En réponse à Almaran Dungeonmaster <dungeonmaster@...>:
>
> Yes, but following that line of thought, we would also have "pijps",
> "paals"
> and "tongs" to avoid confusing them with verb forms of dubious meaning.
> The
> most explicit example is asking the following (somewhat obvious)
> question to
> someone wearing leather pants:
>
> "Heb jij leren pijpen?"
>
> Which can mean, depending on the circumstances:
> "Do you have leather pant legs?" or "Have you learnt how to give
> blowjobs?"
>
Well, I got instantly the second meaning :))) ... But I didn't know the
noun 'pijp', and had forgotten that adjectives of material take the -en ending.
Anyway, nice pun :))) .
>
> > German has `ja' which seems to cause a hard time for Dutch people.
>
> I would compare "ja" with dutch "toch" (anyway) or "echt" (really).
>
Toch: "anyway"? I've been taught it meant "however"!!! But it's true that I've
seen it in uses that account for both meanings. Strange language...
>
> Adding "hoor" to the end of a sentence indicates that the speaker is
> trying
> to convince the adressed person. It is sometimes used jokingly when you
> are
> telling an obvious falsehood, by adding "echt waar hoor!". This is
> also
> something little children wuold say when they want to convince someone
> they
> are speaking the truth, even though it sounds unlikely.
>
Comparatively to other little words, I master quite well the use of 'maar'
and 'hoor'. I haven't a clue why...
Christophe.
http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr
Take your life as a movie: do not let anybody else play the leading role.