Questions tagged [language-formation]
The language-formation tag has no usage guidance.
-1
votes
2answers
49 views
What is a phrase or a different way of saying 'ever since I was a kid'? [closed]
'Ever since I was a kid' is very common. I wanted to use something different for my essay.
12
votes
2answers
2k views
What's the origin of the second-person 'we'?
I've often heard the phrase what do we have here to mean what do you have. And also, recently, I've heard a teacher ask one of his students struggling with an assignment: do we have a problem?, as in ...
6
votes
5answers
689 views
Are there any visual phrases similar to “struck a chord”?
I've noticed there are a number of idioms for familiarity that refer to audio phenomena (e.g. "strikes a chord", "rings a bell", etc), but try as I might I can't think of any vision based phrases. It ...
5
votes
3answers
731 views
Is the word 'the' unnecessary in the English language?
Measuring the frequency of words in almost every English book or document (which is long enough) ends up ranking the word 'the' as the most used word. Is there any solid function the word 'the' plays ...
-4
votes
4answers
270 views
Digestibly Explain Academic Literature Concept: A “message” is “relationship between 2 sets” where 1 set must be “ordered,” and the other “unordered” [closed]
I am trying to convert some pretty dense academic literature into a way that anyone could understand. I'm stuck on this one way in which they describe how a message works. Or how a language is used. ...
0
votes
1answer
648 views
Usage of what and which [duplicate]
What car should I buy or which car should I buy, what's the most correct one
21
votes
3answers
4k views
Doesn't English have vowel harmony?
Perhaps I'm not educated in this subject, but if vowel harmony means "all the vowels in a word to be members of the same subclass" then does this mean that English has vowel harmony too? For instance, ...
-1
votes
1answer
511 views
What do you call people who live 6 months in city(urban area ), then travel to the village(rural area) and live 6 months. And they do this constantly
I have found the words 'commuter' and 'Itinerant' but they don't really describe what I mean. I made up the word 'biland','bilanded' means people who have two land to live on. What do you say? Is it ...
0
votes
2answers
456 views
Meaning of 'not permitted in A or in B' [closed]
Does "not permitted in A or in B" mean "not permitted in A and not permitted in B" or mean "not permitted in A or not permitted in B"?
Thanks for any helpful answers!
0
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the meaning, form and pronunciation for the items listed in bold? [closed]
Tide laundry detergent is meant to be used for household cleaning purposes, but thieves are turning it into something dirty. Authorities are reporting a spike in thefts of Tide, and in some cities ...
3
votes
1answer
433 views
About how many people in the world speak English as a lingua Franca?
Does anyone know of any reliable sources where I can find an estimated number or percentage of people in the world who now speak English as a lingua franca? I've read that anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 ...
1
vote
2answers
153 views
Coach versus long distance bus [closed]
I would like to know which one is BrE and which is AmE? The words are coach vs long distance bus.
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Synonym for the word helpful or caring [closed]
I host international students and am always helping others. Whats a good word to express my desire to help others? I want a japanese tattoo with a powerful word but dont know what to use that relates ...
0
votes
3answers
931 views
Word for: feeling of relief in realizing you don't have a responsibility you thought you had
For example, waking up from a dream where you had an assignment due you didn't do but in waking you realize it was only a dream and you didn't actually have an assignment due, and feeling relief.
...
1
vote
1answer
9k views
How many types of errors are there in English language? [closed]
I was lately reviewing a book and had to tell about the errors. It was on C++, so I had to differentiate between the kinds of errors so that people don't get terrified like "OMG 50 errors? Bad book."
...
4
votes
2answers
3k views
Are what-cha and arent-cha examples of elision?
Are these words examples of elision? What effect do they create? If a child says them what does this suggest about their language development?
Thanks for any help!!
0
votes
1answer
2k views
which is correct - in section below or below section [duplicate]
We have given detail description of these tools in below section.
or
We have given detail description of these tools in section below.
which one is correct?
2
votes
1answer
7k views
The origin word “English”? Language that dominated the beginning of English existence? [closed]
I've read so many questions in ELL on the origin of English words. But I've never found the origin of the word English itself.
I'm also curious about the history of English as a language. I mean, in ...
2
votes
3answers
136k views
Should I use “arrived” or “reached”
Sometimes when I come back from my brother's house he asks me to let him know when I am at home. Now, in that situation which one of the following is correct :
I've reached home now.
OR
I've ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Words with Transposed or Inverted Syllables
In its definition of sideburns, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition (2003) refers to the spelling as an "anagram of burnsides." But since derubniss, sisburden, and ubersnids are ...
0
votes
1answer
177 views
Something about “information” and “insights” [closed]
In this sentence,
Sharing insights and answers freely is what makes the Internet such a great medium for learning.
Why is "information " not the right answer?
0
votes
4answers
2k views
“weakness”, “shortcoming”, “demerit” and “defect” [duplicate]
The four words"weakness", "shortcoming", "demerit" and "defect" are four words shared with the similar meanings. In the dictionary, "weakness" and "shortcoming" have more to do with one's characer, ...
0
votes
1answer
2k views
“didn't need to have done” or “needn't have done”
The sentence, "The examination has been cancelled. You needn't have done all the revison, after all."means that the student didn't have to do the revision, but he has done that. Can "need't have done" ...
0
votes
2answers
334 views
“even allowing” or “although allowing”
In the dictionary, the meaning of "allowing for" is " In consideration of sth". So in this sentence, "Even allowing for his age, he still acts very immaturely". Can I change the word “ even" into "...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
“waste time“ and ” pass time"
In this sentence, why people say "if reading is to accomplish anything more than passing time, it must be active?" Why isn't "wasting time" a right answer?
0
votes
1answer
38 views
“be given offters of help” or “be given willingness of help”
In this sentence, " a woman is often given more___of help with her broken-down car when she is dressed attractively than when she is dressed less appealingly."
The answer is "offers", but why not ...
3
votes
4answers
12k views
Difference between “convert” and “transform”
In the dictionary, the words "convert" and "transform" both have the meaning of changing the form of something. So how should I distinguish them? In what situation they are of the same meaning, and in ...
3
votes
2answers
41k views
Difference between “aim” and “purpose”
The explanation in the dictionary of an "aim" is
The aim of something that you do is the purpose for which you do it or the result that it is intended to achieve.
and the explanation of a "...
2
votes
3answers
22k views
“merits”and “demerits” &“strengths” and “weaknesses”
What is the difference between "merits"and"strengths" and what is the difference between "demerits" and "weaknesses"?
0
votes
1answer
360 views
What's the difference between “waste time” and “pass time”?
In this sentence" If reading is to accomplish anything more than___time, it must be active. "Should I fill in "wasting" or "passing"? Thank you!
2
votes
1answer
6k views
why use “isn't” in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?
Why use "isn't" in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?why English users do not use "weren't" instead of "isn't"?
-1
votes
2answers
484 views
Reversing name order [closed]
My current task is to create a (programming) algorithm which reverts a name's order. This since my country's formal name-listing order is different from international ones. The standard is often:
...
2
votes
3answers
717 views
The use of question formation in non-question phrases?
I have read the following text some time ago:
[...]
Only here can you enjoy dazzling entertainment, get the thrill
of your life on the exciting rides, and be face-to-face with some of
the ...
2
votes
0answers
364 views
What are reading comprehension tools that can generate or suggest plainer language? [closed]
I'm looking for ways to simplify a document for better comprehension after I have already gone through an editing process myself. It could include suggestions easier synonyms, grammar optimization (...
5
votes
4answers
4k views
Opposite of writer's block
I recently experienced a patch where in I just had an urge to write and write. And when I sat down on my laptop, indeed I went on and on writing things I always wanted to. I felt like I experienced ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
What literary device is being used here?
The beginning of prehistoric wars is a disputed issue between anthropologists and historians.
Source: http://ask.yahoo.com/20070404.html
I was reading that article and I noticed that sentence and it ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
To what extent do English words sound like what they describe?
Is it true that the way languages develop causes the tonal qualities of the words to have a tendency to match the nature of the thing the word stands for?
I am not talking just about obviously ...
4
votes
3answers
6k views
Right format for time of day when corresponding with Germans
I'm writing to some German folks in English, and I'm referring to the time of day -- an event that starts at 10 o'clock in the morning.
I know that if I were writing to other Americans, I'd use 10 am,...
15
votes
6answers
1k views
Is Yiddish a creole language? And if not, what is it?
A "creole" language is formed by the merging of two parent languages, usually through an earlier rudimentary mixture of the two. Does this make Yiddish a creole language? Was English itself a creole ...
