

Re: Expand your vocabulary and feed the world!

NewBee — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:54:27 GMT

I stop after I managed to donate 4000 grains. it is a good link to the great website, because we are not only gain knowledge about vocabulary but also we can donate something useful to other. Thank's...

Re: Fell or fallen

26TMNTJG2PG — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:48:40 GMT

To solve the problem, one has to understand tenses and voices (active and passive) apart from having a good vocabulary. I have come across an article titled TENSES which, if digested properly, should provide some help.

Re: "she has an abhorrence of change"

Raen — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:56:55 GMT

Khoff, thanks so much for you elaboration, I totally appreciate it.

I learn vocabulary best in extensive explanations or contexts in order to use the new words with confident..and correctly, thank you so much.

Raen