Language Overflow

Jim Reynolds

02:42

@user2684291 I think the range of what can follow hence is wide. Was it water or ice? - It went below zero last night, hence ice. The main potential problem is that hence can seem oddly formal or old-fashioned in many contexts, where we would ordinarily just use so.

yubraj

02:56

Hi everyone! Hope all of you're fine

Where's is the option to save webpages as pdf with crome browser....I don't see any option.I'm using android mobile 4.4.2??

mike

@yubraj: menu > share > print

save as PDF there

by menu I mean the three dots in the upper right hand corner, that expand out into a menu

yubraj

Yeah I found it...but Share option isn't leading me to print as pdf

Jim Reynolds

@user62015 I guess usee62015's question may have sprung from something like I would have you leave immediately. (?)

There is something like that, I think. I would have these apples be a bit sweeter. (?)

mike

@yubraj does share lead you to a print icon?

if it does, and you click on print, it brings you to the print page

at the top of the page there should be a Select a printer dropdown

Jim Reynolds

03:12

Someday, my prints will come.

mike

if you click there, one of the options is 'Save as PDF'

yubraj

Yes I reached there but crome browswer automatically stops as soon as reached there..

It keeps on stopping

yubraj

03:54

It keeps on saying "unfortunately print spooler has stopped" as soon as I reached printing

yubraj

04:09

Please help me

QuokMoon

04:29

Good morning

It means application has crashed and uninstalled it. Find a different application.

You may ask this question at http://android.stackexchange.com/ forum.

Abcd

04:54

Please help me fill in the blanks :

Working _____ (for ?) wages is an anathema to tramps.words in () indicates my choice which might be wrong

The author wields another weapon of contrast _____ (against ?) his construction

The few belongings remaining ____ (with ?) him were tied up.

Jim Reynolds

05:46

@Abcd Working for wages is anathema to ... Tramp? Trump?

The author wields another weapon of contrast _____ (against ?) his construction

^ is difficult to make sense of

The few belongings remaining ____ (with ?) him were tied up.

^ I can only guess at what is meant here, without more context

Also, unless I understand more about why you are asking, it's a challenge to guess what kind of response might be helpful to you.

It's hard to guess what is meant by "working for wages".

Wages sometimes just means money. Sometimes is has a more specialized meaning, different than salary.

Economists, political scientists, etc., might use "wage labor" for specialized uses.

mike

06:15

0

Q: "I left my home village yesterday, for which reason my father is sad now". Is this sentence awkward?

I and my friend are doing an English exercise which requires us to make a sentence with the phrase "for which reason(s)" I have made this sentence: I left my home village yesterday, for which reason my father is said now. However, my friend looked at my sentence and told me it should...

word-usage

Ignoring the OP's actual question for a second, is 'home village' idiomatic? I've heard (and used) the expression 'home town' before, but I don't think I've seen 'home village' in use

Just curious

Jim Reynolds

I think so.

Well .. idiomatic, I guess not. It's at least much more common to just say my village, as you obviously know. I guess hometown has become set or fused in a way home village has not for which reasons (XD) we can fairly easily sceculate about.

Hometown and home town. I'd guess sometimes univerb... uni... whatever snailboat said the other day, sometimes depending on uses like every day/everyday and sometimes just as a noun?

I got those homevillage, those hoooooomevillage blues, oh yeah.

2

Lyrics from my upcoming hit song

gyazo.com/2dfc638acab10556ad2f6d96585669c5

home village 126 matches on COCA. home town 669. hometown 6,498

homevillage .. BZZZZZZT!

Damkerng T.

06:47

@JimReynolds I guess they're from a preposition exercise book or something. :-)

Jim Reynolds

My homevillage seems alive and well in Standard Thai English: gyazo.com/abb3eb4289c067c89190dc108f0ff398

Damkerng T.

@JimReynolds Really?

It sounds a bit odd even in Thai.

!!translate/หมู่บ้านเกิดของฉัน

Ellbot

th: หมู่บ้านเกิดของฉัน
en: The village of my birth

Jim Reynolds

I suppose it results from "my hometown" + more villages in Thailand, and more villages there being called villages than towns. Compared to, you know, normal parts of the world.

Damkerng T.

@JimReynolds I suppose it's a conflict between thinking in Thai and English, and the result happens to be not quite idiomatic in either language.

In Thai, we typically say บ้านเกิด [home-birth], not หมู่บ้านเกิด [village-birth].

Jim Reynolds

06:53

Yes. One of those first google results is Indonesian.

Interesting.

I have set my default search engine to google.com (US)

I meant interesting as a comment on your statement.

Damkerng T.

Oh! :D

Jim Reynolds

I'm good at knowing when something's interesting. Believe me. That's what people are saying.

Damkerng T.

I think most Thais have a stronger bond with their villages than their towns. Hence, it's quite possible that a Thai might end up saying "homevillage" as a compromise to thinking in Thai but expressing the same thought in English.

Jim Reynolds

Were you thinking Those Thais who have villages vs those who have towns?

Or that particular Thais have villages and towns? :)

Damkerng T.

@JimReynolds They technically have both, don't they? :)

Jim Reynolds

06:57

I don't know!

Damkerng T.

But the first thing that would come to their minds would be their villages, I think.

Jim Reynolds

You mean, they may have started life in a village, then moved to a town, or that their village is a subsection of a town?

Damkerng T.

I'd say they started life in a village, then moved to a big city.

See, no town!

Jim Reynolds

We categorize a place as either village or town.

Village has become quaint, I'd say.

Damkerng T.

nods -- If we think in English, I'd say town is more proper.

But the typical literal translation of หมู่บ้าน is village, so I understand why they might end up using village rather than town.

!!translate/บ้านเกิดของฉัน

Ellbot

07:04

th: บ้านเกิดของฉัน
en: My hometown

Damkerng T.

Right. The translators whose work the translation engine is based on recognized that บ้านเกิด [home-birth] should be translated as hometown.

0

Q: An English teacher

How can I differentiate these two sentences? He is an English teacher(=a person who teaches English) He is an English teacher(=a teacher who is English)

meaning phrase-meaning sentence-meaning

I suppose this question comes up every once in a while!

(I'm too lazy to search for the old questions, though.)

3

Q: My speech continues vs my speech is continuing

When I was watching a film festival program on television, Mr. Sharuk Khan (Indian actor) was giving a speech in Bengali (local language) not fluently and in English fluently. First, he starts speaking Bengali little with difficulty then changes to English rest of the time. While speaking Engli...

present-tense present-progressive

Unlike those in comments and the answer, I'd say it's not quite idiomatic.

"My speech continues" could be.

But "My Bengali speech continues, has not stopped yet" is pretty unlikely, IMO.

Could be his idiosyncrasy.

Although I can't image why he spoke Bengali for a while then switched to English to say just "My Bengali speech continues, has not stopped yet" and then resumed speaking in Bengali.

Context, context, context!

Oh! I misunderstood!

The OP wrote:

> While speaking English. He pauses and says "My Bengali speech continues, has not stopped yet". Saying this, he goes on speaking Bengali and English. This is the context.

So he said that it "has not stopped yet" even before starting to speak in Bengali! Hmm...

Okay, I'm heading off! Be back later!

0

Q: When to use "write" and when to use "write down"?

I wrote "Write your phone number" and a native English speaker told me that I had to add a "down". Why is this? When should I add the down and when I shouldn't?

word-usage word-choice

Jim Reynolds

07:27

@DamkerngT. I could be an American British English teacher.

Damkerng T.

I say it needs a better answer than the one in the duplicate suggestion.

@JimReynolds That's right. I'm sure we already have at least one question, maybe more, that's similar to this new one.

Jim Reynolds

So a better answer here, or designate as duplicate and give or hope for a better answer there?

Damkerng T.

@JimReynolds I don't think we have much hope for a new answer to an old question, generally.

Jim Reynolds

Has a "good" definition of duplicate been established anywhere?

Damkerng T.

But I really have to go now. So, see you later! o/

Jim Reynolds

07:32

o/

yubraj

08:14

Nods...

What's called the smoky environment in cold weather? Frost or fog ?

V.V.

08:38

Smoky is smog

If anybody comes, please look at this:

She felt that something thrilling______to her soon.
would happen
was going to happen

Hi all.

!!translate/сугробы

Ellbot

ru: сугробы
en: snowdrifts

V.V.

!!translate/метели

Ellbot

ru: метели
en: blizzard

V.V.

!!translate/вьюга и пурга

Ellbot

ru: вьюга и пурга
en: blizzard and snowstorm

QuokMoon

09:39

If we not understand someone text . Can we say ?

I am not getting you .

V.V.

10:32

I think you can.

Jim Reynolds

10:44

@V.V. Both are grammatical. I think you want "was going to happen"

@QuokMoon Can you give a specific example?

What do you mean by text? There are many meanings of text. There are different kinds of understanding and different ways of not understanding.

For example, If someone tells their friend, "He won't be a good boyfriend for you." And the friend asks, "Why not?" The person might answer: "He lives with his mother!"

Some people who live in cultures where "good" sons live together with their parents might understand the meaning of the words perfectly, but might not understand why that person thinks a man who lives with his parents won't make a good boyfriend.

We might use different ways to communicate different kinds of not understanding.

user2684291

11:12

@JimReynolds I see, thanks.

@JimReynolds Shouldn't "British-English" have been hyphenated there?

QuokMoon

@JimReynolds Someone text me message but it's hard to interpreted . So as reply Can I ask them "I am not getting you."

Jim Reynolds

11:47

@QuokMoon It would be better, in most contexts, to simply say "I don't understand your message."

QuokMoon

@JimReynolds ok thanks.

Jim Reynolds

Where are you from, Quok?

There are important cultural issues, about politeness, about how to behave and what to say when we don't understand someone. So it might matter who you are talking to.

Also, we can sometimes be smarter by sending a message that lets the person know what we might like them to do.

For example, "I'm sorry, I don't understand your last message. Can you try to write it again using different words?"

user2684291

Is "to get" in that sense a stative verb, or is "I'm not getting you." okay?

Jim Reynolds

I'm not getting you, is ok grammatically.

user2684291

All right, thank you.

Jim Reynolds

11:56

And the meaning is generally clear.

user2684291

The meaning is "to understand", which is a stative verb, so I wasn't sure.

Jim Reynolds

Ah. We can use some stative verbs in the continuous form.

This is especially true with things like "mental states".

I'm loving it.

I can only talk about this crudely, unless I look it up.

I'm not understanding you is grammatical. I think it's more correct to say that to understand can be somewhat or sometimes an action, and somewhat or sometimes a state.

I'm really hurting right now.

The meaning usually changes, but not always.

I think you should go. I'm thinking you should go. These can have essentially the same meaning.

Jim Reynolds

12:36

@user2684291 Yes. I was not writing carefully, there. Also, maybe because we are in a chat room, I sometimes ignore rules or details that I would care about in other situations, especially if I'm using a phone to write.

user2684291

@JimReynolds Unfortunately, the Cambridge grammar wasn't particularly useful in that it doesn't explain the verb "understand", in particular. It does, however, say that such (normally static) verbs can be used in the progressive form, and it depends on the verb, in the large, how easily it "takes" the progressive.

@JimReynolds Would you be more inclined to say "I'm not understanding you." (as opposed to "...understand you.") when you wish to say that it's mostly your fault for not getting it, or does that have nothing to do with it?

yubraj

13:09

Is it possible to use an application purchased by other person? Or can one share an application to someone for free ?

Jim Reynolds

@user2684291 I'd be more inclined to use understand. We use the progressive form less often and for the purpose of emphasizing something that's generally associated with the continuous. For example, to emphasize immediacy, (at this moment), temporariness (to make especially clear that I don't mean that I don't understand you in a more general way).

But to do the same thing with I'm knowing you would be very unusual.

user2684291

@JimReynolds All right, so there's nothing really special about the verb. Thanks.

The Cambridge grammar explains: "In the case of know, for example, it is just about restricted to the waxing/waning case (He claims that fewer and fewer students are knowing how to write English when they come up to university.)."

Jim Reynolds

@user2684291 Nice.

@yubraj That depends on several things

V.V.

14:12

@JimReynolds Thank you very much

Hope you are fine.

user2684291

Word of the day: mithridatize

2

V.V.

!!translate/противоядие

Ellbot

ru: противоядие
en: antidote

yubraj

14:35

Is it possible to treat a desease through sound therapy youtu.be/dQPDTi827EQ or different types of music?

Anonymous

Probably not.

yubraj

Can I ask Why ?

Damkerng T.

Why is the wrong question, IMO.

user2684291

14:51

@DamkerngT. Why? :>

Damkerng T.

Heh!

V.V.

15:04

I read something about plants and classical music.

user2684291

@yubraj en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disease This may help identify more precisely wherein the actual problem lies. As per the article, we could treat only some of the symptoms arising (in)directly from a disease by using sound therapy.

V.V.

It's Christmas today.

user2684291

@V.V. Have a merry one.

Damkerng T.

@V.V. Merry Christmas!

CowperKettle

16:52

> I hope too. I've got it. Thanks for the good advice!

Is this the okay?

"advice" is a non-count noun, so it should be "thanks for good advice", is it not?

Should it not be "Thanks for the good piece of advice"?

Or maybe we can say "the good advice", but it would not refer to a single instance of advice?

user2684291

@CowperKettle Why wouldn't it be?

CowperKettle

@user2684291 are you a native speaker of English?

user2684291

No.

CowperKettle

@user2684291 I've got the feeling that this phrase might be wrong

I'm not sure

V.V.

17:08

A piece of advice or advice.

"Thanks for your good advice "

user2684291

They're probably talking about specific advice; hence, "the".

CowperKettle

0

Q: "Thank you for the good advice" - can this refer to a single piece of advice?

Jim: I cannot use Linkedin! It is blocked! Tim: You can use friGate, it's a nice addon that will help you. Jim: I've just installed it, and it works. Thank you for the good advice! I wonder if this use of the is natural here. "Advice" is a noncount noun, so it cannot take a. I searched...

phrase-meaning articles uncountable-nouns

@V.V. Merry Christmas!

V.V.

You too!Yay!

CowperKettle

Babysitting Blues (1987)

►

user2684291

Yes, it can refer to a single piece of advice.

V.V.

17:14

Well, if you thank somebody, why don't you use possessive pronouns?

CowperKettle

@V.V. I'm curious how this the is comprehended by native speakers

Adventures in Babysitting (2016 film)

Adventures in Babysitting is a 2016 American television film directed by John Schultz and starring Sabrina Carpenter and Sofia Carson. It is a remake of the 1987 film of the same name. The movie premiered on Disney Channel in the United States and Canada on June 24, 2016, and is notable as the 100th entry in the network's canon of Disney Channel Original Movies. == Plot == Jenny Parker (Sabrina Carpenter) and Lola Perez (Sofia Carson) are teenagers with opposite personalities but the same passion for photography. The two meet when they are finalists for a prestigious photography internship and...

They remade that great movie!

Damkerng T.

17:55

Hmm... the good advice shouldn't be a problem, I think.

"Could you give me some water?" "Here you go." "Thanks for the water!"

user2684291

Yeah, basic.

CowperKettle

@DamkerngT. Could you give me some oil? Sure. Some milk? Sure. Some coffee? Sure. "Thanks for the liquid!". Now would this the liquid refer to all the liquid passed during the conversation?

Good evening, Dam!

Happy Orthodox Christmas to you!

Damkerng T.

What?! Thanks for the liquid! would sound strange, wouldn't it?

CowperKettle

@DamkerngT. Yes, but was only trying to construe an analogy

Færd

Flying Kettle.

Damkerng T.

18:00

(after one too many beers) "You bought me two Heinekens, and two Budweisers. Thanks for the beer!"

That would be fine, wouldn't it?

CowperKettle

Liz Browning poem of the day: Sonnet from the Portuguese No. 26

> I lived with visions for my company,
Instead of men and women, years ago,
And found them gentle mates, nor thought to know
A sweeter music than they played to me.
But soon their trailing purple was not free
Of this world's dust, — their lutes did silent grow,
And I myself grew faint and blind below
Their vanishing eyes. Then THOU didst come ... to be,
Belovèd, what they seemed. Their shining fronts,
Their songs, their splendours, (better, yet the same,

> As river-water hallowed into fonts)
Met in thee, and from out thee overcame
My soul with satisfaction of all wants —
Because God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.

user2684291

@DamkerngT. Yup, and it'd refer to the liquid in all four bottles. construe ≠ construct

Færd

consfalse

user2684291

Actually, given the context, the liquid that was in all four bottles.

Færd

have a good education vs have good education

Hmm.

Damkerng T.

18:13

Oh! Have good education is still not a flat liner!

Færd

PEU goes so far as to suggest it's incorrect. Weird suggestion; good point still.

149.4

I wonder if there's any nuance. Maybe not easily pinpointable, if any.

Damkerng T.

> I don't think you can have good education without it, but there are other requirements as well. You have to have some accountability and much more.

This one looks legit. This education means the entire education system.

Færd

> ... 40, even 50 years ago, when we thought we had a pretty good educational system in the country. To sit here and say all the problems in our society, all the problems with our children are because they don't have a good, education or there is ...

Damkerng T.

I think this a good education refers to the education each child could have.

Færd

mAB.

So if you have a good education system you have good education, huh?

user2684291

18:26

@Færd What does it say exactly? "have good education" doesn't strike me as incorrect by itself.

Færd

God, this new earphone! I jumped out of my skin when you pinged me!

> With certain uncountable nouns - especially nouns referring to human
emotions and mental activity - we often use alan when we are limiting their
meaning in some way.

user2684291

Good. :>

Færd

> We need a secretary with a first-class knowledge of German. (NOT with first-class knowledge of German)

> My parents wanted me to have a good education. (NOT to have good education)

user2684291

@Færd Yeah, see, they're talking about human emotions and mental activity, whereas "education" by itself may mean other things.

Færd

Hmm.

(Correction: that alan in the quote above is a/an.)

@user2684291 So in My parents wanted me to have a good education, education is a mental activity? Not exactly, I think.

It's a whole bundle of things: the school, the teachers, the learning, ... .

user2684291

18:39

He did preface the paragraph with that explanation, didn't he?

Færd

That especially allows for some exceptions.

Maybe education is one of them.

It's one of those sensitive cases where you risk wandering far off if you think too much.

Abcd

19:09

Is it right to say : White, smoky fog was exhaled by me. Please tell me if this is purple prose.

user2684291

@Færd Sure, there's also that "often".

user2684291

19:27

@Abcd What do you mean by "right"? "Smoky fog" is commonly referred to as "smog". No, that's not purple prose.

Abcd

@user2684291 No I am comparing the fog that comes out of our mouth during winters (in tropical countries) to smoke

It has no relation with smog.

user2684291

19:39

@Abcd Right. I'd transpose the adjectives.

Abcd

@user2684291 you mean it should be like : Smoky, white fog was exhaled by me.

user2684291

That's correct. The use of the passive voice is somewhat awkward to boot.

Abcd

Alright. I will change it to L I exhaled smoky, white fog.

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