Make Fun of Languages

[NewtonKid]

A recent study tried to prove that our brains are hard-wired for
language skills. Researchers used a language from Amazonian tribe to
argue about this Prevailing Theory. It is amazing to learn that the
Piraha language is a language you could speak and whistle about,
because they used variety of tunes but very few vowels - a very safe
way to communicate in the jungle.

To hear the whole story, you may visit NPR's archieve on:
Tribe Helps Linguist Argue with Prevailing Theory
at: http://216.35.221.77/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9458681

Dan Everett has spent 30 years studying the language of a small
Amazonian tribe, the Piraha. His findings are challenging long-held
linguistic theories and stirring a sometimes-bitter debate.

For a long time, we were told a person's language ability was set at
the age of 10. Research said the Japanese adults could not recognize
some sounds from English, so they could not completely pronounce these
sounds, no matter how hard they are trying. This is why we need to
learn foreign language when we are young!

[NewtonKid]

Have you ever wondered why foreigners have trouble with the English
Language?
You might have heard the following peom about the English Language
(don't know who wrote it):

Let's face it
English is a stupid language.
There is no egg in the eggplant
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England
French fries were not invented in France.

We sometimes take English for granted
But if we examine its paradoxes we find that
Quicksand takes you down slowly
Boxing rings are square
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

If writers write, how come fingers don't fing.
If the plural of tooth is teeth
Shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth
If the teacher taught,
Why didn't the preacher praught.

If a vegetarian eats vegetables
What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?
Why do people recite at a play
Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and
Drive on parkways

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy
Of a language where a house can burn up as
It burns down
And in which you fill in a form
By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!

English was invented by people, not computers
And it reflects the creativity of the human race
(Which of course isn't a race at all)

That is why
When the stars are out they are visible
But when the lights are out they are invisible
And why it is that when I wind up my watch
It starts
But when I wind up this observation,
It ends.