JIf there is something English is hard is in the pronunciation, as it is no a phonetic language.
I have to agree on this one. I don't have too much trouble with my English when it comes to writing (and have learned a lot by just reading around instead of intensive studying), but do I get nervous when I actually have to talk to someone in person! Even if I know how a word is supposed to sound, things like actually putting the stress where it belongs can be surprisingly hard (mostly because the stress is almost always on the first syllable in my dear old mother tongue, of course, but still).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon
There IS a variable for completing the Mikuru scenes, so, yeah. Fun times when they meet up with Haruhi again.
Urk. Wouldn't want to be in their shoes when that happens
English is really easy to learn, at least the learning curve doesn't have a rather large "slow beginning." The language is However, in my experience, learning English plateaus rather quickly as one get into the who vs whom, or when to use ",", ";" and ":", or properly matching a pronoun with what the pronoun refers to or even comparisons. The last two examples are actually readily found. I'm having trouble thinking of concrete example to demonstrate my point.
For kicks:
__________________
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so. Douglas Adams Where facts are few, experts are many.Donald R. Gannon
void foo() {foo();} // Can you guess what this line of code does?
However, in my experience, learning English plateaus rather quickly as one get into the who vs whom, or when to use ",", ";" and ":", or properly matching a pronoun with what the pronoun refers to or even comparisons.
Even native English speakers have trouble with that stuff, man.
Also, a lot of people seem to not know how to use punctuation
This statement is far more accurate when ended here.
Only usually non-extremist anime nerds seem to know how to use punctuation. Everyone else forgets everything except question marks and exclaimation points exist, and when they are remembered, they're used in excess.
"omg did u no ?????????????????????????????????????? im so happy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
When going to school, and first year of College, I heard a lot of different French teachers say that it's easier to learn French than it is to learn English. I don't know how English compares to the other languages, but vis a vis French, it seems to be harder (from what I've heard).
One of the issues with English is that we have often have a plethora of different words for the same basic meaning (i.e. wonderful, marvelous, splendid, excellent, magnificent, etc...; awful, terrible, horrible, horrific, tragic, etc...).
Now, there may be a very nuanced difference with some of these words, but in actual everyday use, they're totally interchangable.
I've heard it said that most other languages don't have the same immense variety of words for the same basic meaning.
Well, now that I seem to have accidentally started a major discussion...
@The English is hard/English is easy crowd: I agree with dragon4dudes's graph. I also posit that most of America is stuck somewhere in the middle of the hump.
The problem I often see with English is that, as Heatth pointed out, it lacks a lot of the grammatical structure that other languages have, which makes it initially simpler to learn but creates a lot of oddball nuances (hanged versus hung, for a fun discussion of holdouts from Middle English). This also tends to make it difficult for native English speakers to learn other languages if they do not begin to do so at a (relatively) young age or have a knack for it.
Then you get into the issue of the development of regional syntactical and grammatical variations (which at least do not yet seem to be as deep as the Arabic regional variations) and things go to pot.
__________________
By the book, by hook, by rook,
Shadow takes all, my pet;
My what a strange duet.
Shadow takes all.
Maybe you could say it's one of the hardest to perfect. There are just so many ways to mess up if you weren't born with the language.
Particularly in writing.
Well it's not so much being born with it as just growing up learning it. I spoke exclusively Chinese until 5 years of age and now I'm goddamn radical at English (and can barely speak Chinese).
In other news, I have completely yet another work of craftsmanship.
Spoiler for September the Sixth, Day 5, Mikuru: Flashes In Space- Memories in Pieces (ASAHINA):
Flashes in Space- Memories in Pieces (ASAHINA)
Whoaaaaaa!
I just had some kind of waking dream... it involved melting faces and little boys pretending to be attractive women.
...I gotta stop eating the school lunches. They must be making me hallucinate.
I'm walking around the school during my break, trying to look for interesting people to join my club. You can't have a club without club members, and my manly club needs manly club members!
...Although, both of the members I have right now are girls... Hmm, damn.
Suddenly! A random face in a random classroom catches my discerning eyes.
It's some kid... he's in a second-year room, but he looks more like a first-year... hell, he looks more like a middle school student.
I bet he's the most unmanly guy in his year. It's like he's the exact opposite of me!
...A rival character? No, that's almost too cliche.
Still... I have an idea!
FLASH
“You go first!”
I yelled this at Kyon as I dashed out of the classroom. His eyes followed me with his usual exasperated look.
...Wait... what did I just.
Ahhh, probably nothing.
I kick open the door of Classroom 2-3. And by “kick open”, I mean “slide open with my foot, violently”.
“Hey, everybody!” I loudly greet the confused second years, and, a wide grin pasted to my visage, get right in the face of that weak brat I saw earlier.
He looks like he's gonna piss himself. Excellent. Perfect for my Turn a Wimp into a Real Man Project.
“Um... what do you want...?”
“My name is Haruki Suzumiya! What's yours?”
FLASH
“...this is Mikuru Asahina-san!”
That should be good enough for an introduction!
...
Silence hung heavy in my clubroom. Bah, someone say something. And by “someone”, I mean “Kyon”, since I don't expect that weirdo Yuuki to say a damn thing.
“Where did you abduct her from? The poor girl looks like she'll be scarred for life.”
Thank you, Kyon! ...Despite your insubordinate comments.
“I didn't abduct her! I just threw her over my shoulder and carried her here. You know, just like I do with you.”
That's how real men treat women! ...I dimly realized there would be consequences if I said something like that out loud. Indeed, Kyon already looks as though she wants to break something. I should be careful!
“I found her staring into space in a second-year clubroom, so I just swept her off her feet. Hell, she didn't even kick and scream that much, unlike you.”
Hmm, think I must have said the wrong thing again. ...Kyon is probably going to crack her own skull the way she's gripping it.
“...You do realize that makes her our senior, right?”
“Yeah, so? I believe in a world without societal barriers!”
In my ideal world, freshmen are perfectly capable of carrying off tiny junior year girls. In fact, it's encouraged.
Kyon was doing deep breathing exercises before continuing our discussion. I waited for her to be done.
“Okay... I probably don't want to know, but why did you even bring her here to begin with?”
You mean you don't know! Come on, it's obvious!
“Look at her! She's so adorable! We can sell her body for money.”
“......What!?”
“Ehhh... Ehhhhh!?”
The two of them cried out at once. I ignored them both, feeling my rant-mode coming on.
“I have found the Holy Grail! That is, a girl with both a lolita face and big tits. A Japanese man's dream! We can sell tickets.”
Before Asahina-san had the chance to run away, I groped her from behind, making sure to emit an evil chuckle as I did so. She screamed.
“Seriously, these puppies are enormous. Like perfectly ripe fruit!”
Biggest. Breasts. Ever.
...I get the distinct feeling there is something very morally wrong about this, but I no longer care.
Squishy~.
“Kyaaaaaaaa!”
Oh, pipe down. If you don't stop yelling, the teachers will be all over this place.
“Man, this is fun. Hey, Yuuki, wanna give this a whirl? I guarantee you'll enjoy it, or your money back!”
Yuuki slowly looks up, looks over, shakes his head, and goes back to his book.
“Your loss, then.”
She's crying now... that just makes me wanna do it more!
This must be what they call “moe”. I do feel all warm and fuzzy inside...
“Hahahahaha... Heeeeey, I wonder what color her panties are... wanna check, Kyon? ......Kyon?”
I looked up to see Kyon's foot flying towards my face.
FLASH
“Take this.”
I passed Kyon an instant camera. I want to capture this moment on film, for posterity.
“Listen up, Kyon! Here's the plan!”
I motion her closer so I could whisper in her ear.
“I'm going to use Mitsuuru-kun's body to get us a free computer, and you're going to snap photos for blackmail purposes.”
“What!? You can't be seri--”
“In we go, then!”
Mitsuuru-kun, stop blushing at Kyon. This is the reason you exist. Never forget what follows.
I kick open the door. And by “kick open”, I mean “kick open”.
“What's up, humans? We've come to collect a computer!”
Startled by the combined noise of my raised voice and hinges breaking, the four guys inside, who had been clattering away at their keyboards, all turned their heads towards me.
FLASH
I fumble through my inter-dimensional pocket, which is really the paper bag I'm carrying, and brandish that which I spent all my hard-earned (not really) money on.
“Et, voila!”
French is a language of cultured men, the kind of men who wear Chippendale outfits.
Silence was all that greeted the object I was holding out. Well, that was to be expected, but this silence is a more horrified silence than a shocked silence.
“What? What is it? I know it's kind of risque, but there's no reason to...”
Mitsuuru-kun looked at me with a mixture of fear, confusion, and... is that pity?
“Um... you can't possibly expect me to w-wear that...”
“Haruki... what on earth... I knew you were depraved, but...”
Even Yuuki-kun is looking at me. He's not looking at me with any expression, of course, but he's still looking at me.
“Okay, I expected negative feedback here, but this is a bit...”
I finally look at what I'm holding. It's not leather pants, like I thought.
I'm holding what is obviously the bottom half of a bright red bunny girl outfit.
...This wasn't what I ordered!
Quick, must save dignity... must save... dignity...
“...This is for you, Kyon! Merry Christmas!”
“It's May!”
FLASH
The principal, her face red, is yelling at me, saying something about propriety and decency. Bitch.
I say nothing.
The vice principal, in the other room, is yelling at Mitsuuru-kun, saying the exact same things.
He's crying.
I had thought that handing out fliers in a stripper outfit would toughen him up a little, but it looks like I was wrong.
What can I do to make you more of a man, Mitsuuru-kun? Help me help you.
...They're taking pity on him and letting him go, it seems. What a sad little failure. No such luck(?) for me.
Urgh, my legs itch.
I knew I shouldn't have worn the bunny outfit.
FLASH
“...And that's why I was taking off Asahina-san's clothing!”
I was in the middle of explaining to Kyon why I had been forcing Mikuru Asahina-san into a maid costume.
“So because you didn't get to play with dolls when you were little like you wanted to, you have a compulsive need to force helpless people into strange clothing?”
“Exactly!”
It's a lie, of course. I have a maid fetish, and since I'd never get Kyon in one of those outfits, I was going to have Asahina-san wear it instead. Unfortunately, she wasn't being very compliant, so...
“You know what, Haruki?”
“What's that, Kyon?”
I feel a clear sense of hostility.
“I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR COMPULSIONS!”
Ow! My shin!
Ow! My other shin...
Ow! The floor...
Hey... at this angle...I can see up both their skirts... ahaha... ahaha... Kyon, you shouldn't wear black panties, that's so dirty... ahaha...
Ow! My face!
FLASH
“Let's split up, gang!”
None of my subordinates got the reference. You people fuel my depression.
“We're gonna split into two parties. If we find anything mysterious~, we contact each other on our phones, and decide where to meet up later. Kay?”
Koizumi-san raised her hand.
“Yes?”
“That sounds like an excellent plan, Suzumiya-san, but how are we going to decide on who goes with who?”
We had rehearsed this beforehand.
“I'm glad you asked!”
I pulled out the toothpicks I had marked earlier.
“Draw lots!”
...Unfortunately, Kyon ended up with Mitsuuru-kun. He looks entirely too happy.
“Mitsuuru-kun! This isn't a date! This is serious work! Un-der-stand!?”
If you take advantage of this opportunity I swear you'll be wearing something far worse than a maid oufit.
Ignoring his obsequience, I turned back to my coffee, intent on drowning my sorrows... however, I noticed that my hand, instead of being large and manly, was instead small and feminine.
While I was examining this extreme oddity, I heard a polite male voice.
“What are we looking for?”
I looked up. I was surrounded by people I didn't recognize.
And still... it's pretty easy to guess who they're supposed to be, yeah?
“Something wrong?”
I look down at my body. I'm wearing something eerily similar to what Koizumi-san was wearing only a few moments ago. I'm also a girl.
“Suzumiya-san... er... why are you groping yourself?”
What the hell. Seriously, what the hell.
Another waking dream? No, no, this isn't a dream. This is reality. I can tell! And it's not a good reality, either!
This is not what I meant when I said I wanted a mysterious event!
What in the hell is
FLASH
Always remember: What is true for one, is true for the other.
...Does that really make much sense in this case?
FLASH
And then I wake up.
Ahaha.
This sequence is why you never let Haruki near women like Mikuru.
... I'd say that it's a good example of why you never let Haruki near women period.
All in all, this was certainly fun to read. Probably fun to write, too.
__________________
WARNING: Kogetsu Shirogane cannot be held accountable for any actions taken by someone else. Potential side effects of communicating with this user include headaches, mild confusion, insanity, delirium, and jumping into fires. Do not expose this user to sunlight or water or feed this user after midnight.
When going to school, and first year of College, I heard a lot of different French teachers say that it's easier to learn French than it is to learn English. I don't know how English compares to the other languages, but vis a vis French, it seems to be harder (from what I've heard).
I seriously doubt that. English seens very easier then French to me. Even if French is relativelly similar to Portuguese (it is the most different of the Latin languages, tough).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Triple_R
One of the issues with English is that we have often have a plethora of different words for the same basic meaning (i.e. wonderful, marvelous, splendid, excellent, magnificent, etc...; awful, terrible, horrible, horrific, tragic, etc...).
Now, there may be a very nuanced difference with some of these words, but in actual everyday use, they're totally interchangable.
I've heard it said that most other languages don't have the same immense variety of words for the same basic meaning.
I also doubtthe last statement. Idon't know enough of any other language to say, but it is just like that in Portuguese.
Look some exemples with the "same"(or similar) set of words: maravilhoso(a), esplêndido(a), exelente, magnífico(a), incrível...; terrível, horrível, horroroso, trágico, medonho... I can only imagine it is the same in most languages.
Quote:
Originally Posted by besieger
Speaking English is easier than my mother tongue. Writing English, however, is harder than my mother tongue.
I am curious about your mother tongue. It is just the oposite as it is for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by swtrooper42
Sometimes it's just apostrophes in general.
Spoiler for silly image:
Curiously, I find apostrophes pretty easy. You put then to "replace" a letter that goes missing due to contractions right? Pretty easy to remeber where to put. The exeption is the "'s" to indicate possession. But I can't even imagine how someone would mistake it for the plural 's'.
About English being hard to master. It might be true, but so is for most, if not all, languages. Fortunetly, people do notneed to master it to hold a decent conversation. Most English native speakers haven't mastered it (as most people of any language have mastered their mother tongue) and most casual books are in a simpler variation (even if well writen, it is easier to read then to write). One just need to learn enough to easily understand most of things and be easly understood by most people. This is true for any language.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon
ITT: Language is silly.
Truest statement so far.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaisos Erranon
In other news, I have completely yet another work of craftsmanship.
Spoiler for September the Sixth, Day 5, Mikuru: Flashes In Space- Memories in Pieces (ASAHINA):
Flashes in Space- Memories in Pieces (ASAHINA)
Whoaaaaaa!
I just had some kind of waking dream... it involved melting faces and little boys pretending to be attractive women.
...I gotta stop eating the school lunches. They must be making me hallucinate.
I'm walking around the school during my break, trying to look for interesting people to join my club. You can't have a club without club members, and my manly club needs manly club members!
...Although, both of the members I have right now are girls... Hmm, damn.
Suddenly! A random face in a random classroom catches my discerning eyes.
It's some kid... he's in a second-year room, but he looks more like a first-year... hell, he looks more like a middle school student.
I bet he's the most unmanly guy in his year. It's like he's the exact opposite of me!
...A rival character? No, that's almost too cliche.
Still... I have an idea!
FLASH
“You go first!”
I yelled this at Kyon as I dashed out of the classroom. His eyes followed me with his usual exasperated look.
...Wait... what did I just.
Ahhh, probably nothing.
I kick open the door of Classroom 2-3. And by “kick open”, I mean “slide open with my foot, violently”.
“Hey, everybody!” I loudly greet the confused second years, and, a wide grin pasted to my visage, get right in the face of that weak brat I saw earlier.
He looks like he's gonna piss himself. Excellent. Perfect for my Turn a Wimp into a Real Man Project.
“Um... what do you want...?”
“My name is Haruki Suzumiya! What's yours?”
FLASH
“...this is Mikuru Asahina-san!”
That should be good enough for an introduction!
...
Silence hung heavy in my clubroom. Bah, someone say something. And by “someone”, I mean “Kyon”, since I don't expect that weirdo Yuuki to say a damn thing.
“Where did you abduct her from? The poor girl looks like she'll be scarred for life.”
Thank you, Kyon! ...Despite your insubordinate comments.
“I didn't abduct her! I just threw her over my shoulder and carried her here. You know, just like I do with you.”
That's how real men treat women! ...I dimly realized there would be consequences if I said something like that out loud. Indeed, Kyon already looks as though she wants to break something. I should be careful!
“I found her staring into space in a second-year clubroom, so I just swept her off her feet. Hell, she didn't even kick and scream that much, unlike you.”
Hmm, think I must have said the wrong thing again. ...Kyon is probably going to crack her own skull the way she's gripping it.
“...You do realize that makes her our senior, right?”
“Yeah, so? I believe in a world without societal barriers!”
In my ideal world, freshmen are perfectly capable of carrying off tiny junior year girls. In fact, it's encouraged.
Kyon was doing deep breathing exercises before continuing our discussion. I waited for her to be done.
“Okay... I probably don't want to know, but why did you even bring her here to begin with?”
You mean you don't know! Come on, it's obvious!
“Look at her! She's so adorable! We can sell her body for money.”
“......What!?”
“Ehhh... Ehhhhh!?”
The two of them cried out at once. I ignored them both, feeling my rant-mode coming on.
“I have found the Holy Grail! That is, a girl with both a lolita face and big tits. A Japanese man's dream! We can sell tickets.”
Before Asahina-san had the chance to run away, I groped her from behind, making sure to emit an evil chuckle as I did so. She screamed.
“Seriously, these puppies are enormous. Like perfectly ripe fruit!”
Biggest. Breasts. Ever.
...I get the distinct feeling there is something very morally wrong about this, but I no longer care.
Squishy~.
“Kyaaaaaaaa!”
Oh, pipe down. If you don't stop yelling, the teachers will be all over this place.
“Man, this is fun. Hey, Yuuki, wanna give this a whirl? I guarantee you'll enjoy it, or your money back!”
Yuuki slowly looks up, looks over, shakes his head, and goes back to his book.
“Your loss, then.”
She's crying now... that just makes me wanna do it more!
This must be what they call “moe”. I do feel all warm and fuzzy inside...
“Hahahahaha... Heeeeey, I wonder what color her panties are... wanna check, Kyon? ......Kyon?”
I looked up to see Kyon's foot flying towards my face.
FLASH
“Take this.”
I passed Kyon an instant camera. I want to capture this moment on film, for posterity.
“Listen up, Kyon! Here's the plan!”
I motion her closer so I could whisper in her ear.
“I'm going to use Mitsuuru-kun's body to get us a free computer, and you're going to snap photos for blackmail purposes.”
“What!? You can't be seri--”
“In we go, then!”
Mitsuuru-kun, stop blushing at Kyon. This is the reason you exist. Never forget what follows.
I kick open the door. And by “kick open”, I mean “kick open”.
“What's up, humans? We've come to collect a computer!”
Startled by the combined noise of my raised voice and hinges breaking, the four guys inside, who had been clattering away at their keyboards, all turned their heads towards me.
FLASH
I fumble through my inter-dimensional pocket, which is really the paper bag I'm carrying, and brandish that which I spent all my hard-earned (not really) money on.
“Et, voila!”
French is a language of cultured men, the kind of men who wear Chippendale outfits.
Silence was all that greeted the object I was holding out. Well, that was to be expected, but this silence is a more horrified silence than a shocked silence.
“What? What is it? I know it's kind of risque, but there's no reason to...”
Mitsuuru-kun looked at me with a mixture of fear, confusion, and... is that pity?
“Um... you can't possibly expect me to w-wear that...”
“Haruki... what on earth... I knew you were depraved, but...”
Even Yuuki-kun is looking at me. He's not looking at me with any expression, of course, but he's still looking at me.
“Okay, I expected negative feedback here, but this is a bit...”
I finally look at what I'm holding. It's not leather pants, like I thought.
I'm holding what is obviously the bottom half of a bright red bunny girl outfit.
...This wasn't what I ordered!
Quick, must save dignity... must save... dignity...
“...This is for you, Kyon! Merry Christmas!”
“It's May!”
FLASH
“...And that's why I was taking off Asahina-san's clothing!”
I was in the middle of explaining to Kyon why I had been forcing Mikuru Asahina-san into a maid costume.
“So because you didn't get to play with dolls when you were little like you wanted to, you have a compulsive need to force helpless people into strange clothing?”
“Exactly!”
It's a lie, of course. I have a maid fetish, and since I'd never get Kyon in one of those outfits, I was going to have Asahina-san wear it instead. Unfortunately, she wasn't being very compliant, so...
“You know what, Haruki?”
“What's that, Kyon?”
I feel a clear sense of hostility.
“I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR COMPULSIONS!”
Ow! My shin!
Ow! My other shin...
Ow! The floor...
Hey... at this angle...I can see up both their skirts... ahaha... ahaha... Kyon, you shouldn't wear black panties, that's so dirty... ahaha...
Ow! My face!
FLASH
“Let's split up, gang!”
None of my subordinates got the reference. You people fuel my depression.
“We're gonna split into two parties. If we find anything mysterious~, we contact each other on our phones, and decide where to meet up later. Kay?”
Koizumi-san raised her hand.
“Yes?”
“That sounds like an excellent plan, Suzumiya-san, but how are we going to decide on who goes with who?”
We had rehearsed this beforehand.
“I'm glad you asked!”
I pulled out the toothpicks I had marked earlier.
“Draw lots!”
...Unfortunately, Kyon ended up with Mitsuuru-kun. He looks entirely too happy.
“Mitsuuru-kun! This isn't a date! This is serious work! Un-der-stand!?”
If you take advantage of this opportunity I swear you'll be wearing something far worse than a maid oufit.
Ignoring his obsequience, I turned back to my coffee, intent on drowning my sorrows... however, I noticed that my hand, instead of being large and manly, was instead small and feminine.
While I was examining this extreme oddity, I heard a polite male voice.
“What are we looking for?”
I looked up. I was surrounded by people I didn't recognize.
And still... it's pretty easy to guess who they're supposed to be, yeah?
“Something wrong?”
I look down at my body. I'm wearing something eerily similar to what Koizumi-san was wearing only a few moments ago. I'm also a girl.
“Suzumiya-san... er... why are you groping yourself?”
What the hell. Seriously, what the hell.
Another waking dream? No, no, this isn't a dream. This is reality. I can tell! And it's not a good reality, either!
This is not what I meant when I said I wanted a mysterious event!
What in the hell is
FLASH
Always remember: What is true for one, is true for the other.
...Does that really make much sense in this case?
FLASH
And then I wake up.
Ahaha.
This sequence is why you never let Haruki near women like Mikuru.
Well, this was funny. Mikuru should be thankful Haruhi is not a man... Haruki should also be glad Mitsuuru is not a girl, his changes if Kyon-chan would be rether slim otherwise.
Anyway, this scene was funy, hilarious. Heck, why you don't just give up this silly VN thing and start a fanfic with all female cast exept Haruki? It would be hilarious.