Words

Ok, this sounds bizarre but I've been thinking(always a good thing lol) about words. Specifically the word "don't" which can be used as do not. For example we say "why don't you study?" But not "why do not you study?" yes, I've a bit too much time on my hands and I'm thinking of studying linguistics so I've googled it but no answers. yes, a mad question but maybe you guys know,

Also, what are the type of words do you use there to signify something good? Like awesome, savage, sick etc. here, in Ireland we say 'grand'.

Good

at work my co-worker introduced me to "copacetic".

Personally Peachy keen

and if I am trying to make it good but feel it is bad I say - Ok

Maybe because "Why do youn't study" sounds funny. :laugh:

LOL rob. I've just decided that because it's a question versus a statement, we have to use don't as appose to do not.

Winifred, I LOVE that. I'm gonna say peachy keen and see the reaction I get. For a while I used reply to people by saying 'that's radical' or 'that's bodacious' to see their reaction as they are very American words. Haha.

Don't forget Tubular and Narlly (do not know how to spell it)

I prefer the oriental way of saying what Rob said; "why you no study"

Funny, "why you no study" is the same in Asian or Italian, with different hand gestures! Probably because neither language would use an auxiliary verb (do) in this instance: perché non studiare. No, I don't speak Italian, but I do use google translate (No, non parlo italiano, ma lo faccio uso google translate).

Grazie 谢谢

Hi Ash!
Nice to hear from you! Julia remembers words from waaaaay back! I use "perfect" and "sweet" both are interchangeable with Jeffrey!
That should get a response! Lol. Good luck with your studies. Linguistics should prove very interesting and challenging.
Jeff

Yeppers way back in my childhood but Jeffrey knows that because when I was a child he was an adult already married! Were you not at retirement age when I was a teen?

I prefer the term "late middle age" to describe my years on earth!

Julia be quiet!

By "late middle age" are you referring to how old you are or when you were born?

I prefer the term "late third age" to describe my years on Middle-earth!


.

0k! You all win!

Jack good to hear from you! Rob I will be in touch soon, think I will be in Roswell!

back to ASHY- you should study linguistics if you ask questions like that- go girl!
One answer could be that people DID say "Why do not you study?" back in Shakespeare's time or further back. It doesn't sound right now, but might have at one time. English is always changing- "English is more like fashion than science", but still some parts stay the same. Anglo-Saxons from long ago were using words (Old English) that we still use all the time. From one of my favorite authors, check it out "The Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson. here I quote:

Today only about 4,500 words in English, about one percent of the total number of words in the language are of Old English origin, however, they include many of the most fundamental terms in the language: eat, drink, man, wife, child, house, heaven, and God among others, as well as most of the basic function words of the language: a, am, the, to, for, and 'and'. As a result in any list of the hundred most common words in English, 98 or even 99 will be of Old English origin.

Jeffrey - it will be great to finally meet you!

My god guys, I forgot about this post.

Hey Jeffrey, I'm good, sweet is a great word. We don't use it that much though. I like the word awesome...it's so American yet it's picked up popularity here. Everyone says it now. Also, I don't know if amazeballs is a big word over there but everyone says it here.
Also how about chillax? A fusion of chilling and relax? I need some good words people so I can confuse people here

Posey mint: thank you dearly. I'm having a bit of a dilemma now. While I want to study linguistics I've been offered a course in social and public policy. Has to do with law and politics and I'm wondering now if it's a better degree cos there are more job opportunites. So maybe I could do a masters in some type of linguistics after? I'm DISCONBOBULATED. (Another word I like....) posey mint, how do you know so much stuff about English words! That's really interesting. I'm going to check out bill Bryson's book. Think I read another book of his. A short history of everything.

Late third age- haha that's hilarious.

Pittsburgese:

I know the language, but don't speak it:

Why don't yinz git some dictionaries and look up words n'at? I went dahnstairs and faund a couple books at my hause.

Ashy- heres something true: Do Your Dreams

I've heard the number one regret of people who are dying is that they didn't do their dreams.

I don't know which courses you should take or anything, but if you're passionate about something don't dismiss it. Somehow keep doing it and working on it. You really never know what will come of pursuing your passion. really! when you commit to something you love, doors will open!

My childhood dream was to be an artist. Like you and linguistics, I knew there weren't any job opportunities and I "should" do something practical. Plus my parents were 100% against the idea as they thought artists were crazy starving weirdos. But I ignored them and got my degree in fine arts and went on to work in animation for television and motion pictures. Also illustrated books and magazines. I never imagined I could have so many fun jobs! But I should add that the work was never steady so now I'm 60 with a low income and no retirement savings- but hey, even though I never got rich, looking back I'm pleased that I followed my heart. anyway.. sounds like an exciting decision- good luck!!

Pittsburgese??? That made me laugh, I have no clue what you said. Haha. It actually when I was reading it sounded like cockney london slang.

Poseymint: do your dreams. That is sooo right and it's funny you say that to me... Cos my name actually translates to dream. My name is Aisling and it's irish lol,

I totally agree with you. I do have a passion and that is writing in particular, I'm interested in language in particular and the formation of words and I think it would be a good course, it depends though. The place I want to do it is really expensive and I may have to do another course elsewhere and try and link into it somehow. Oh, one of my best friends is an artist and she's so wonderful and really airy fairy. Just very other worldly or something, I love artists because they are so creative and I find it amazing how they conjure up different ideas. I like writings stories that's my fave thing to do.

Wow, animation? That's amazing. I know a guy and he does animation in first year college and it looks so cool. And hey, isn't it better you enjoyed your job? Wow, so many people spend thirty years of their lives in a job they hate. So, it's a dream to do that for so many years and nothing will compare to having all those amazing Memories