Tuesday, January 25, 2011

It Does Make You Wonder...!


You know, the English language can be very strange!

It's no wonder that many folks have a lot of trouble trying to learn English!

Many things about it have puzzled me over the years. For example:

We have some words that are spelled the same, but have totally different meanings, such as "pitcher," and different pronunciations, such as "lead." Some have different spellings but are pronounced the same, such as "two," "too" and "two."

And why are there words that have similar sounds but different spellings, such as "mnemonic gnomes never know pneumonia?"

Why is general information for privates and private information for generals?

Why is an advertising circular usually rectangular or square?

Why do we sit on a grandstand?

The cowboy said he was riding a quarter horse. What are the other three quarters?
Or was that its monetary value?

Why do pitted olives and prunes have no pits, but seeded watermelons have seeds?

And is a seeded bun in any way like a seeded tennis star?

How do you know if your olive oil is extra virgin, slightly virgin, or previously virgin?

And isn't being extra virgin akin to being extra pregnant?

And finally this disturbing thought: If a vegetarian eats only vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

Oh...we can't forget the ol' famous " If vegetable oil comes from vegetables, and corn oil comes from corn... where does baby oil come from?"

Just a few things to ponder on a rainy Tuesday! Cold and rainy...what a miserable combination! Guess it could be worse! It could be ice and snow! Now there is a miserable combination for ya!

Let's have some coffee in the kitchen! I forget...how long until Spring?

14 comments:

Ben in Texas said...

Two of Ann's favorites were , Why isn't it an underbrella? And why do we drive on parkway and park in our driveway?

As for spring, it should happen one day in March shouldn't it? right after the spring rains with flooding and the first tornado!!!

Baby Sis said...

Yes, Bubba - it could always be worse. That's what I told folks all day yesterday, when it was raining all day - at least it's not sleet!
Ben - I use the term "underbrella" all the time - makes sense to me - or is that cents? Or scents?
And I love our language - especially comparing it to the same as used in other parts of the world. Did you know a trolley is the same as a shopping cart, but a pullover is not the same as a sweater? Or you can stand your car in some areas, but you'll get a citation for parking in the same area? Lots of fun!!

JoJo said...

Good Morning,
You must have read my blog. I reread them before I post and then after I post I read them again when it is to late to fix my mistakes. Like being bored and chalk board. hmmmmm Oh well at least I did post a few. Hope I will have lots to post after this trip.
The weather should be great here. We had your weather a few weeks ago.

HermitJim said...

Hey Ben...
Makes for some interesting conversation sometimes, doesn't it?

Just one more thing to think about!

Thanks for the visit today, buddy!


Hey Sis...
Almost enough to make you confused! Of course, it doesn't take much anymore for me!

Hope the old man is doing better. Be sure to tell him hello for me!

Thanks for dropping by today!


Hey JoJo...
Haven't read your blog yet today, sweetie!

I try to read it early, but lately I get behind , with all the things I need to check on, ya know?

I'm looking forward to your trip almost as much as you are!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!

Dizzy-Dick said...

Now you know why I can't spell.

Mechanic in Illinois said...

I think its to keep us confused and then the PTB can sneak stuff by us. Thanks for the neat lesson and have a great day.

HermitJim said...

Hey Dizzy...
When I was still in school, I used to be a good speller. That sure has changed!

Another thing that has gone downhill is my penmanship! GONE!

Must be an age thing! Hey, thanks for coming by today!


Hey Mechanic...
That's probably it, alright! Certainly a better explanation than the standard "just because" we used to get!

Thanks for coming over today!

Ken said...

...and that's to say nothing of the one letter changes in meaning,and pronunciation huh?...like comb,tomb,and bomb(just to say a few)...i think i need more coffee...

Marjie said...

I do have the ice and snow. But, at 22 degrees, it's a veritable heat wave! I love word games like these, Jim. I'll stay inside and ponder, too.

HermitJim said...

Hey Ken...
It just gets crazier and crazier, doesn't it? Enough to drive you nuts!

More coffee always sounds like a good idea to me!

I appreciate you coming by today!


Hey Marjie...
22 degrees may be a heat wave there, but it's bone-chilling cold here!

To me, anything below 55 is COLD!

Is it Spring yet? Hey, thanks for coming by today!

Unknown said...

Not sure how I got to yer blog, but glad I got here. Very interesting the english language. Haddah nice visit here. Now gonna have sommah that coffee!

Jane said...

Kind of like bow or bough or seen or scene,oh well I'm running out of words, for now anyway. Blessings jane

Shooting Blanks said...

"How do you know if your olive oil is extra virgin, slightly virgin, or previously virgin?"

Olive oil is grown under the strictest of guidlines in convents.
Extra virgin has never been touched by a male.
Slightly virgin has been toched but never been inserted.
previously virgin was extra virgin that had been released from the convent.

HermitJim said...

Hey Toodie...
Glad you found your way over, regardless of how it was!

Nice to have a new friend drop in from time to time!

I do thank you for coming by, and hope you'll come on back!


Hey Jane...
I guess that if we put our minds to it, we could find quite a few!

One way to spend a rainy day, huh?


Hey Shooting...
I really appreciate you clearing that up for me! Now I have it all clear in my head...I think!

Your visit is greatly appreciated today!