Random English Lessons

[invite-me-to-your-memories]

i understand the historical reasons why English is the most common language

but if I was writing a speculative fiction novel

and I said “the language that most people learn as a second language, usually for professional reasons, is also the only one with a spelling system so terrible that spelling words correctly is a broadcasted competition”

you’d be like “extremely unrealistic 0/10”

[theangelshavethetimeturner]

i never thought of this, do other languages not have spelling bees?

[faded-mind]

#no we don’t

[boris-pink-2006]

what fresh hell

[toastcryptid]

Y'all’d’ve known this if you live in the south

[randomenglishlessons]

Defenestration

n. - The act of throwing someone out of a window

When people talk about the ridiculousness of the english language, this word often enters the conversation.

I would argue there are weirder words.. but that’s just me.  Let’s break up this word so it makes more sense:

Fenester - Old English/Germanic word for window.  Borrowed from Latin fenestra, also window

De - Latin prefix from/down/off/to the bottom

-tion - a state of action

Sounds like the act of exiting a window

[randomenglishlessons]

Spelling english words can be notoriously difficult - the language has borrowed words from many other languages such as german, french and latin.  

Just remember that english speakers themselves invented the Spelling Bee.  Spelling Bees are intense competitions where people take turns spelling... words.  Some schools, especially larger ones, may have this as a sport like some schools have mathletes.  Winning a Spelling Bee is quite an achievement.

No pressure, only the front row can see your sweat

[randomenglishlessons]

Intro

This blog is intended for foreign speakers who understand english but aren’t familiar with its odd and regional side.  It’s also intended for english speakers to get lols about our own language and culture.

You took english courses, but don’t know how weird english can be.  That is why this blog is here.  It is the fun, random information outside of class.

Topics we’ll cover:

Regional dialects - Cool eh?

Regional word choices - Bloody marvelous

Etymology - The study of word origins

Phrases & Sayings - English has a LOT of sayings.  Some are regional

Spelling - English spelling is probably like learning chinese, whyyyy

Weird definitions - English has very specific words nobody uses

History - I might cover some when and where’s of english countries

Culture - Wrist-slappers, Hanna-Barbera cartoons, Mods

Phonology - mmmm, phonology

Things you can do:

ASKS!  Please have fun asking me about english.  I will try to answer as best I can.

Submissions - Later I may take submissions if followers want to talk about english or add something.

The Owner

Hi, my online name is Kiwi but I’m not from New Zealand, I’m actually from the United States Midwest.  I’m 24, and childish enough to still like being called by my net name.  You can call me Alison, Ali or Al too.

I did not go to school for english.  I am actually an artist and programmer. I pick up words and phrases a lot which has made me a terribly informal speaker and essay writer.  I tend to talk in allegories and slang.  And here I am.  Let me be your guide to regional, informal english.  The organic stuff you don’t usually read about.

English is like a beat up old horse that people keep using.  Honestly, it is one of those languages a native speaker can crack open a dictionary and still learn like 20 new words in a half hour.  I could probably make a post on what I just said.