Does anyone know "If I were a boy again"? - Page 2

laywong · 10-13-2010, 12:43 AM

Looking forward to more comments and suggestions.

laywong · 10-19-2010, 11:48 PM

I need more suggestions

Undertoad · 10-20-2010, 12:24 AM

What are you looking for?

footfootfoot · 10-20-2010, 08:39 AM

I think laywong is the author and he wants us to re-write it for him so it doesn't sound completely Engrish. That's my theory.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-20-2010, 08:46 AM

Her.

footfootfoot · 10-20-2010, 09:06 AM

Her profile pic looks rather masculine.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-20-2010, 09:16 AM

OK.

footfootfoot · 10-20-2010, 10:51 AM

Unless, of course, that is what she means by "If I were a boy again..."

laywong · 10-22-2010, 03:48 AM

I am male, completely.
And, all I am doing is trying to figure out if it is completely ENGLISH.
Plus, I prefer Chinglish to Engrish.
I didn't write this article.
The End.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-22-2010, 07:29 AM

Not that simple, laywong.

Quote:

all I am doing is trying to figure out if it is completely ENGLISH.

English language? Sure.
Completely ENGLISH? What's that, written by a citizen of England?
Are you asking if it's proper English grammar? That would depend on which English speaking country and what time frame you're asking about.

English is not rigid, it's constantly changing. Words are added and others become obsolete, every year. So acceptable grammar is constantly changing, and varies depending on the country.
Hell, even the spelling varies between countries.

Clodfobble · 10-23-2010, 10:07 PM

Laywong, it is mostly correct English, and quite understandable to an English-speaker. It is not, however, the way an English-speaker would talk, for all the reasons footfootfoot mentioned earlier. The phrasing is awkwardly formal, and many of the basic concepts are not typically American--we never talk about proverbs, for example, because we don't care what the older generations thought.

Urbane Guerrilla · 10-26-2010, 12:48 AM

Well, speak for yourself there, 'fobble.

Yes, the writing is in a formal style, with a somewhat oldfashioned air -- it could date to anywhere in the century between 1850 and 1950. The Chinese-epigram quality of certain phrasings I cannot assess. I tend to associate with persons who would not find these sentiments in any way extraordinary nor curious. Their view of them would be "Well, doesn't everyone?"

laywong · 10-26-2010, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Not that simple, laywong.

English language? Sure.
Completely ENGLISH? What's that, written by a citizen of England?
Are you asking if it's proper English grammar? That would depend on which English speaking country and what time frame you're asking about.

English is not rigid, it's constantly changing. Words are added and others become obsolete, every year. So acceptable grammar is constantly changing, and varies depending on the country.
Hell, even the spelling varies between countries.

Thanks, xoxoxoBruce. I understand that language is subject to changes all the time. Let me just mention one little example about the word "concrete". I wonder what is your intuitive understanding of "concrete steps". Well, it is not steps made of concretes but rather, something the Chinese likes to say as in "take concrete steps". This could be due to the influence of the Chinese discourse.

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.

laywong · 10-26-2010, 02:26 AM

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

xoxoxoBruce · 10-26-2010, 02:48 AM

Yes, "concrete steps" can be steps made of concrete, or solid progress, depending on the context. That's the weakness of literal translations.

10-20-2010, 08:39 AM	#19
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 think laywong is the author and he wants us to re-write it for him so it doesn't sound completely Engrish. That's my theory. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

10-20-2010, 08:46 AM	#20
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Her. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-20-2010, 09:06 AM	#21
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	Her profile pic looks rather masculine. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

10-20-2010, 09:16 AM	#22
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	OK. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-20-2010, 10:51 AM	#23
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	Unless, of course, that is what she means by "If I were a boy again..." __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

10-13-2010, 12:43 AM	#16
laywong Dog O'Nine Tails Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 20	Looking forward to more comments and suggestions.

10-19-2010, 11:48 PM	#17
laywong Dog O'Nine Tails Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 20	I need more suggestions

10-20-2010, 12:24 AM	#18
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	What are you looking for?

10-22-2010, 03:48 AM	#24
laywong Dog O'Nine Tails Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 20	I am male, completely. And, all I am doing is trying to figure out if it is completely ENGLISH. Plus, I prefer Chinglish to Engrish. I didn't write this article. The End.

10-23-2010, 10:07 PM	#26
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Laywong, it is mostly correct English, and quite understandable to an English-speaker. It is not, however, the way an English-speaker would talk, for all the reasons footfootfoot mentioned earlier. The phrasing is awkwardly formal, and many of the basic concepts are not typically American--we never talk about proverbs, for example, because we don't care what the older generations thought. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-26-2010, 12:48 AM	#27
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Well, speak for yourself there, 'fobble. Yes, the writing is in a formal style, with a somewhat oldfashioned air -- it could date to anywhere in the century between 1850 and 1950. The Chinese-epigram quality of certain phrasings I cannot assess. I tend to associate with persons who would not find these sentiments in any way extraordinary nor curious. Their view of them would be "Well, doesn't everyone?" __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

10-26-2010, 02:26 AM	#29
laywong Dog O'Nine Tails Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 20	Thank Clodfobble and Urbane Guerrilla for your comments which are absolutely helpful to my efforts of removing it from the recommendation list.

10-26-2010, 02:48 AM	#30
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Yes, "concrete steps" can be steps made of concrete, or solid progress, depending on the context. That's the weakness of literal translations. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)