English Language Learners

Anonymous

09:16

@DamkerngT. Say, how do you get that spiffy robot hat?

Damkerng T.

09:39

@snailboat You mean IG-88?

Anonymous

Yes! That sounds like the one.

Damkerng T.

I really don't know.

Anonymous

Oh! It's a mystery.

Damkerng T.

But according to some hints here: meta.stackoverflow.com/questions/212799/…. I guess I might have answered some question with a bounty attached unintentionally.

Anonymous

I like giving bounties. They're the only thing you can buy with the fake internet money known as "reputation"

Damkerng T.

09:42

I'm answering Stack Overflow's Survey.

And I'm not sure what they mean by "current Stack Overflow reputation".

Only Stack Overflow specific, I guess?

Ste

@snailboat Any chance of a star in here for more hats, please?

2

Damkerng T.

@Ste You got one! :)

Ste

@DamkerngT. - Do you need one?

Damkerng T.

I don't know. Which hat I will get?

Ste

"Winter is Coming"

Anonymous

09:46

Quick, say something pithy!

Damkerng T.

"Winter is Coming" please.

Anonymous

Pithy enough for me.

Anonymous

You know, this chat was super dead for the first months of ELL's life, and we had the same few starred messages in here forever. But now, all the stars are from the last couple weeks

Damkerng T.

Ah, I see.

Anonymous

Of course, they're also things like "hats pl0x", but that's okay. :-)

Ste

09:48

@snailboat can I get a star on on my "Any chance of a star" message please. There's a hat for two stars

Anonymous

Oh yeah? Hey, I wonder if it counts if I star my own message

Anonymous

Oh, no, wait. I can only "pin" my own messages.

Anonymous

That's no fun.

Ste

It's not possible. But @DamkerngT. should star one of your earlier-starred messages

Damkerng T.

Looking...

Anonymous

09:49

Well, since I'm a moderator (on chat, not on ELL!), I can cheat and give myself a fake star.

Anonymous

See?

Anonymous

But it's hollow :-(

Ste

Haha/

But it's at the top of the list!

RegDwigнt

Oh, a party!

Anonymous

Oh! I guess I should feel special then

Ste

09:50

We are going quite hat-crazy over on ELU

Hey @RegDwigнt!

RegDwigнt

Helloes.

Damkerng T.

Hello @RegDwigнt Thanks for a nice hat last night!

RegDwigнt

Right on! Nice hats must be had!

Speaking of which, how's them stats looking over here?

Lemme check.

Oh I'm #20. Not too shabby.

Ste

Less than 1k hats on ELL! We need to change that!

Anonymous

Yay, I have 16 hats now :-)

RegDwigнt

09:52

@Ste I was just in the middle of typing that.

Damkerng T.

I don't know where to check that. Moderator privilege required?

Ste

winterbash2013.stackexchange.com/leaderboard/network

Anonymous

#118!

Damkerng T.

@Ste Thanks!

RegDwigнt

winterbash2013.stackexchange.com/leaderboard/…

Anonymous

09:55

Oh! I'm #1!

RegDwigнt

I don't quite understand how I can have three hats but no Johnny.

Anonymous

So is StoneyB.

Anonymous

I don't understand how that hat works.

RegDwigнt

Actually, four hats now. But still no Johnny.

@snailboat get any three hats. That is all.

Ste

I'm #2 across the whole network at the moment!

RegDwigнt

09:55

Just like Milliner for 20.

Anonymous

Then it's buggy.

RegDwigнt

Or at least laggy.

Anonymous

Or at least laggy.

Ste

Or at least laggy.

Damkerng T.

I'm #196, tied with Community!

RegDwigнt

09:57

Or at most laggy.

Damkerng T.

@Ste How can you get that 42 hat!?

RegDwigнt

500 views in 2 days.

Hover over it. I don't think that one's secret.

Damkerng T.

@RegDwigнt Ah, thanks. I see now.

Any more hints on "Before It Was Cool"?

RegDwigнt

I dunno.

Damkerng T.

(I don't understand what "He ain't no drag" is all about.)

RegDwigнt

10:06

Last thing I heard, it's for a new tag someone else subsequently uses.

But that was idle speculation.

RegDwigнt

10:19

So I have five hats now, but still not the three-hat hat.

Ste

@RegDwigнt - I don't seem to be picking up hats from ELL.

2

RegDwigнt

Alenanno still has no three-hat on ELU, either. Though he does collect other ones.

Anonymous

@RegDwigнt I only have three-hat on ELL, although I have "Hi Ho Silver", "Winter is Coming", "I See Your Point", and "The Stallman" on ELU

RegDwigнt

Hm.

Anonymous

It seems like four hats.

RegDwigнt

10:28

Is there a bug report up on MSO yet?

This is a lot of people affected. And we can't be the only ones.

Anonymous

A-ha, someone edited this post to say "within one day" since I last read it

Anonymous

Hmm.

RegDwigнt

Oh.

Oh?

Oh!

Wow. They tell us that now?

Ste

10:56

Somebody star this please, - I think I need two starred messages./

2

Anonymous

@Ste One star, coming right up!

Ste

:)

Anonymous

Hey, I swore I starred it. Did someone use magic unstarring powers?

Anonymous

Maybe I'm just bad at starring.

RegDwigнt

You should try starring in a movie to verify.

Anonymous

11:05

Ooh, I can't even unstar my own messages.

RegDwigнt

There are some suggested edits up for grabs.

A couple more will be there in the next few minutes.

Anonymous

Yoink!

Damkerng T.

17:59

Hi, @swapna!

It seems like you are asking for two different things: new words (synonyms), and their pronunciation.

@swapna Are you there?

swapna

hi

Damkerng T.

Okay, can you see this?

swapna

Yes

Damkerng T.

I took a quick look on your questions at SO. I think your English is quite alright.

swapna

Do you recommend some books?

Damkerng T.

18:05

I'm thinking more about websites.

swapna

It's right but I have to impress my interview panel

Damkerng T.

But first, I would like to know what kind of stuff you would like: synonyms, or pronunciation.

swapna

what idea do u have

both

Damkerng T.

I don't know. IMHO, the size of your vocabulary is much less important than your communication skill.

I mean, if you can convey what you intend to say precisely enough, then it's fine.

Are you worrying about your accent or something?

swapna

I know but if its big and I use good words during interview they will be impressed

accent

Damkerng T.

18:08

Are you sure (about the big words)?

How much time do you have?

(You mentioned that it's the first week in January.)

swapna

+ i need few substitutes for words I already know, and I dont wanna ask them during interview "what does this mean"

10 days is more than enough. I read Word Power made easy in 6 days

Damkerng T.

Number of vocabulary size and accent are quite two different things.

Have you tried Quizlet yet?

Cerberus

Hello.

swapna

I know but these are the shortcomings which I have as of now and I have to overcome those before interview

no

hello

Damkerng T.

You should give it a try.

Cerberus

18:12

Have you considered improving your grammar first?

Damkerng T.

Hello @Cerberus.

Cerberus

Big words only impress people if they are used exactly right, and if the rest of the sentence is also impeccable. Otherwise, they merely irritate.

@DamkerngT. Yo.

swapna

ok and what for pronunciation

Damkerng T.

Most online dictionaries now include sound clips for the pronunciation too.

For example, the link for the word "interview" at Macmillan Dictionary: macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/interview.

You can click on the pronunciation button and see if you pronounced it right.

swapna

thats what I am looking for. I got a book few days back in my library. Use Right Words.. it had words grouped into synonyms.. correct usage of each word and example sentences.

Damkerng T.

18:16

I believe there are sites for example sentences too.

swapna

But I could not find that book in any bookstore, it didn't have few pages at beginning and end so I couldn't know publishers name.

Damkerng T.

I got one site. Here is a list of example sentences for the word impress: sentence.yourdictionary.com/impress

swapna

It does look nice.

Damkerng T.

But really. Make sure you got the grammar right, and use the words you already know precisely will be better at your job interview.

Unless you want to be a language teacher, a translator, or a writer.

For example, at your job interview, you don't need to say impeccable. You can simply say flawless, or perfect. (@Cerberus, no offense, I just want to give an example.)

swapna

I want to convince them... its a bank job interview but they are looking for the candidates whose English is good.

how is this paulnoll.com/Books/Synonyms/synonym-011.html only thing missing is examples.

Damkerng T.

18:25

One suggestion from StoneyB is OALD :oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. (OALD includes sound files for pronunciation of each headword.)

I think it looks fine.

BTW, what are those words in Word Power Made Easy? (I don't know that book.)

swapna

they were in abundance... it has roots then words based on those roots

it is the best book I have ever seen on vocab... and quite interesting too, you wont get bored

Damkerng T.

Taking a peek at Amazon.com. On the page xvi, it says First, master the "schwa"!

And I just posted my tricks to pronounce schwa properly for ELLs a couple of days ago: ell.stackexchange.com/questions/14563/….

Okay, on page 8, there are words such as sour, insane, angry, peril, hinder, magnificent. I take it that you've already known all of them.

swapna

books.google.co.in/…

my previous link disobey copyright I think

Yes I know these words but my classmates know more

Damkerng T.

Since you're aiming at the financial sector, maybe you might want to buff up your financial vocabulary.

For example, certificate of deposit, cumulative, depreciation, equity, margin account, liability, etc.

I believe that remembering those words would make more sense than trying to increase vocabulary in general, considering your specific needs at the moment.

swapna

True but being management graduate, I have a fair idea about them

Damkerng T.

18:38

Okay, I didn't mean to sound offensive. Sorry.

swapna

I didnt consider it any offence dear

thats invaluable saugestion and I appreciate it.

Cerberus

@DamkerngT. I am deeply offended!!! Grrrr!

bites your toe

I demand a dog treat!

Damkerng T.

bitten!

Cerberus

Yay!

swapna

woff woff

Cerberus

18:40

A competitor!

slays competitor

There.

swapna

life is competition

we have to compete with 20 million to come on Earth

Damkerng T.

Anyway, going through your List of 426 Sets of Synonyms is better than going through The American Heritage College Thesaurus.

swapna

think so

I already saved that using orbit downloader

Damkerng T.

Somehow I have a feeling that vocabulary will not be a problem for you.

swapna

Lets be hopeful, i m working on it.

Damkerng T.

18:54

Is there any writing test in your interview?

swapna

No I qualified in written. 40k/18lacs candidates, final selection 25k.

I have to come under 20k at least for sure selection :D

Anonymous

19:11

@swapna It's more important that you use the right words

Anonymous

What impresses people is being able to communicate clearly

2

Anonymous

Oh, I see that topic was already covered in my absence :-)

Damkerng T.

@snailboat Hi!

Gotta go.

@swapna Good luck on your interview.

swapna

Thank you very much

Cerberus

Bye!

And good luck to Swapna!

Anonymous

19:23

@DamkerngT. Hello! And apparently also goodbye!

Cerberus

Star.

swapna

Thanks a lot... see you

Damkerng T.

21:14

@snailboat Ping

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. Pong

Damkerng T.

Oh, hi.

Anonymous

Hello!

Anonymous

Tell me, is now the sort of time you should be asleep?

Damkerng T.

I'm curious about what I should do with the link to the video mentioned in that "level out" question.

Anonymous

21:19

I have no idea.

Damkerng T.

I usually use Frankfurt time. :)

RegDwigнt

Wha, still so many people in here.

Damkerng T.

Hello @RegDwigнt

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. I was rather put off by the topic and quoted comment, so I decided not to click the video link

Damkerng T.

Yes, but I read it as the OP just included it there to provide the context. He seems to be curious about the meaning of the phrase.

Anonymous

21:22

Well, what I can tell you is this: 1. I have no idea what you should do. 2. I don't even know what "level out" means in that context.

Anonymous

So basically, I'm of no help whatsoever. :-)

Damkerng T.

Should I edit the link out?

I read that video's comment and he seemed to talk about [those people] worked for it just like everyone else standing in line, i.e. they waited in the line as everybody else.

Anonymous

Uh-huh

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. Out of curiosity, what made you decide to ask me what to do?

Damkerng T.

I think you are a mod.

Anonymous

21:27

Oh! No. I am not.

Damkerng T.

Oh!

RegDwigнt

I wonder if the super warm hat is still awarded if someone stars today's message later.

Anonymous

The moderators on ELL are WendiKidd, Matt, J.R., and waiwai, I believe?

Damkerng T.

@RegDwigнt How later is later?

Anonymous

I am technically a moderator on chat, because if you're a moderator on any SE site, you get to be a moderator on chat. This gives me the important ability to edit my own messages without a time limit. :-)

Anonymous

21:29

What's this about a super warm hat?

RegDwigнt

@DamkerngT. well I dunno. Before the Winter Bash is over.

Anonymous

I like warm hats.

RegDwigнt

I'm just saying, do both the message and the star have to have today's date or not.

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. See, I just used my Important Editing powers to change my little starred message over at the right.

Anonymous

Now people won't mistakenly think I'm a moderator on ELL. :-)

Anonymous

21:30

At least, I hope I haven't done anything else to give that impression.

RegDwigнt

@snailboat wait, you're a moderator on ELL?

I didn't know that.

Anonymous

Hehehe.

Damkerng T.

Okay, I just edited the offensive quote out, but still left the link there.

At least, Googling that quote won't land here at ELL now.

Cerberus

Ohh did we have an offensive quote?

Was it exciting?

RegDwigнt

Yes. We called snailboat a moderator on Philosophy.

Cerberus

21:43

Really?

That's offensive.

Anonymous

Slander!

RegDwigнt

Libel.

Anonymous

I like to think of chat as speechlike.

RegDwigнt

These words you'll never read in the Bible.

@snailboat I am singing Simon if I may, and even some Garfunkel, too.

►

Cerberus

I always forget what the difference is. Is libel in a libellum, a booklet?

In Dutch there are smaad and laster, which nobody ever knows the difference between.

RegDwigнt

21:49

Libellum Gallicum.

9

Q: Any differences between "slander" and "libel"?

Are there any differences between slander and libel?

Cerberus

Or maybe it is a libellus, I don't know the diminutive.

RegDwigнt

Libellus Gallicus? I don't think so!

Cerberus

And a libelle in Dutch is a dragonfly. German?

Anonymous

I always hear the voice of J. Johah Jameson from one of the Spider-Man movies in my head saying: "I resent that! Slander is spoken. In print, it's libel."

Cerberus

@RegDwigнt I trust in your Latin skillz.

RegDwigнt

21:50

@Cerberus same.

Cerberus

Cool.

RegDwigнt

@snailboat I always hear the voice of Jenna Jameson from a different movie in my head saying something different.

Cerberus

Is it true that people called Jana or James are more likely to become janitors?

RegDwigнt

in English Language & Usage, 1 min ago, by RegDwigнt

Get your major Ds off my lawn.

Could be this.

@Cerberus yes! Just like Thor ended up as a janitor.

Cerberus

Thor? Why he?

Anonymous

21:52

Nomen est omen!

RegDwigнt

^This.

Anonymous

(I'm trying to make up for quoting Spider-Man.)

Cerberus

I should expect him to end up as a thaumaturge, perhaps.

RegDwigнt

Nomen est women.

Cerberus

Nomen is an island.

Or should that be are...

Damkerng T.

22:07

The question has been edited. That link was removed. And I can now sleep well tonight. Please pass my gratitude to WendiKidd. :)

Cerberus

Good night!

@DamkerngT. Where is she anyway?

I haven't seen her in a while.

Damkerng T.

I don't know. She just edited the question a few minutes ago.

Good night, guys!

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. Rest well!

Cerberus

Bye!

RegDwigнt

Night!

I'll be logging out of here as well.

Transcript for

English Language Learners