I want to thank you all

[MissHoneychurch]

for helping my to improve my English. Reading and writing here helps me a lot. Sometimes I learn new words (which I don't necessary remember all the time), sometimes my grammar or orthography gets corrected. Without you ... my English would be a lot worse.

So THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RandomThoughts]

1. From my observation.

The English language is going to need many new words pretty soon.

The duplicate usages are getting pretty common. (Common - Another name for a park)



Internet forum, that does sound like a good way to practice a language, congratulations on your learning of English.

[MissHoneychurch]

2. The German languages

- some say - is taken over by the English language. We use a lot of English words when German words would be as good. But then both our languages are alive. Some centuries ago French was THE language to be spoken if you were someone. It passed. We still speak German. We do have some words that come from the French. Same with English. It will change over the centuries again. Some words will stick, some won't.

I also read a lot in English and try to speak as well. The speaking is limited at the moment though.

[cwydro]

3. You speak English very well.

I wish I could speak another language as well as you do English.:hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

4. Years of practice cwydro

years of practice. When I came to the U.S. in 1994 to be a nanny, my English knowledge was close to zero.

[bigwillq]

5. Thank you

for your contribution to DU! I enjoy reading your threads. Glad we're internet friends! :) :hi: :hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

7. Thank you bigwillq

Same here. I am glad we are internet friends. :hi: :hug:

[Tobin S.]

6. Me, too, Miss H

I'm a native speaker of English, but my writing skills were terrible when I joined DU. I can now express myself intelligibly and it is in large part due to DU. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really owe this place something.

[MissHoneychurch]

8. I love your stories

you know that Tobin.

An internet board isn't all bad, now is it? And your story shows that the Internet isn't always crippling one's abilities but helps it improve.

:hi: :hug:

[Tobin S.]

10. Overall, this is a good site

I think the interactive nature of the site can help develop the intellect if you are open to learning new things.

Thanks for the compliment. I love writing those stories. Sometime in the future they are going to turn into a book. It's going to take a lot of work, but I think I'm about ready to tackle the task. :hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

11. Whenever you put your stories into a book

I want a copy :D

[Tobin S.]

18. You got it!

:thumbsup:

[kentauros]

9. At first, I didn't think you were anything but a native speaker.

You fooled us all!!! :P :hi:

Here's a great dictionary site to keep around, too: http://www.etymonline.com
I use it all the time, because I like to know where our words come from. And really, the English language is a Germanic language, so you're already halfway there ;) Not to mention all the other Europeans words mixed in...

Here's the entry for the word "English" to give you some background:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=English

[MissHoneychurch]

13. Thank you for your compliment

and thank you for the links.

Even though our languages are related I had a very hard time in school with it. I am glad I got my highschool diploma barely knowing English. So coming the the US as a nanny to learn English was the best idea ever for me.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. You are most welcome and thank you for your interesting threads

about European life and culture where you provide links and pictures. I really enjoy them. :loveya: :hug: :hi:

[MissHoneychurch]

14. Hey there Tuesday

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

You know I enjoy sharing my pictures. And I sometimes think since you can't know certain things I better add a link for further information.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. I really appreciate the time you take to include the links.

I have learned a lot from you. :pals:

[MissHoneychurch]

16. It is good to read

that someone at least reads the links I provide :D

[Tuesday Afternoon]

27. heh --

:D most of the time, anyway. :hug:

[Jamastiene]

17. I just wish I could speak English as well as I can read and write it.

The same goes with other languages I am trying to learn. I can roll off a few Japanese* words like nothing, but English still makes my tongue get tied. The worst thing about it is that I was born in America and I was taught English as my first language. I just read more than I spoke growing up and the habit stayed with me into adulthood.

Not long ago, I heard how calliope is really pronounced. I was astonished at how much more beautiful it sounds pronounced the right way than the lousy way I always pronounced it.

*because I heard so many Japanese words in place of English words growing up. I'm not sure of the correct spelling, but I heard "wiki wiki dozo" more than anything, because I'm such a slow poke. Growing up with a drill sergeant barking Japanese at you makes you slower though, not faster, lol.

[MissHoneychurch]

19. I hear you Jamastiene

I think my written English is better than my spoken English. When I speak I am not remembering the correct words right when I need them.

One word I was very proud to be able to pronounce is "Hippopotamus". That was a real tongue twister for me. Where I also have problems is the letter "Z". Just the letter, like when I need to spell my name. One letter is the "Z". So I always say "Z like Zebra". My "Z" sounds like a "S"

[MiddleFingerMom]

20. My ex-wife is German (an American G.I. stepfather since she was about 6 or 7)...

.
.
.
...and EVERYONE was surprised to learn that English was not her birth
language. I could tell on occasion... but only because I knew her so
well.
.
She had a pet name for a certain part of me -- Fido.
.
OK, I thought... that's cute. WIERD... but cute.
.
Turns out that because of her having grown up speaking German, when
she read "The Godfather", she thought Fido was the correct pronunciation
for Vito (he spoke of orgasms as "the little death" -- I believe it's
a Sicilian concept).
.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
.
.
.
Then I thought of it as REALLY cute... and not the least bit wierd --
and never did correct her.
.
.
.

[Aristus]

21. Your English is fantastic, MIssHoneyChurch.

Certainly better than my German, which is getting rustier all the time. I can't wait to visit Germany again. My wife and I will be visiting Europe here in another year or so as a self-reward for graduation. I'd better brush up my German again...

:hi:

[Phentex]

22. I had no idea...

English is not your first language?

Who knew? :shrug:


:hi:

[MilesColtrane]

23. I never knew that English wasn't your native language.

Yes, you're THAT good.

:hi:

[Iggo]

24. 'Orthography'? I thought you said we were speaking English here.

;-)

[foxfeet]

25. i was at one time fluent in German

after three years of college-level German and a year spent studying at the Universitaet Hamburg(Germanistik und Psychologie.) I've been impressed by your command of English, Miss Honeychurch. Nowadays, I seldom get an opportunity to speak German, so it has become harder and harder to recall the correct German words in conversation when I need them. On the other hand, I visited Germany twice in recent years and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my vocabulary returned when I was immersed in a German-language environment-- I even got very nice compliments from many German people about my pronunciation and accent (although I still had trouble with the spoken language in Austria and Switzerland). I hope you get the opportunity to return to the US-- you will do fine, I'm sure.

[Sky Masterson]

26. I want to thank you for being here.

You rank in the top ten of favorite people here. :) :loveya:
As one who has spoken to you once or twice I can say that you speak and read English better than I or most Americans speak and read a second language. :)

[seabeyond]

28. geez. i bet i get asked more if english is my second language, than you, lol lol.

never knew

so funny

on edit... do NOT learn from me, lol lol

[Blue_Tires]

29. It was already excellent -- I don't think any of us have had to make corrections

I've made maybe ONE in the time I've known you....