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Post by Vadim on Nov 24, 2008 14:41:24 GMT
I'm a fan of octarine - I've never seen it, but it sounds fantastic!
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Post by Alan Palmer on Nov 24, 2008 14:47:55 GMT
Brian Sewell presumably likes primrose, since that's the colour of his Mercedes ...
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Post by Twoddle on Nov 24, 2008 19:41:39 GMT
"Orange", as the name of a colour, wasn't used before 1542, and was named after the fruit. Does anyone know what the colour was called before it was known as "orange"? "Reddish yellow" or "golden", perhaps?
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Post by Tone on Nov 24, 2008 21:55:51 GMT
>Orange, surely< Provocative? Orange (in Old English) was geoluhread, which translates into Modern English as yellow-red. Tone
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Post by Sue M-V on Nov 24, 2008 22:35:01 GMT
when I was growing up in France and learning English, I was taught to try to imitate British English, and American English was regarded as an inferior variety of English. You'd better not let Dave hear you say that! I'm never quite sure what "British English" sounds like. Is Geordie "British English"? What about Glaswegian? If, by "British English" we mean RP, then there are only a couple of percent of British people who speak like that, and since British English speakers are only a couple of percent of the number of English speakers in the world, it's a tiny minority! I think that if you're lucky enough to speak English with a French accent, you shouldn't try to replace this with RP! I believe that if you are not a native speaker it's downright dangerous to obliterate your own accent in favour of some standard version of English! The problems arise when you inevitably make some mistake in grammar, syntax or vocabulary, and your listeners, who'd taken you for a native speaker, are suddenly mystified as to what you might mean! If it's obvious that you are not a native speaker, they will be prepared for anomalies, and be very forgiving of small mistakes (hardly noticing them, in fact). The only problem is when a foreign accent is so strong that it's the only thing you notice when you hear it. I think that foreign accents are charming, and add a delicate flavour to English that I wouldn't want to be without. I shouldn't try to sound particularly British or American, but to make sounds that feel comfortable and are instantly recognisable to native speakers. I'd say it's more important to concentrate on consonants than vowels, as the pronunciation of vowels is what differs most in regional accents. The consonants that vary most are probably R , T, and L. A nice TH is always impressive! Sue
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Post by Dave M on Nov 25, 2008 5:43:39 GMT
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Post by Verbivore on Nov 25, 2008 7:47:06 GMT
Thanks, Dave. I like: "You make an elegant line. You can steer a cleaner line through the road than the line of the road itself." Couldn't agree more! I dunno what drugs the "engineers" who "design" Oz roads, and the fools who paint the lines, are on, but their curves are utterly ridiculous. I often suspect that those people have never sat behind the tiller of a road vehicle faster than a steam roller. Wouldn't mind one of those 560SECs; my next Benz is planned to be a W126 series of some kind - either an SEC or an SEL.
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Post by Vadim on Nov 25, 2008 8:55:56 GMT
Thanks, Dave. I like: "You make an elegant line. You can steer a cleaner line through the road than the line of the road itself." Couldn't agree more! I dunno what drugs the "engineers" who "design" Oz roads, and the fools who paint the lines, are on, but their curves are utterly ridiculous. I often suspect that those people have never sat behind the tiller of a road vehicle faster than a steam roller. Wouldn't mind one of those 560SECs; my next Benz is planned to be a W126 series of some kind - either an SEC or an SEL. I'm in Berlin, soon, looking at coolant reduction for the CAM grinders; I'll pick you up a shaft if you like Vv. Oh, and Stuttgart in January, I could get you a nice gleaming new crank and set of con-rods.
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Post by Verbivore on Nov 25, 2008 9:18:46 GMT
[..] I'm in Berlin, soon, looking at coolant reduction for the CAM grinders; I'll pick you up a shaft if you like Vv. Oh, and Stuttgart in January, I could get you a nice gleaming new crank and set of con-rods. Vadim: You must shout yourself a visit to the new M-B museum! Oh, and I'll have a 1937 540K Special Roadster Cabriolet, please. Must be the split-windscreen variant, though, and the supercharger must still work -- what's a straight-eight without a blower! ;D www.cromoclassico.com/eng/mercedes.html
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Post by Vadim on Nov 25, 2008 9:24:49 GMT
[..] I'm in Berlin, soon, looking at coolant reduction for the CAM grinders; I'll pick you up a shaft if you like Vv. Oh, and Stuttgart in January, I could get you a nice gleaming new crank and set of con-rods. Vadim: You must shout yourself a visit to the new M-B museum! Oh, and I'll have a 1937 540K Special Roadster Cabriolet, please. Must be the split-windscreen variant, though, and the supercharger must still work -- what's a straight-eight without a blower! ;D www.cromoclassico.com/eng/mercedes.htmlI did, Vv, absolutely brilliant it was as well! The history of the Daimler brand and the birth of Mercedes (all things of which I'm sorry to say I didn't have a clue) were fascinating. Looking at the plant and the surrounding area, you'd not think it was hit by such a blast in the war - the area looks outstanding and had fabulous transportation. Those Germans really do know how to do transport - both public and private! I also get a discount, so I'm sure I'll own my first Daimler (Mercedes) soon
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Post by Vadim on Nov 25, 2008 9:26:24 GMT
Hello everyone. What, in your opinion, is the best English speaking accent? I was having this discussion with my husband today. He told me he is fond of the way Dr Alice Roberts (Coast; Don't Die Young) speaks, and I told him, I am fond of the way Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion; The Root of all Evils) speaks. As I understand it, Received Pronunication is standardised British accent sans regional and colloquial influences. So, is my husband and me correct in thinking Alice Roberts speaks RP English, and Richard Dawkins (he speaks with an Oxford accent, right?) doesn't? Brawd Yarwkshire, lass, and a waint take no t'other views on't subject, awright!
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Post by Dave on Nov 25, 2008 9:41:11 GMT
You'd better not let Dave hear you say that! Sue We speak English here with no accent--it's the rest of you that have an accent!
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alexknibb
Silver
"I have never fallen in love. I've stepped in it a few times..."
Posts: 194
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Post by alexknibb on Nov 25, 2008 9:44:30 GMT
I'm a fan of octarine - I've never seen it, but it sounds fantastic! They're lovely. A bit like a nectarine, but with eight sides - one of the very few tessellating fruits, or prunus tessellae to give them their proper name. They're also handy for replacing lost dice in Dungeons & Dragons games.
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Post by Twoddle on Nov 25, 2008 9:59:09 GMT
Hello everyone. What, in your opinion, is the best English speaking accent? I was having this discussion with my husband today. He told me he is fond of the way Dr Alice Roberts (Coast; Don't Die Young) speaks, and I told him, I am fond of the way Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion; The Root of all Evils) speaks. As I understand it, Received Pronunication is standardised British accent sans regional and colloquial influences. So, is my husband and me correct in thinking Alice Roberts speaks RP English, and Richard Dawkins (he speaks with an Oxford accent, right?) doesn't? Brawd Yarwkshire, lass, and a waint take no t'other views on't subject, awright! Vadim, if that doesn't deter Marie from learning English, nothing will!
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Post by Vadim on Nov 25, 2008 16:20:53 GMT
Brawd Yarwkshire, lass, and a waint take no t'other views on't subject, awright! Vadim, if that doesn't deter Marie from learning English, nothing will! Hahaha! Sorry, Twod. It's what deterred me from learning English too . But anyway, who wants the French learning our lingo? They may use it to invade
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