Languages

[Pirez]

Because esperanto is kinda stupid, as it transpires.

English gained supremacy because it's the easiest language gramatically

[PluMGMK]

There are probably a few words around the place, but for the most part the spelling is regular enough, and the evolution into the daughter languages is clear enough that it can be deduced fairly straightforwardly.

There are some verbs and deverbals that I use quite often in English, and whenever I do I can't resist whispering the principal parts of the root Latin verb to myself in reconstructed pronunciation :3

[DaveRattlehead]

Any thoughts on reviving esperanto?

I still dont get why we don’t make this as the world’s official language.

Literally it's the US fault.

[Rsandee]

One of the craziest things I've read about Esperanto is that the fascists during the 20's-40's were convinced it was a communist language used to secretly relay messages to their fellow comrades. Esperanto speakers were persecuted.

[PluMGMK]

Dammit, ninjæd again

[Greengoop]

Literally it's the US fault.

It’s their fault we’re not all speaking French right now as well! So they’ve killed 2 potential trade languages…

[Rsandee]

Literally it's the US fault.

It’s their fault we’re not all speaking French right now as well! So they’ve killed 2 potential trade languages…

If the Dutch just didn't sell New York and traded it for Suriname, we'd all be speaking Dutch right now.

[DaveRattlehead]

English gained supremacy because it's the easiest language gramatically

Sorry, but I have to disagree on that. Not sure how and why is it said. We're used to English and we believe it's easier, but it's not.

[Greengoop]

It’s quite insane how low the chance I never had to learn a language starting from age 3 is!

[Rsandee]

Yeah I have no idea about how easy or difficult English grammar is, but the pronunciation is godawful for any non-English speaker to learn.

[Pirez]

Sorry, but I have to disagree on that. Not sure how and why is it said. We're used to English and we believe it's easier, but it's not.

I wonder what you consider to be an easier language than one that basically has nood grammar or conjugaison

[Greengoop]

Especially with British English, like why can’t we be like Spanish?

[Rsandee]

Especially with British English, like why can’t we be like Spanish?

You mean having a delicious cuisine?

[Greengoop]

Nope, Yorkshire roast absolutely DOMINATES Spanish omelette any day.

[DaveRattlehead]

I wonder what you consider to be an easier language than one that basically has nood grammar or conjugaison

Chaotic ortography, irregular pronouncing, irregular verbs, phrasal verbs, unpredictable prepositions... Isn't that enough?

[Steo]

Not sure if I've asked you this before, but I noticed you use the singular they a lot in English now – is that because Swedish doesn't have masculine and feminine pronouns?

I'm not actually sure when I started doing that. Some people have asked me this before because in their languages it apparently seems weird to refer as "they" in this fashion, as they're not used to it. I think maybe the confusion of always remembering what gender a person is makes it take longer and I just end up saying they in some safety. Swedish does have ways to say that though, you say hon for her, and han for he. You can say man to say it in the sense you are just saying "one", as in "one might say this, but I don't believe it" etc.

I'm not sure if I always did this or unintentionally shifted though.

[Rsandee]

Nope, Yorkshire roast absolutely DOMINATES Spanish omelette any day.

Not if it contains chorizo and garlic. Which is a variation I loved to make.

[Greengoop]

Whatever you say, if you put the gravy in the middle of a pudding, it becomes the stuff of gods.

[Pirez]

Chaotic ortography, irregular pronouncing, irregular verbs, phrasal verbs, unpredictable prepositions... Isn't that enough?

Seems like small fry to me but that's maybe because french is a language with 1% rules and 99% exceptions to the rules.

[PluMGMK]

I'm not actually sure when I started doing that. Some people have asked me this before because in their languages it apparently seems weird to refer as "they" in this fashion, as they're not used to it. I think maybe the confusion of always remembering what gender a person is makes it take longer and I just end up saying they in some safety. Swedish does have ways to say that though, you say hon for her, and han for he. You can say man to say it in the sense you are just saying "one", as in "one might say this, but I don't believe it" etc.

I'm not sure if I always did this or unintentionally shifted though.

Oh sorry, I guess Swedish does have masc/fem pronouns, just no masc/fem grammatical gender (which English doesn't either)