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| english is a funny language: Funny Side of English O.A. Booty, 2002-08-24 The Funny Side of English takes you on a pleasure trip through the English language. Besides being an international language, English is also a funny and crazy tongue - which this book on recreational English amply proves. Interesting aspects about the language are unraveled across every chapter. the alphabetical chapters - from ABC Language to Words Worth Reviving - will open a world of amazing and amusing English. An absolute engrosser, you will find this a hard-to-put-down book, finishing it at one sitting. |
| english is a funny language: Talk on the Wild Side Lane Greene, 2018-11-06 Language is the most human invention. Spontaneous, unruly, passionate, and erratic it resists every attempt to discipline or regularize it--a history celebrated here in all its irreverent glory. Language is a wild thing. It is vague and anarchic. Style, meaning, and usage are continually on the move. Throughout history, for every mutation, idiosyncrasy, and ubiquitous mistake, there have been countervailing rules, pronouncements and systems making some attempt to bring language to heel. From the utopian language-builder to the stereotypical grammatical stickler to the programmer trying to teach a computer to translate, Lane Greene takes the reader through a multi-disciplinary survey of the many different ways in which we attempt to control language, exploring the philosophies, motivations, and complications of each. The result is a highly readable caper that covers history, linguistics, politics, and grammar with the ease and humor of a dinner party anecdote. Talk on the Wild Side is both a guide to the great debates and controversies of usage, and a love letter to language itself. Holding it together is Greene's infectious enthusiasm for his subject. While you can walk away with the finer points of who says whom and the strange history of buxom schoolboys, most of all, it inspires awe in language itself: for its elegance, resourcefulness, and power. |
| english is a funny language: Comedy Writing Secrets Melvin Helitzer, 1992 A comprehensive guide to writing, selling and performing all types of comedy. Includes comments, advice, gags and routines from top comics. |
| english is a funny language: Crazy English Richard Lederer, 2010-05-11 In what other language, asks Lederer, do people drive on a parkway and park in a driveway, and your nose can run and your feet can smell? In CRAZY ENGLISH, Lederer frolics through the logic-boggling byways of our language, discovering the names for phobias you didn't know you could have, the longest words in our dictionaries, and the shortest sentence containing every letter in the alphabet. You'll take a bird's-eye view of our beastly language, feast on a banquet of mushrooming food metaphors, and meet the self-reflecting Doctor Rotcod, destined to speak only in palindromes. |
| english is a funny language: Funny English Errors and Insights Illustrated Troy Simpson, 2010 FUNNY ENGLISH ERRORS AND INSIGHTS is a fresh collection of humorous uses and misuses of English, illustrated with photographs from the Pictures Collection of the National Library of Australia. |
| english is a funny language: Shoot the Wounded Lynn Dove, Shoot the Wounded is a contemporary Christian novel that deals with relevant social issues such as teen pregnancy and family violence. Set in the small fictional town of Maplewood, in southern Alberta, best friends Leigh and Ronnie find their friendship and faith challenged when Jake, a good looking Christian boy, moves into their neighborhood. Leigh is especially delighted that Jake is paying more attention to her than any other girl at school or church, but what she does not know is that despite his bold declaration of being a follower of Christ, he's carrying a dark secret from his past that has the potential to destroy his integrity and have his friends question the legitimacy of his faith. |
| english is a funny language: That's Not Funny! Jeanne Willis, 2014-01-01 The most action-packed banana-peel gag ever! What happens when mischievous Hyena puts a banana peel on unsuspecting Giraffe's path? A lot of hilarious chaos, it turns out. Kids will laugh and laugh at the crazy chain of events Hyena's practical joke sets in motion. In the end though, the joke's on Hyena, and readers will learn the smelly consequences of laughing too much at others' misfortunes. |
| english is a funny language: Love the Wounded Lynn Dove, |
| english is a funny language: Origins of the Specious Patricia T. O'Conner, Stewart Kellerman, 2010-08-24 Do you cringe when a talking head pronounces “niche” as NITCH? Do you get bent out of shape when your teenager begins a sentence with “and”? Do you think British spellings are more “civilised” than the American versions? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you’re myth-informed. In Origins of the Specious, word mavens Patricia T. O’Conner and Stewart Kellerman reveal why some of grammar’s best-known “rules” aren’t—and never were—rules at all. This playfully witty, rigorously researched book sets the record straight about bogus word origins, politically correct fictions, phony français, fake acronyms, and more. Here are some shockers: “They” was once commonly used for both singular and plural, much the way “you” is today. And an eighteenth-century female grammarian, of all people, is largely responsible for the all-purpose “he.” From the Queen’s English to street slang, this eye-opening romp will be the toast of grammarphiles and the salvation of grammarphobes. Take our word for it. |
| english is a funny language: UgLish: Dictionary of Ugandan English Bernard Sabiiti, 2015-01-11 Extensive glossary of Ugandan English (Uglish) Words and phrases, their meanings and origins,Lexico-grammatical and syntactic featuresPicture examples for words and phrases,Notable Uglish speeches,Chapter on a history and progression of Uglish,Lots of photos of hilariously worded sign posts and Newspaper cuttings |
| english is a funny language: Funny English: A New & Reliable Method of English Mastery with the Aid of Jokes Metin Emir, Robert Allans, 2019-04 The most effective method of mastering any language is to get involved in real practice of the language rather than memorizing and doing tests. Thus, why do not we change our attitude and learn naturally? All the tools and materials are available starting with videos and ending with travel and reading. And the most effective type of reading is the one that makes you more interested and entertained.Nothing like jokes can interest and amuse us. They create an enjoyable atmosphere and put a smile on our faces. And above all, they stick in our memory forever because our memories save data which is related to some feelings or emotions. (for example, when we are shocked by some news we will remember this news for years - when we go on an exciting vacation with our loved ones, we will remember all of the details for years ... ).Jokes usually make us overjoyed and happy every time we hear or tell them. They can stick in memory without any effort, giving us a great deal of grammar, nouns, verbs, adjectives, idioms in a way that makes them present in our mind and ready to use. For this reason, I truly recommend jokes as a natural method of learning the language in a funny and interesting manner. And in this book, I will show how to make use of every joke and develop your language without being fed up or stressed. |
| english is a funny language: English at Work Ellen Jovin, 2019-09-17 This Grammar Guru will solve the world's problems. Or, at least, help you figure out when to use an Oxford comma. The New York Times Put your English skills to work for you! This book is ideal for intermediate and advanced (CEFR B1-C1) nonnative speakers of English seeking to increase their communication confidence and effectiveness in the workplace. Improve your precision and professionalism so your ideas shine! The book consists of 50 short quizzes which include the most common English errors made by nonnative speakers in professional environments. This fun format allows you to find your own frequent errors and fix them. You will test your skills quickly, daily, and build your language awareness and accuracy in writing and speaking English. Short, clear explanations after each quiz help you improve your knowledge of the grammar rules. Complementing the quizzes are Ellen says boxes with the same practical advice on good communication etiquette and habits that Ellen has been sharing for years with large corporate clients in New York City and beyond. Witty and humorous drawings illustrate confusing language and common misunderstandings. The focus of the exercises is on fixing your grammar and problems with word choice. Examples are pulled from every industry: finance, law, consulting, publishing, real-estate, retail, technology, energy, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, education, advertising, government, insurance, non-profit, and more. Whatever your profession or interest, you will benefit from the exercises contained in this book. If you are just looking to sharpen your English, this book is for you, too. You will be learning from a professional writer with two decades of experience teaching executives in a business setting. A language-learner herself who has studied some two dozen languages, Ellen Jovin has written this book to help motivated working adults advance their business English on their own time and at their own pace. Note that this book reflects global English usage, but spelling is American English. |
| english is a funny language: English as she is spoke; or, a jest in sober earnest José da Fonseca, Pedro Carolino, 2022-11-21 English as she is spoke by Jose de Fonseca is a befuddled Portuguese-to-English dictionary which was intentionally published as a humorous guide. Excerpt: A choice of familiar dialogues, clean of gallicisms, and despoiled phrases, it was missing yet to studious Portuguese and Brazilian Youth; and also to persons of others nations, that wish to know the Portuguese language. We sought all we may do, to correct that want, composing and devising the present little work in two parts. |
| english is a funny language: Highly Irregular Arika Okrent, 2021-06-03 Maybe you've been speaking English all your life, or maybe you learned it later on. But whether you use it just well enough to get your daily business done, or you're an expert with a red pen who never omits a comma or misplaces a modifier, you must have noticed that there are some things about this language that are just weird. Perhaps you're reading a book and stop to puzzle over absurd spelling rules (Why are there so many ways to say '-gh'?), or you hear someone talking and get stuck on an expression (Why do we say How dare you but not How try you?), or your kid quizzes you on homework (Why is it eleven and twelve instead of oneteen and twoteen?). Suddenly you ask yourself, Wait, why do we do it this way? You think about it, try to explain it, and keep running into walls. It doesn't conform to logic. It doesn't work the way you'd expect it to. There doesn't seem to be any rule at all. There might not be a logical explanation, but there will be an explanation, and this book is here to help. In Highly Irregular, Arika Okrent answers these questions and many more. Along the way she tells the story of the many influences--from invading French armies to stubborn Flemish printers--that made our language the way it is today. Both an entertaining send-up of linguistic oddities and a deeply researched history of English, Highly Irregular is essential reading for anyone who has paused to wonder about our marvelous mess of a language. |
| english is a funny language: Funny: The Book David Misch, 2012-04-01 Funny: The Book is an entertaining look at the art of comedy, from its historical roots to the latest scientific findings, with diversions into the worlds of movies (Buster Keaton and the Marx Brothers), television (The Office), prose (Woody Allen, Robert Benchley), theater (The Front Page), jokes and stand-up comedy (Richard Pryor, Steve Martin), as well as personal reminiscences from the author's experiences on such TV programs as Mork and Mindy. With allusions to the not-always-funny Carl Jung, George Orwell, and Arthur Koestler, Funny: The Book explores the evolution, theories, principles, and practice of comedy, as well as the psychological, philosophical, and even theological underpinnings of humor, coming to the conclusion that (Spoiler Alert!) Comedy is God. |
| english is a funny language: Fluent in 3 Months Benny Lewis, 2014-03-11 Benny Lewis, who speaks over ten languages—all self-taught—runs the largest language-learning blog in the world, Fluent In 3 Months. Lewis is a full-time language hacker, someone who devotes all of his time to finding better, faster, and more efficient ways to learn languages. Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World is a new blueprint for fast language learning. Lewis argues that you don't need a great memory or the language gene to learn a language quickly, and debunks a number of long-held beliefs, such as adults not being as good of language learners as children. |
| english is a funny language: Because Internet Gretchen McCulloch, 2020-07-21 AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!! Named a Best Book of 2019 by TIME, Amazon, and The Washington Post A Wired Must-Read Book of Summer “Gretchen McCulloch is the internet’s favorite linguist, and this book is essential reading. Reading her work is like suddenly being able to see the matrix.” —Jonny Sun, author of everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too Because Internet is for anyone who's ever puzzled over how to punctuate a text message or wondered where memes come from. It's the perfect book for understanding how the internet is changing the English language, why that's a good thing, and what our online interactions reveal about who we are. Language is humanity's most spectacular open-source project, and the internet is making our language change faster and in more interesting ways than ever before. Internet conversations are structured by the shape of our apps and platforms, from the grammar of status updates to the protocols of comments and @replies. Linguistically inventive online communities spread new slang and jargon with dizzying speed. What's more, social media is a vast laboratory of unedited, unfiltered words where we can watch language evolve in real time. Even the most absurd-looking slang has genuine patterns behind it. Internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch explores the deep forces that shape human language and influence the way we communicate with one another. She explains how your first social internet experience influences whether you prefer LOL or lol, why ~sparkly tildes~ succeeded where centuries of proposals for irony punctuation had failed, what emoji have in common with physical gestures, and how the artfully disarrayed language of animal memes like lolcats and doggo made them more likely to spread. |
| english is a funny language: It's Kind of a Funny Story Ned Vizzini, 2010-09-25 Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life—which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job—Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy. At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids; he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. |
| english is a funny language: Dictionary of the British English Spelling System Greg Brooks, 2015-03-30 This book will tell all you need to know about British English spelling. It's a reference work intended for anyone interested in the English language, especially those who teach it, whatever the age or mother tongue of their students. It will be particularly useful to those wishing to produce well-designed materials for teaching initial literacy via phonics, for teaching English as a foreign or second language, and for teacher training. English spelling is notoriously complicated and difficult to learn; it is correctly described as much less regular and predictable than any other alphabetic orthography. However, there is more regularity in the English spelling system than is generally appreciated. This book provides, for the first time, a thorough account of the whole complex system. It does so by describing how phonemes relate to graphemes and vice versa. It enables searches for particular words, so that one can easily find, not the meanings or pronunciations of words, but the other words with which those with unusual phoneme-grapheme/grapheme-phoneme correspondences keep company. Other unique features of this book include teacher-friendly lists of correspondences and various regularities not described by previous authorities, for example the strong tendency for the letter-name vowel phonemes (the names of the letters ) to be spelt with those single letters in non-final syllables. |
| english is a funny language: A Confederacy of Dunces John Kennedy Toole, 2007-12-01 Winner of the Pulitzer Prize “A masterwork . . . the novel astonishes with its inventiveness . . . it is nothing less than a grand comic fugue.”—The New York Times Book Review A Confederacy of Dunces is an American comic masterpiece. John Kennedy Toole's hero, one Ignatius J. Reilly, is huge, obese, fractious, fastidious, a latter-day Gargantua, a Don Quixote of the French Quarter. His story bursts with wholly original characters, denizens of New Orleans' lower depths, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the zaniest series of high and low comic adventures (Henry Kisor, Chicago Sun-Times). |
| english is a funny language: A Dictionary of the English Language Samuel Johnson, 1819 |
| english is a funny language: Hacking Chinese Olle Linge, 2016-03-26 Learning Chinese can be frustrating and difficult, partly because it's very different from European languages. Following a teacher, textbook or language course is not enough. They show you the characters, words and grammar you need to become proficient in Chinese, but they don't teach you how to learn them! Regardless of what program you're in (if any), you need to take responsibility for your own learning. If you don't, you will miss many important things that aren't included in the course you're taking. If you study on your own, you need to be even more aware of what you need to do, what you're doing at the moment and the difference between them. Here are some of the questions I have asked and have since been asked many times by students: How do I learn characters efficiently? How do I get the most out of my course or teacher? Which are the best learning tools and resources? How can I become fluent in Mandarin? How can I improve my pronunciation? How do I learn successfully on my own? How can I motivate myself to study more? How can I fit learning Chinese into a busy schedule? The answers I've found to these questions and many others form the core of this book. It took eight years of learning, researching, teaching and writing to figure these things out. Not everybody has the time to do that! I can't go back in time and help myself learn in a better way, but I can help you! This book is meant for normal students and independent language learners alike. While it covers all major areas of learning, you won't learn Chinese just by reading this book. It's like when someone on TV teaches you how to cook: you won't get to eat the delicious dish just by watching the program; you have to do the cooking yourself. That's true for this book as well. When you apply what you learn, it will boost your learning, making every hour you spend count for more, but you still have to do the learning yourself. This is what a few readers have said about the book: The book had me nodding at a heap of things I'd learnt the hard way, wishing I knew them when I started, as well as highlighting areas that I'm currently missing in my study. - Geoff van der Meer, VP engineering This publication is like a bible for anyone serious about Chinese proficiency. It's easy for anyone to read and written with scientific precision. - Zachary Danz, foreign teacher, children's theatre artist About me I started learning Chinese when I was 23 (that's more than eight years ago now) and have since studied in many different situations, including serious immersion programs abroad, high-intensity programs in Sweden, online courses, as well as on the side while working or studying other things. I have also successfully used my Chinese in a graduate program for teaching Chinese as a second language, taught entirely in Chinese mostly for native speakers (the Graduate Institute for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at National Taiwan Normal University). All these parts have contributed to my website, Hacking Chinese, where I write regularly about how to learn Mandarin. |
| english is a funny language: Ask a Manager Alison Green, 2018-05-01 From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together |
| english is a funny language: The Language Hoax John H. McWhorter, 2014-04-01 Japanese has a term that covers both green and blue. Russian has separate terms for dark and light blue. Does this mean that Russians perceive these colors differently from Japanese people? Does language control and limit the way we think? This short, opinionated book addresses the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which argues that the language we speak shapes the way we perceive the world. Linguist John McWhorter argues that while this idea is mesmerizing, it is plainly wrong. It is language that reflects culture and worldview, not the other way around. The fact that a language has only one word for eat, drink, and smoke doesn't mean its speakers don't process the difference between food and beverage, and those who use the same word for blue and green perceive those two colors just as vividly as others do. McWhorter shows not only how the idea of language as a lens fails but also why we want so badly to believe it: we're eager to celebrate diversity by acknowledging the intelligence of peoples who may not think like we do. Though well-intentioned, our belief in this idea poses an obstacle to a better understanding of human nature and even trivializes the people we seek to celebrate. The reality -- that all humans think alike -- provides another, better way for us to acknowledge the intelligence of all peoples. |
| english is a funny language: Words on the Move John McWhorter, 2016-09-06 A bestselling linguist takes us on a lively tour of how the English language is evolving before our eyes -- and why we should embrace this transformation and not fight it Language is always changing -- but we tend not to like it. We understand that new words must be created for new things, but the way English is spoken today rubs many of us the wrong way. Whether it’s the use of literally to mean “figuratively” rather than “by the letter,” or the way young people use LOL and like, or business jargon like What’s the ask? -- it often seems as if the language is deteriorating before our eyes. But the truth is different and a lot less scary, as John McWhorter shows in this delightful and eye-opening exploration of how English has always been in motion and continues to evolve today. Drawing examples from everyday life and employing a generous helping of humor, he shows that these shifts are a natural process common to all languages, and that we should embrace and appreciate these changes, not condemn them. Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant “blessed”? Or that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or that the suffix -ly in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn? McWhorter encourages us to marvel at the dynamism and resilience of the English language, and his book offers a lively journey through which we discover that words are ever on the move and our lives are all the richer for it. |
| english is a funny language: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary Kate Woodford, Guy Jackson, 2003 The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary is the ideal dictionary for advanced EFL/ESL learners. Easy to use and with a great CD-ROM - the perfect learner's dictionary for exam success. First published as the Cambridge International Dictionary of English, this new edition has been completely updated and redesigned. - References to over 170,000 words, phrases and examples explained in clear and natural English - All the important new words that have come into the language (e.g. dirty bomb, lairy, 9/11, clickable) - Over 200 'Common Learner Error' notes, based on the Cambridge Learner Corpus from Cambridge ESOL exams Plus, on the CD-ROM: - SMART thesaurus - lets you find all the words with the same meaning - QUICKfind - automatically looks up words while you are working on-screen - SUPERwrite - tools for advanced writing, giving help with grammar and collocation - Hear and practise all the words. |
| english is a funny language: You Talk Funny Too Lee Coulter, 2014-09-23 Do you have an accent? YES! We all do! If you speak, you have an accent. Most people on Earth would say that YOU have a very strong accent. This is because most people aren't from where you're from. YOU TALK FUNNY TOO is a short rhyming story about accents that helps children understand a global perspective--to see their home as one of many places on our beautiful globe--as well as encourage their interest in geography. |
| english is a funny language: It's a Funny Thing, Humour Antony J. Chapman, Hugh C. Foot, 2013-10-22 It's a Funny Thing, Humour contains the papers presented at the International Conference on Humor and Laughter, held in Cardiff in July 1976. The symposium provides a platform from which authors from different professional and personal background can talk about their own definition and analysis of humor. The book is structured into 10 main sections that reflect the structure of the conference and presents various studies and research on the nature of humor and laughter. Contributions range from theoretical discussions to practical and experimental expositions. Topics on the psychoanalytical theory of humor and laughter; the nature and analysis of jokes; cross-cultural research of humor; mirth measurement; and humor as a tool of learning are some of the topics covered in the symposium. Psychologists, sociologists, teachers, communication experts, psychiatrists, and people who are curious to know more about humor and laughter will find the book very interesting and highly amusing. |
| english is a funny language: Funny Frank Dick King-Smith, 2009-03-25 Being a duck isn’t all it’s quacked up to be. But don’t try telling that to Frank—he’s a chicken with a dream. All he thinks about are webbed feet, waterproof feathers, and the cool water of the pond. So when Frank takes a dip and nearly drowns, his mood turns foul. Luckily, he gets a little human help—in the form of a man-made wet suit and a pair of flippers—and soon he’s the speediest bird in the water. And while Frank knows he’s ruffled a few feathers, he doesn’t care—there’s just too much for him to crow about. Until a certain young chick catches his eye, that is. . . . |
| english is a funny language: House of Leaves Mark Z. Danielewski, 2000-03-07 “A novelistic mosaic that simultaneously reads like a thriller and like a strange, dreamlike excursion into the subconscious.” —The New York Times Years ago, when House of Leaves was first being passed around, it was nothing more than a badly bundled heap of paper, parts of which would occasionally surface on the Internet. No one could have anticipated the small but devoted following this terrifying story would soon command. Starting with an odd assortment of marginalized youth -- musicians, tattoo artists, programmers, strippers, environmentalists, and adrenaline junkies -- the book eventually made its way into the hands of older generations, who not only found themselves in those strangely arranged pages but also discovered a way back into the lives of their estranged children. Now this astonishing novel is made available in book form, complete with the original colored words, vertical footnotes, and second and third appendices. The story remains unchanged, focusing on a young family that moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Of course, neither Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson nor his companion Karen Green was prepared to face the consequences of that impossibility, until the day their two little children wandered off and their voices eerily began to return another story -- of creature darkness, of an ever-growing abyss behind a closet door, and of that unholy growl which soon enough would tear through their walls and consume all their dreams. |
| english is a funny language: What is Funny? Etan Boritzer, 2023-10-12 WHAT IS FUNNY? addresses the subject of sensitivity and awareness in humor. Laughing at others or laughing at oneself, or laughing for no particular reason at all, author Etan Boritzer approaches the various subtleties of this basic human activity asking what is appropriate and what is hurtful, while tackling issues of taunting and teasing, bullying and aggression issues that are very much in the focus of our nation s schools today. Suggesting a gentle and conscious, multicultural message of compassion, understanding and acceptance, this book helps children, parents, educators and child professionals explore a subject too often easily glossed over. |
| english is a funny language: The Meaning of Life Joanna Nadin, 2008-08-07 Not suitable for younger readers. |
| english is a funny language: The 100 Funniest Words in English Robert Beard, 2009 This book explores what is funny in the words of English themselves by taking a close look at the 100 funniest of them selected by Dr. Robert Beard, formerly Dr. Language at yourDictionary.com and currently Dr. Goodword at alphaDictionary.com. After a short essay on what makes words funny, Dr. Beard examines the pronunciation, meaning, usage, and history of each word, giving several creative examples of its use. Among Dr. Beard's selection you will find the likes of absquatulate, bowyangs, collywobbles, gongoozle, hemidemisemiquaver, and snollygoster. Dr. Beard holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Michigan and taught Russian and Linguistics at Bucknell University for 35 years. His various word-of-the-day features go out to more than 100,000 people around the world every day. |
| english is a funny language: A Funny Day at the Zoo Michelle Glorieux, Jesse Lewis, 2021-04-06 This adventure-filled, screen-free, interactive talking book teaches preschoolers and toddlers zoo words in English! Kids can press, listen, and learn along; the touch of a little finger on regular paper magically allows them to hear clear native speaker pronunciation, real animal sounds, and toe-tapping tunes produced by a 4-time Grammy Award winner. |
| english is a funny language: The Fabulous Lost and Found and the Little French Mouse Mark Pallis, 2023-03-30 A little mouse has lost something precious, but only speaks French! Can you help? Laugh and learn 50 French words with this heartwarming story illustrated by Peter Baynton, co-director of Oscar winning The Boy, The Mole The Fox and The Horse. |
| english is a funny language: Wordslut Amanda Montell, 2019-05-28 “As funny as it is informative, this book will have you laughing out loud while you contemplate the revolutionary power of words.” —Camille Perri, author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy A brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us. The word bitch conjures many images, but it is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean “a female canine,” bitch didn’t refer to women at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word for “genitalia.” A perfectly innocuous word devolving into an insult directed at females is the case for tons more terms, including hussy, which simply meant “housewife”; and slut, which meant “an untidy person” and was also used to describe men. These are just a few of history’s many English slurs hurled at women. Amanda Montell, reporter and feminist linguist, deconstructs language—from insults, cursing, gossip, and catcalling to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalized genders from power. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women speak with vocal fry or use like as filler? Or why certain gender-neutral terms stick and others don’t? Or where stereotypes of how women and men speak come from in the first place? Montell effortlessly moves between history, science, and popular culture to explore these questions—and how we can use the answers to affect real social change. Her irresistible humor shines through, making linguistics not only approachable but downright hilarious and profound. Wordslut gets to the heart of our language, marvels at its elasticity, and sheds much-needed light on the biases that shadow women in our culture and our consciousness. |
| english is a funny language: Talking Back, Talking Black John H. McWhorter, 2017 An authoritative, impassioned celebration of Black English, how it works, and why it matters |
| english is a funny language: Phizz-Whizzing Stories - Gobblefunk Helen Davies, Roald Dahl, Young Writers (Firm : Peterborough, England), 2013-01-01 |
| english is a funny language: English Language as Hydra Vaughan Rapatahana, Pauline Bunce, 2012-06-22 In far too many places, the worldwide trade in English-language teaching, testing and publishing has become a self-perpetuating, self-congratulating, neocolonial monster ... a veritable multi-headed Hydra. Too often the English language industry aggressively promotes itself as some sort of “uplifting”, “essential”, “proper” or even “better” means of communication than any other language. Unfortunately, its relentless global outreach is taking place at the direct expense, and the active denigration, of local and regional languages – not to mention individual identities. English Language as Hydra brings together the voices of linguists, literary figures and teaching professionals in a wide-ranging exposé of this monstrous Hydra in action on four continents. It provides a showcase of the diverse and powerful impacts that this ever-evolving, gluttonous beast has had on so many non-English language cultures - as well as the surreptitious, drug-like ways in which it can infiltrate individual psyches. |
| english is a funny language: The Elements of Eloquence Mark Forsyth, 2016-11-03 FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE ETYMOLOGICON. 'An informative but highly entertaining journey through the figures of rhetoric ... Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully.' David Marsh, Guardian. Mark Forsyth presents the secret of writing unforgettable phrases, uncovering the techniques that have made immortal such lines as 'To be or not to be' and 'Bond. James Bond.' In his inimitably entertaining and witty style, he takes apart famous quotations and shows how you too can write like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde or John Lennon. Crammed with tricks to make the most humdrum sentiments seem poetic or wise, The Elements of Eloquencereveals how writers through the ages have turned humble words into literary gold - and how you can do the same. |
Crazy English by Richard Lederer - Palomar College
Crazy English by Richard Lederer Let’s face it: English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant or ham in hamburger, neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins were not …
English is a Crazy Language (Part I) - MRS. JAIME JOHNSON
English is a crazy language. How can expressions like "I'm mad about my flat," "No football coaches allowed," "I'll come by in the morning and knock you up," and "Keep your pecker up" …
Poems showing the absurdities of English Spelling - Spelling …
Poems, both published and unpublished, whether on love, friendship or plain funny, have all been enjoyable - see those cited by Lord Cromer, Vivian Cook, Melvin Bragg and quoted on many …
THE BEST FUNNY STORIES - Learn English Through Story
These stories help both English language students and those students who struggle with literacy. Get the audio for all these stories plus others by playing THIS PRESENTATION ( or click the …
Jokes - American English
In American language and culture, many adult jokes and most children’s jokes . consist of “playing” with language. The humor depends on words or phrases that . sound the same (or …
Funny English in the Digital World
Seventy four jokes (out of 200 posts) from 1 to 16 April 2019 were collected and analyzed. The study result revealed that there were two major types of jokes: one was in a textual form while …
ESL Plays and Skits for Teens - Teaching English Games
Either way, using these plays with language learners can help them: • learn vocabulary, • improve grammar, • use English in realistic dialogues • read more fluently, • speak more fluently and …
The Funny English Language - indiatrust.org.in
These questions are not concerned with measuring your facility with English. They are designed to test your ability to take a series of facts expressed in words and to understand and …
Humor in Language - Oxford Research Encyclopedia of …
Interest in the linguistics of humor is widespread and dates since classical times. Several theoretical models have been proposed to describe and explain the function of humor in …
Lesson: Have you seen these photo memes? - Learn Hot English
Learn Hot English Language Services www.learnhotenglish.com Check out our blog for more material: www.learnhotenglish.com/blog 5 Resource Sheet In pairs, describe the photos below …
910. FUNNY ENGLISH SIGNS Explained (Part 1)
In this episode I’m going to go through some signs from around the world, written in incorrect or ambigious English, with some pretty funny results. This includes signs in English speaking …
ROLE OF SENSE OF HUMOUR IN DEVELOPING …
Learners of English language are expected to identify humorous ways of using words in order to successfully communicate in the language. The job of the teacher is to get students
Babu English: Mimicry and Subversion in Language - IOSR …
Abstract: Babu English is the verbose, unidiomatic and funny variety of Indian English. The phrase has its origin in the Raj period and was originally used by the English colonizer to refer to the …
BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · UPPER …
FUNNY BUSINESS HEAAADERLOGORIGHT Find the funny side to business Comedy has much to teach managers, who would do well to engage their sense of humor and learn the lessons it …
JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTIC STUDIES - ed
The main focus in this study is to enable language learners in the ELT departments to appreciate humorous texts in the target language. Though they are much more proficient than regular …
Humour in English Language Communication Skills (ELCS) …
o learn is humour. Of the nine emotions (‘Nav Rasas’ in Indian Langua. es) it is one and it is used frequently among friends and familiar people. According to Oxford Adva. ced Learners’ …
Using&Comics&in&the&English& Language&Classroom
Jigsaw&Variaon&& • Variaon&for&more&advanced&students&& – Each&studentgets&one&partof&acomic&and&describes&itto& …
Maintaining Funny Effects in a Target Language: Translating …
Translating a humorous language is difficult for translators since even when the intended meaning is translated, the humorous effect may be missed due to the different translation strategies …
LANGUAGE IN USE LU 1 - English Grammar
www.english-grammar.at LANGUAGE IN USE LU 1 THE SCIENCE OF LAUGHTER Fill in the correct words from the list below Something funny happened when a middle aged woman was …
Laugh and Learn: Thinking over the Funny Teacher Myth
Whether you are already a funny teacher or not, it is still relevant to discuss why it is important to laugh in the foreign language classroom. Why use humor? The answer is in the title of this …
Crazy English by Richard Lederer - Palomar College
Crazy English by Richard Lederer Let’s face it: English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant or ham in hamburger, neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins were not …
English is a Crazy Language (Part I) - MRS. JAIME JOHNSON
English is a crazy language. How can expressions like "I'm mad about my flat," "No football coaches allowed," "I'll come by in the morning and knock you up," and "Keep your pecker up" …
Poems showing the absurdities of English Spelling - Spelling …
Poems, both published and unpublished, whether on love, friendship or plain funny, have all been enjoyable - see those cited by Lord Cromer, Vivian Cook, Melvin Bragg and quoted on many …
THE BEST FUNNY STORIES - Learn English Through Story
These stories help both English language students and those students who struggle with literacy. Get the audio for all these stories plus others by playing THIS PRESENTATION ( or click the …
Jokes - American English
In American language and culture, many adult jokes and most children’s jokes . consist of “playing” with language. The humor depends on words or phrases that . sound the same (or …
Funny English in the Digital World
Seventy four jokes (out of 200 posts) from 1 to 16 April 2019 were collected and analyzed. The study result revealed that there were two major types of jokes: one was in a textual form while …
ESL Plays and Skits for Teens - Teaching English Games
Either way, using these plays with language learners can help them: • learn vocabulary, • improve grammar, • use English in realistic dialogues • read more fluently, • speak more fluently and …
The Funny English Language - indiatrust.org.in
These questions are not concerned with measuring your facility with English. They are designed to test your ability to take a series of facts expressed in words and to understand and …
Humor in Language - Oxford Research Encyclopedia of …
Interest in the linguistics of humor is widespread and dates since classical times. Several theoretical models have been proposed to describe and explain the function of humor in …
Lesson: Have you seen these photo memes? - Learn Hot …
Learn Hot English Language Services www.learnhotenglish.com Check out our blog for more material: www.learnhotenglish.com/blog 5 Resource Sheet In pairs, describe the photos below …
910. FUNNY ENGLISH SIGNS Explained (Part 1)
In this episode I’m going to go through some signs from around the world, written in incorrect or ambigious English, with some pretty funny results. This includes signs in English speaking …
ROLE OF SENSE OF HUMOUR IN DEVELOPING …
Learners of English language are expected to identify humorous ways of using words in order to successfully communicate in the language. The job of the teacher is to get students
Babu English: Mimicry and Subversion in Language - IOSR …
Abstract: Babu English is the verbose, unidiomatic and funny variety of Indian English. The phrase has its origin in the Raj period and was originally used by the English colonizer to refer to the …
BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · UPPER …
FUNNY BUSINESS HEAAADERLOGORIGHT Find the funny side to business Comedy has much to teach managers, who would do well to engage their sense of humor and learn the lessons it …
JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTIC STUDIES - ed
The main focus in this study is to enable language learners in the ELT departments to appreciate humorous texts in the target language. Though they are much more proficient than regular …
Humour in English Language Communication Skills (ELCS) …
o learn is humour. Of the nine emotions (‘Nav Rasas’ in Indian Langua. es) it is one and it is used frequently among friends and familiar people. According to Oxford Adva. ced Learners’ …
Using&Comics&in&the&English& Language&Classroom
Jigsaw&Variaon&& • Variaon&for&more&advanced&students&& – Each&studentgets&one&partof&acomic&and&describes&itto& …
Maintaining Funny Effects in a Target Language: Translating …
Translating a humorous language is difficult for translators since even when the intended meaning is translated, the humorous effect may be missed due to the different translation strategies …
LANGUAGE IN USE LU 1 - English Grammar
www.english-grammar.at LANGUAGE IN USE LU 1 THE SCIENCE OF LAUGHTER Fill in the correct words from the list below Something funny happened when a middle aged woman was …
Laugh and Learn: Thinking over the Funny Teacher Myth
Whether you are already a funny teacher or not, it is still relevant to discuss why it is important to laugh in the foreign language classroom. Why use humor? The answer is in the title of this …
