Does anyone know "If I were a boy again"? - Page 3

laywong · 10-26-2010, 02:59 AM

There were no roads. They are here becaue people have been treading on them. haha~~

footfootfoot · 10-26-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laywong

However, here I am just taking a relatively static point of view to this very piece of writing. It is recommended to the Chinese students as "classic English writing worth reading and reciting". I just worry about the consequence of their memorizing Chinglish. I am very eager to find out its origin and remove it from the recommendation list because they need real, authentic English, at the English beginner stage.

What is interesting is the phrase "classic English writing worth reading and reciting." Given the moral and ethical differences and values between the East and West I wonder if such a text exists that is both, "classic English writing" AND "worth reading and reciting."

I think that explains some of the unusual quality to the writing. The content seems to me to be more aligned with Chinese values and wholly irrelevant to Westerners, while the writing style has a distinctly Western, if not outdated, ring to it. (I realize I am painting with a broad brush)

As for real, authentic English, why not try real authentic English writing authors. Start with E.B. White, he was a very skilled writer. The potential problem is that along with the baby, you get the bathwater, i.e. Proper written English with content that may not be in alignment with your values.

Undertoad · 10-26-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

along with the baby, you get the bathwater

You have used an idiom inside of a metaphor here, which is going to be totally confusing if the new English reader has never heard the original idiom!

footfootfoot · 10-26-2010, 05:51 PM

I know, I know. I was wondering how that would go over.

Shawnee123 · 10-26-2010, 06:48 PM

It's going to go over like hotcakes.

footfootfoot · 10-26-2010, 08:10 PM

The best thing since sliced metaphors?

Shawnee123 · 10-26-2010, 08:16 PM

That metaphor is like a simile without slices.

Clodfobble · 10-26-2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laywong

Thank Clodfobble and Urbane Guerrilla for your comments which are absolutely helpful to my efforts of removing it from the recommendation list.

So does this mean you're planning on presenting our quotes to some advisory board in China, as evidence that the essay should be removed from the list? I'm amused to think of myself and Urbane sitting side by side as competing expert witnesses in the hearing room...

sullage · 10-27-2010, 02:14 AM

check out page 149
this is literally a tongue exercise.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-27-2010, 02:39 AM

Excellent, sullage.

1884, from an elocution teacher, no wonder it sounded so British.

Hey, wait a minute. Lewis Baxter Monroe died in 1879, and only published 3 readers, the 3rd in 1873.
Oh, it was published by Mrs Lewis Baxter Monroe.

glatt · 10-27-2010, 08:02 AM

Bravo sullage! You found it!

laywong · 10-27-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

So does this mean you're planning on presenting our quotes to some advisory board in China, as evidence that the essay should be removed from the list? I'm amused to think of myself and Urbane sitting side by side as competing expert witnesses in the hearing room...

Take it easy, man~~I just want to erase it off the list recommended by some teachers.

laywong · 10-27-2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sullage

check out page 149
this is literally a tongue exercise.

You surely are amazing to have found this. I also found the essay at here, Seventh Readers by J. Baldwin. But when I dated it back to its original book in which this essay was published, UNDERBRUSH by JAMES T. FIELDS, it is a totally different essay. Seems like there was also a excerpt of the original but I am not sure if it was done by J. T. Fileds too.
By the way, is it legal to post the orginal essay here? I downloaded it from a website which I am not sure if is legal.

Undertoad · 10-27-2010, 08:52 PM

After a certain time period, all copies are legal. This item has passed the time period, several times over!

footfootfoot · 10-27-2010, 08:52 PM

The work is in "the public domain" which means anyone has the right to reproduce it. You are legal.

10-26-2010, 05:51 PM	#34
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	I know, I know. I was wondering how that would go over. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

10-26-2010, 06:48 PM	#35
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	It's going to go over like hotcakes. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

10-26-2010, 08:10 PM	#36
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	The best thing since sliced metaphors? __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

10-26-2010, 08:16 PM	#37
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	That metaphor is like a simile without slices. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

10-27-2010, 02:39 AM	#40
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Excellent, sullage. 1884, from an elocution teacher, no wonder it sounded so British. Hey, wait a minute. Lewis Baxter Monroe died in 1879, and only published 3 readers, the 3rd in 1873. Oh, it was published by Mrs Lewis Baxter Monroe. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. Last edited by xoxoxoBruce; 10-27-2010 at 02:51 AM.

10-26-2010, 02:59 AM	#31
laywong Dog O'Nine Tails Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 20	There were no roads. They are here becaue people have been treading on them. haha~~

10-27-2010, 02:14 AM	#39
sullage Master Locutor Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 155	check out page 149 this is literally a tongue exercise.

10-27-2010, 08:02 AM	#41
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Bravo sullage! You found it!

10-27-2010, 08:52 PM	#44
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	After a certain time period, all copies are legal. This item has passed the time period, several times over!

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