Opinions on English

n a message dated 2000:09:17 12:04:08 AM, microtonal@SERICAP.COM writes:

>I've always rather liked English, at least once I realized that there
>actually *is* a method to the madness.
    *snarfle* English is such a magpie language it's wonder it got so
"powerful." Then again there are IMHO many types of Englishes, even within
America - to not neglect sayin' da whole wide world.
    One of my favourite Englishes is Hindlish - that wonderfully ornate
English:

    Why not let the English language to relax,
    And have a truly tropical weekend?
    After a course of the choicest Indian rudery,
    English may return, chastened, to its prudery.
    No? You won't agree?
    Forgive me, you look sickened.
    In Shakespeare's day,
    English was a dandy...

        - Prof. P. Lal, India

>It's not quite as subtle as Classical Greek or as rhythmic as Latin or as
>liquid as French, but it's a nice, solid language.
    I once read a German writer's opinion that English was like a
bricklayer's apprentice who is just getting his skills together... there is
bound to be a lotta messiness.

>The rules make perfect sense, once you learn
>them all, and they have very few exceptions.
    *snarfle* sheesh, have you seen the actual literacy skill levels of
American and British kids? Even native speakers have a hard time with English
IMO.

>It's very utilitarian, flexible, and at times quite beautiful (as evidenced
by >some of the great British and American writers).

    "... wipe alley english spooker, or multiphoniaksically spuking off the
face of the erse..." - James Joyce, Irishman,  _Finnegans Wake_

>It also has the great advantage of
>a huge lexis of loanwords from all kinds of languages upon which to
>draw, and forming new words is extremely easy.
    That I agree with whole-heartedly. Makee Inglis eazy ta mutate!

    czHANg

> English is a whore.
- Lars Henrik Mathiesen


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