tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905080602885676490.post8240020542316432686..comments2024-03-27T20:34:09.464+01:00Comments on zmkc: The Joy of Babelzmkchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905080602885676490.post-78088854606811900352011-09-10T03:44:33.805+02:002011-09-10T03:44:33.805+02:00Yes, that is essentially the pleasure of learning ...Yes, that is essentially the pleasure of learning language - you just get on with it. No need to think. Very relaxing.zmkchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905080602885676490.post-26611572844718377712011-09-08T15:55:23.671+02:002011-09-08T15:55:23.671+02:00The only answer I can come up with is the same one...The only answer I can come up with is the same one I had then: "It's just how English is," "It's just what we do," "It's normal." Plurals are useful when they save you the trouble of giving a number ("Angry dogs coming, run!" is more urgent than "Angry dog coming, run!") but in the case of, "I have ten table," I think it's not so much useful as conventional. "It evolved that way and there it is."Umbagollahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14556344092820711893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905080602885676490.post-34741537368296317422011-09-08T02:00:36.724+02:002011-09-08T02:00:36.724+02:00Oh yes, how clever of you to pick up the ref, Geor...Oh yes, how clever of you to pick up the ref, George.<br />I feel stupid because I've never ever questioned the idea, Umbagollah - have you thought about it further? Surely there are situations where plurals do have a reason for being? Or even several reasons for being?zmkchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905080602885676490.post-18072873412982786592011-09-07T17:47:47.658+02:002011-09-07T17:47:47.658+02:00I was helping some schoolkids with their English h...I was helping some schoolkids with their English homework in Thailand, once upon a time, and they were so irritated by plurals that I ended up wanting to side with them against my own language. Why, they said: why? If I tell you, "I have ten table," you know what I mean, don't you? Then why do I need an s? I thought they had a point.Umbagollahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14556344092820711893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905080602885676490.post-74808147758331127622011-09-07T00:48:41.632+02:002011-09-07T00:48:41.632+02:00It sounds as if the compiler of your German text w...It sounds as if the compiler of your German text was a Tom Lehrer fan: "For it's not against any religion/To want to dispose of a pigeon."Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14819154529261482038noreply@blogger.com