Jibber Jabber - Q1 - 29

wotf020

Probably I get an R for that.

an "R"?
I assume this is a Brit grading thing?

wotf020

Probably I get an R for that.

an "R"?
I assume this is a Brit grading thing?

Do you mean the grade that Brits tend to get in WotF, Bob?

Actually when I was at university we used to be graded in Greek letters, though only the first four. Mercifully I contrived to avoid deltas despite the amount of time I spent rowing. Once upon a time I regarded it as a major achievement that I made captain of what would possibly have been the Oxford Fourth Crew if only Oxford undergraduates had been clever enough to count beyond three.

wotf020

Well I just discovered that Google will transliterate for me.

Never mind. I enjoyed the effort.

Google says:

Polý efcharístos, agapité Fílippe (Ismaíl)

I preferred mine, except that I seem to have missed a whole word out. Probably I get an R for that.

Yours is nice, but Google (surprisingly) is a little more correct.
- "υ" is generally "y", but "ευ" as a diphthong is pronounced "ef"
- "ς" is not "z" but "s" ("s" is "σ" anywhere in the word but "ς" in the end of the word)

On the other hand "χ" is much more "kh" than "ch". Actually it's more like Scottish "ch" (as in "loch".) Unless Google checked your location and decided to transliterate it to Scottish, in which case it's correct again

Ah I miss the days of learning ancient Greek.While it seemed hard at the time, it was a lot of fun and it's a language that makes a lot of sense. Korean on the other hand....

한국어 혼란이다.

Korean confusing.

I've never attempted to learn Korean, but I guess it must be very hard to learn for a European or American.

Modern Greek is a lot like Ancient Greek, but of course as a living language it's much more chaotic and complicated.

Oh gosh, you guys have brought back memories for me. Ancient Greek…

Yes, my teacher did actually try to teach us Ancient Greek, when I was about thirteen. It was my Worst Subject Ever!

I didn't take the language. I had to rely on Lattimore's translations. My prof was amazing. Imagine a Classics professor that could fill a classroom with non-majors. Greek Literature in Translation. One of the best classes I've ever taken. There was standing room only that first day 'til they crammed in a few more desks.. I'm sure the fire marshal would have had fits. I took three classes from Dr. Hussey before they made him an administrator. Unfortunately he died a few years ago; man, that guy could teach. Prometheus Bound and the Odyssey were my favorites.

Prometheus Bound and the Odyssey were my favorites.

Have you read Samuel Butler 'The Authoress of the Odyssey'? Fascinating analysis making the case for Nausicaa rather than Homer as having written this work. Certainly was not anyone who had much of an idea about shipbuilding and was someone who had a lot more insight into the thoughts of women than the author of the Iliad did and was keen on giving women substantial parts to play. I think I'm right in saying that the Odyssey passes the Bechdel test?

Oh, and
Ευχαριστώ και καληνύχτα Γιώργος

Prometheus Bound and the Odyssey were my favorites.

Have you read Samuel Butler 'The Authoress of the Odyssey'? Fascinating analysis making the case for Nausicaa rather than Homer as having written this work. Certainly was not anyone who had much of an idea about shipbuilding and was someone who had a lot more insight into the thoughts of women than the author of the Iliad did and was keen on giving women substantial parts to play. I think I'm right in saying that the Odyssey passes the Bechdel test?

Oh, and
Ευχαριστώ και καληνύχτα Γιώργος

Oh, and
Ευχαριστώ και καληνύχτα Γιώργος

You are welcome, Ishmael!

Incidentally, we have a vocative case in Greek; which means that my name is "Γιώργος", but when you address me you call me "Γιώργο"

wotf020

Probably I get an R for that.

an "R"?
I assume this is a Brit grading thing?

Do you mean the grade that Brits tend to get in WotF, Bob?

well you lot would probably do better if you stopped putting all those extra "u's everywhere.

well you lot would probably do better if you stopped putting all those extra "u's everywhere.

As a favour
We shall labour
Not to use our u's a bit,
Just provided
You'll be guided
And stop writing 'fitted' 'fit'.

<img src="

well you lot would probably do better if you stopped putting all those extra "u's everywhere.

As a favour
We shall labour
Not to use our u's a bit,
Just provided
You'll be guided
And stop writing 'fitted' 'fit'.

<img src="

And her we find the *real* reason for the revolution!

lol yeah, Korean is difficult. In some ways it's totally different from Indo-European languages. Most of the time subjects are dropped off (and unlike Greek) the verbs don't change based on the subject either, plurals are often just assumed, and the language changes based on the status of the person you are speaking or writing too. Also, all adjectives double as verbs, which is kind of cool actually because they don't have always bother with the "to be" verb like we do in English. But a lot of times, because of the way Korean is structured, it seems to be vague and imprecise (at least to an English speaker).

That aside, living in Korea does expose me to a lot of Konglish. Sometimes it's hilarious to see how Koreans try to use English. Sadly, though, I've been here long enough that Konglish is starting to effect the way I speak lol. Sometimes without thinking, I put the verb at the end of my sentence or drop prepositions....

That aside, living in Korea does expose me to a lot of Konglish. Sometimes it's hilarious to see how Koreans try to use English. Sadly, though, I've been here long enough that Konglish is starting to effect the way I speak lol. Sometimes without thinking, I put the verb at the end of my sentence or drop prepositions....

In Nairobi the hybrid language more commonly arose from the attempts of the Wazungu (Europeans) to speak Kiswahili. Most cannot grasp the fact that there are six classes of nouns and the verbs and adjectives must usually agree with the noun class. Of course any noun that refers to a person but happens to be in a noun class other than the class which exists for persons will take agreements as though it were in the person class. It is also very confusing when an object noun takes a possessive that agrees with it (the object) rather than the subject that does the possessing.

In consequence the Wazungu usually give up and speak a variant language that takes no agreements at all. This language used to be called 'Kisetla' (Ki-settler).

Example: Come and See!
becomes: Njo uone (Swahili) = polite imperative + subjunctive
but: Kuja ona! (Kisetla) = infinitive + abrupt imperative

As to putting verbs at the end of sentences, you could claim either Latin or German authority for that. The Normans seem to have persuaded the Anglo Saxons to stop doing it at around about the same time they threw in all those u's.

Now as to the outrageous American habit of discriminating against the past participle of the regular verb 'to fit', I find it quite contrary to the normal American claim to have simplified the language. In American we cannot distinguish between plural present tense 'we fit' and plural perfect tense 'we fit'. In English English there is a perfectly good past participle, hence 'we fitted.'

And if we say 'we fit' today
You might not care a lot,
But if we fitted yesterday
Then you fit not a jot!

British and American English both screw up the language in many horrible, horrible ways.

Just poppin' in to say 'Hi'. Very quiet which is GOOD news. WRITE WRITE WRITE! <img src="

Yes, it's very quiet down at Q1 v29. Isn't it time we saw some results over here?

Oh, wait, haven't we just...? Haven't we...? What year is it, again?

Ack!
The grinder is down!

PANIC PANIC PANIC

Q1V29 sure had a special kind of mojo, didn't it? I made my first entry that quarter.

OK, I did enter once back in '88 or so, but both the contest and I would prefer to forget that one.

Ack!
The grinder is down!

PANIC PANIC PANIC

There's only one thing to do! (Say it with me, children!) WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!

Q1V29 sure had a special kind of mojo, didn't it? I made my first entry that quarter.

OK, I did enter once back in '88 or so, but both the contest and I would prefer to forget that one.

It certainly was special for me -- my one and only SF with Dave.

"The oldest hath borne most: we that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long."

Exeunt Lear et al, with a dead march

Enter Alexander's Ragtime Band

"Where's that Gator?
Where's that Gator?
Where, where can she be?"

Q1V29 sure had a special kind of mojo, didn't it? I made my first entry that quarter.

OK, I did enter once back in '88 or so, but both the contest and I would prefer to forget that one.

It certainly was special for me -- my one and only SF with Dave.

Holy wow, is this thread still going?? *nostalgia attack* That was the quarter you guys all roped me into your gang.

Welcome Holly friend, to the thread that never ends!

Q1V29 sure had a special kind of mojo, didn't it? I made my first entry that quarter.

OK, I did enter once back in '88 or so, but both the contest and I would prefer to forget that one.

It certainly was special for me -- my one and only SF with Dave.

Holy wow, is this thread still going?? *nostalgia attack* That was the quarter you guys all roped me into your gang.

The power of the thread. It ropes. It weaves. It never lets go. shiver At least the marshmallows are sweet.

Arr, Jim lad, this be the only thread as 'e normally allows me to post in. In course I do manage to sneak aboard other threads when 'e's not keepin' a sharp lookout! But we 'as to keep this old garbage scow afloat, see, elsen I might 'ave ter sling my 'ook.

The power of the thread. It ropes. It weaves. It never lets go. shiver At least the marshmallows are sweet.

Whoa, the magic moebius thread!

Apparently, complete with pirates?

Pirates and Gators... Hmmm... Seems like that never ends well for the pirate...

tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock

Pirates and Gators... Hmmm... Seems like that never ends well for the pirate...

tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock

This is why I wish forums had like buttons.

Hook, Hook, where's the Hook!

Pirates and Gators... Hmmm... Seems like that never ends well for the pirate...

tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock

Pirates? I'm allowed to eat pirates, right?

Pirates and Gators... Hmmm... Seems like that never ends well for the pirate...

tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock

Pirates? I'm allowed to eat pirates, right?

Tip-toes through the thread softly practicing... "in Hartford, Hereford, and Hampshire, hurricanes Harrrr, harr,
hardly ever happen." Drat you, talk-like-a-pirate day!