by Ann » Sun Aug 13, 2017 4:29 pm
Chris Peterson wrote:
English is a rich language, made especially so by the variety of ways it can be used, the many different ways that the same thing can be expressed by different users. Indeed, English is the richest language. There is a reason that some English translations of foreign works are commonly viewed as superior to the originals, especially with much more impoverished languages like French.
When I studied English at the university, I was told that English is such a rich language because it has two very important roots, one Germanic from Anglo-Saxon, and one Latin, from French-speaking William the Conqueror and his reign. There are often two English words that can be used to express the same thing, one Germanic and one Latin, such as, for example, fatherly - paternal.
I decided to check up synonyms of the English word "calm", and I was impressed at what I found: still, tranquil, quiet, serene, peaceful, pacific, undisturbed, restful, balmy, halcyon. I like halcyon!
Then there was another set of synonyms of "calm" as in windless at sea.
Ann
[quote="Chris Peterson"]
English is a rich language, made especially so by the variety of ways it can be used, the many different ways that the same thing can be expressed by different users. Indeed, English is the richest language. There is a reason that some English translations of foreign works are commonly viewed as superior to the originals, especially with much more impoverished languages like French.
[/quote]
When I studied English at the university, I was told that English is such a rich language because it has two very important roots, one Germanic from Anglo-Saxon, and one Latin, from French-speaking William the Conqueror and his reign. There are often two English words that can be used to express the same thing, one Germanic and one Latin, such as, for example, fatherly - paternal.
I decided to check up synonyms of the English word "calm", and I was impressed at what I found: still, tranquil, quiet, serene, peaceful, pacific, undisturbed, restful, balmy, halcyon. I like halcyon! :D Then there was another set of synonyms of "calm" as in windless at sea.
Ann