English Language Learners

3:44 PM

I like them too.

user116848

Any good of 'em from the Youtube Damk?

user116848

You know there is a great Russian songs channel on youtube: youtube.com/user/ELLO/videos

Oh, nope. :)

user116848

You know there is a great Russian songs channel on youtube: youtube.com/user/ELLO/videos

ELLO sounds like a company name.

user116848

3:48 PM

Yes may be it is. I don't know

user116848

I don't know why my post with youtube link got pasted twice

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. Yay

Anonymous

Slug trails and snail trails generally look pretty distinct

Anonymous

They use slime differently

user116848

So snailboat is the first person I have seen with the snails obsession

user116848

3:55 PM

Not that there is anything wrong with it.

user116848

I am more into dinosaures

user116848

But there aren't any

user116848

I'll have to go back few million years ago for that

I think I'm more used to music in the 90s or 2000s.

user116848

you mean when you were very young! :-)

user116848

4:00 PM

I am more into vocal trance music these days

No, I mean when I was younger. :)

user116848

Oh, yes definitely. I didn't pick the right words :)

user116848

So there is too much 'shhh' sound in French language lol

Oh, and the whole Les Miserables is basically French.

I just happened to watch it in English. :)

But I think it's not too hard to find a French Musical version on YouTube.

Anonymous

@Arrowfar Someone who studies snails is interested in malacology

user116848

4:03 PM

Yes I was wanting to watch that.

user116848

@snailboat I didn't know you studied them. I thought you only liked them

user116848

@DamkerngT. Did you watch that 'Step up' dance film? It's very good

I think I have seen only a short part of it.

user116848

Yes it's all dance though

Oh, I found this: youtube.com/watch?v=kTIBl3UV7UA

user116848

4:07 PM

@snailboat But you never talk about octopuses and other molussca

user116848

@DamkerngT. Nice! Although don't understand a word of it

user116848

Without watching the English translation

user116848

:D

This one is also interesting, 17 languages: youtube.com/watch?v=gpDbvlAI_A0

user116848

@DamkerngT. Good one!

user116848

4:16 PM

I also like Italian andrea bucceli

user116848

It seems very classic.

I think I've seen something similar in Oscars that year (entirely in English, though). Probably inspired by that one.

nods

user116848

But they yell a lot :-)

Imo, a musical is supposed to be like that. :)

I think if we think of stage performances in the old days, it's rather obvious why they have to speak or sing in such a manner. (No microphones back then.)

Anonymous

Aug 8 at 23:45, by snailboat

Unlike the smaller giant squid, Mesonychoteuthis--the colossal squid--has sharp hooks on its arms and tentacles, the latter of which can spin 360 degrees

Anonymous

4:19 PM

May 13 at 18:38, by snailboat

And cuttlefish too evolved to have only an internal shell

user116848

@snailboat Oh, yes I remember that :-) I was there too :-)

user116848

So you study them too?

user116848

You didn't answer that

user116848

Or you want to ignore that part of my question :-)

Anonymous

Jul 31 at 0:43, by snailboat

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/06/nudibranchs/doubilet-photography

user116848

4:21 PM

@DamkerngT. Yes that is a very good point. Come to think of it.

user116848

I used to like National Geographic magazine when I was a kid :-)

user116848

Colorful crisp photos :-)

user116848

I think they have some best photographers in the world.

user116848

And History Channel lol

@Arrowfar Still true!

user116848

4:28 PM

I think I disturbed snail's ego!

user116848

Snail it was a friendly comment about you not talking about them. Nothing to damage the ego :D

user116848

you know the girl on the National Gepgraphic magazine with crazy eyes color is from Pakistan lol

user116848

Poor one.

Anonymous

Um, how exactly do you think you hurt my ego? :-)

user116848

I better go and study. I don't want to end up with some crappy job.

Anonymous

4:36 PM

@DamkerngT. Well, x86 largely won, and that's CISC.

Anonymous

But lately ARM is doing fairly well.

nods -- I think both of them have their advantages.

@Arrowfar I remember I saw that cover on TV!

5:45 PM

> youtube.com/…

> "Hi, cows. Let's move."
"'t comes as a real shock to find out that you speak fluent Cow."

Anonymous

6:23 PM

@DamkerngT. "Let's moove."

Oh, I think I missed that gag!

I think his accent is very charming. :)

user116848

6:43 PM

Is this correct English: "My browser is not opening"?

user116848

Or a "xyz webpage is not opening"?

I think it's okay, though I probably won't say that.

user116848

So how would you say it?

Imagine you were trapped in a bathroom or a lift. "The door is not opening!"

@Arrowfar I can't open the page/link.

user116848

Yes it seems correct to me

user116848

6:48 PM

Hmm I see

The page is still loading.

etc.

:D

user116848

Yea thanks :)

I think your example, though looks simple, is a great example to see how people phrase the same thing differently.

Especially in different dialects.

user116848

Like?

I'm not sure. But I think using -ing (progressive aspect) is interesting.

user116848

6:52 PM

Yes it is. I use it in this sense :-)

Anonymous

@Arrowfar That's fine.

Compare: "This machine doesn't work." and "This machine isn't working."

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. "The door won't open!"

Anonymous

I want to add contractions to all of those examples up there.

That's another good choice!

Anonymous

6:54 PM

"The door isn't opening!"

Anonymous

"My browser isn't opening."

Anonymous

Hmm. I'm not sure I'd actually use open as my verb of choice for starting up a browser, though.

I think I sometimes really say "I can't open my browser."

Anonymous

Sure.

Anonymous

Or "My browser won't open."

6:56 PM

Or that.

Anonymous

People say things like "open an application"

user116848

Some would say something like: "My browser isn't starting' or 'My browser won't start'

user116848

WIth 'start'

Hmm... I think I prefer the simple aspect to progressive in this context.

user116848

But I don't use start here. I'd use 'start' for cars and other machines though :-)

6:58 PM

But Windows has that Start icon!

user116848

Oh, yes. Hehe

Anonymous

@DamkerngT. People use the progressive for temporary problems all the time.

Anonymous

"My car isn't starting."

user116848

My youtube isn't opening now. It's true.

user116848

May be some problemos here :-)

7:00 PM

Oh!

Anonymous

Are you referring to the recent answer where people discussed problemo and problema, by any chance? :-)

user116848

No I am not :-)

Anonymous

Ah, there was one.

Anonymous

Someone pointed out that the actual Spanish word is problema

I think the Terminator said, "No problemo."

Anonymous

7:02 PM

Haha, did he really?

user116848

But 'problemos' sound much cooler than 'problemas' though

Anonymous

►

I think he was taught so in one of the sequels.

LOL -- Oh, Yes! I can remember that now!

Anonymous

We lived one of his sequels for a while.

Anonymous

People called him The Governator.

Anonymous

7:04 PM

Oh, California.

LOLOTF

user116848

I was getting a advice from some senior a while back and I asked him: "In your opinion what would be the best course action for me?" (to get some good options) but he made fun of me regarding this phrase ".....best course of action". So is this phrase fancy in my sentence? Snail I want your opinion on this too :-)

I think it sounds fine. He might just mock you in a friendly manner. :)

Anonymous

Course of action is relatively formal.

user116848

But I didn't bother asking that guy. Because he was one of those senior douchebags.

user116848

7:09 PM

@DamkerngT. I see. How would you say the same thing?

user116848

@snailboat So this phrase is only suitable for big things I guess

In one prep-meeting before we were going to present our progress to the minister, I used "With all due respect" (in Thai), and the head of the department said, I should be a politician someday. :)

Which I really had no such desire.

user116848

@DamkerngT. Is this for real?

Yeah. :)

user116848

Oh, cool Damk :-)

7:11 PM

So I think it's probably the same in your case.

user116848

But you don't sound like a politician to me. They are very manipulative usually :-)

I mean, we sometimes use some formal phrases that might sound a little too formal.

user116848

Cerbs sounds like a politician to me :-)

Haha. I guess he could be one. :)

user116848

@DamkerngT. True.

7:13 PM

@Arrowfar I think you already mentioned some good choices. "In your opinion what would be the best choice/option/decision for me."

user116848

But when someone of my experience uses that phrase people tend to make fun. That I don't know what I am talking about. Which is very annoying for me

user116848

@DamkerngT. Yes I think so too.

user116848

I think 'course of action' seems more like a military phrase than an accounting one lol

It sounds like that indeed!

user116848

Anyways I hated that guy's snicker

7:17 PM

Hehe

I think meatie's questions are very difficult to answer.

But I can feel how hard he tries (to understand English).

user116848

Who is meatie?

One of our users. This is one of his questions: ell.stackexchange.com/questions/33453/usage-of-frame

user116848

Wow! Mr Stoney B contributes here a lot. He gives very good answers too :-)

user116848

Keep up the good work Mr B

user116848

:D

user116848

7:24 PM

Giving answers sometimes are very difficult for me. Because after a while I get a ping by user criticising my answer and debating it.

user116848

So usually I give in to the demands lol

user116848

I say something like: "Yes sir you are right, and I am wrong" :-) (In a more crafty manner)

user116848

But it's fun too altogether!

user116848

We get to learn new things

That's a good way to take it.

I commented this on ELL today (after some months, I think!):

I'd say that someone is chanting. — Damkerng T. 1 hour ago

user116848

7:28 PM

Damk you have contributed to ELL a lot too :-)

user116848

Nice!

user116848

And snail and other folks :-)

Not much lately. Hehe. :)

user116848

Oh, I love Godfather theme sound. Very sentimental. My mind works when I listen to that music :-)

user116848

There are many soundtracks. Like this one

user116848

7:37 PM

►

Ahh... Godfather is a class movie, too.

user116848

►

user116848

Youtube is working again. Yay!

I'm happy for you. :)

user116848

I know. Me too.
The first one is my favorite

user116848

7:41 PM

So Italians seem to be very advanced in Arts

user116848

All kinds of Arts I mean

Q: Enable Question Rate Limit on ELL

Perhaps because Rome is there. :)

user116848

Hehe

user116848

9:41 PM

Does this happen to any one of you that: You think someone has said something in the past, but which is all in your mind (not true originally). But your mind seem convinced that it is real.
It is very scary sometimes :-)

user116848

May be due to lack of sleep. But I wouldn't call it schizophrenia.

user116848

A false memory may be

Anonymous

No one has a perfect memory.

user116848

So does it ever happen with you?

Anonymous

Sure, I've misremembered things.

user116848

9:45 PM

It also happen due to remain awake for too long.

user116848

I have very disturbed sleep cycles. May be that is why it happens sometimes

user116848

Hey, I want to ask something

user116848

There is a user in ELL main site who asks many many questions everyday

user116848

Doesn't he get banned from the main site?

user116848

I notice that no one bothers with his questions these days

user116848

9:49 PM

Is it true about the asking questions limit on the main site? 30 questions in a month they say. But he has crossed that limit a long time ago.

Anonymous

I think the limits are only enabled on a select few sites

user116848

I see. Not here?

Anonymous

I'll admit I'm mentally filtering out every question with "Mark Shepherd" in the title

2

Anonymous

I don't believe it's enabled here. There was some discussion a little while back, but I don't know or recall what came of it

Anonymous

11

The moderators would like to request that the SE team enable the daily question rate limit for our site. A common pattern seems to be that users, in their eagerness to learn English (which is a good thing!) will post lots of questions back-to-back, and exceed the rate limit. Enabling the rate lim...

Anonymous

9:50 PM

It's status-deferred

user116848

Yes here it is:- LePressentiment

user116848

He is like asking the whole book's exercises

user116848

But yes, it's none of my business as they would say

Anonymous

It's fine, you can say what you're thinking.

@snailboat Also, the Quaerent-formerly-known-as-ZhanlongZheng has renewed his relentless pursuit of a magic modal slayer under the name of Kinzle B. But that's OK. His questions are always well written and of interest.

Anonymous

9:53 PM

@StoneyB I believe I've bountied a couple of those in the past :-)

Hi, all

Anonymous

Modal auxiliaries are really tough.

user116848

hi :-)

@snailboat CGEL has something like 40 pages on modals and leaves you hungry for more.

But M. LePresentiment is another story. I don't believe any of those questions are about English: they're about reading, in any language.

Does anybody know where he's from?

Anonymous

I do not

user116848

9:58 PM

Me neither

user116848

@snailboat Who's Mark Shepherd?

Anonymous

@Arrowfar The author of the book of exercises they're working through, I believe

user116848

I see. So why the filtering for that name? :-) (I didn't get the joke)

Anonymous

It wasn't a joke

Anonymous

Their questions have Mark Shepherd in the title

user116848

10:01 PM

Ah, that

He (or possibly she) appears to be trying to get into law school somewhere, and is cramming for tests.

user116848

I didn't notice

Maybe it's Mark Shepherd, running a guerrilla SEO operation.

Anonymous

So when I see that, I decide to skip the question.

Anonymous

Some of them are getting closed.

Anonymous

10:02 PM

This question is off-topic because it is not about understanding English, it's about understanding and applying the logical difference between inference and statement. — Codeswitcher 4 hours ago

@HostileFork He's doing a great job of arguing with himself, then. But I guess that's par for the course among lawyers.

I think it's time to put in a proposal for markshepherd.stackexchange.com

A place for all things Mark Shepherd

"When Mark Shepherd said he had lunch, is he signifying that he actually ate it... or that he merely was in possession of a lunch, that he no longer possesses but may or may not have eaten?"

"And if he indeed is found to have had lunch in the consumptive sense, was his consumption marked by mens rea, a willful intention to consume?"

Anonymous

I don't see this kind of question as being pertinent to this site. You are asking about the content of a particular English-language excerpt. AFAICT there is no question here about the language used in that excerpt (or elsewhere). IOW, this is about logic, not language. — Drew yesterday

Anonymous

This question appears to be off-topic because there is no clear question about English. — 200_success 24 hours ago

Anonymous

10:14 PM

This question appears to be off-topic because it is about Comprehension of a specific text, not learning the English Language as stated in the FAQ. — user3169 22 hours ago

Anonymous

Again, you seem to have no trouble understanding the English of the cited text. Your question seems to be about how what is said relates to the question posed in the test: it is about the content behind the text and not about understanding what the text says. Should be off-topic, IMO. This is like asking about the content of a piece of physics text, where you understand the text but do not understand the ideas conveyed by it. — Drew yesterday

Anonymous

This question appears to be off-topic because it is about reading comprehension, not specifically an issue with language. — ColleenV yesterday

Anonymous

If people don't think these questions are appropriate, maybe some sort of meta post would be in order

Respondents of the World, Unite! You have nothing to lose but Mark Shepherd.

This could be more sinister, however. Perhaps it's an attempt to soil Mark Shepherd's good name, by a competing legal author.

Perhaps a meta post making it clear that just because English is not your native language, every question you have about texts written in English isn't fair game.

10:18 PM

Or an insidious attempt to undermine the American Judicial System by discouraging the best and brightest immigrants from participating.

There's also LeP's string of "I-know-what-the-word-means-but-Why-does-it-mean-that?" questions.

user116848

+3 Stars and counting. Good one! Mr B :-)

Uncle Karl always comes through in a pinch.

I think asking questions is good, so it's a balance to give feedback, that says "you're overloading the system"... not "you shouldn't be asking the question".

user116848

Yes that is a good response.

In a perfect world, you could ask all day long.

user116848

10:22 PM

A much nicer one :-)

The Programmers.SE people have really ticked me off, and a couple other sites here too.

user116848

@StoneyB Uncle Karl always comes through in a pinch?? If you don't mind me asking

And if I hadn't been on StackOverflow for so long, I'm certain arriving now I'd be furious at the "welcome wagon" and not come back

Karl Marx, who I stole "X of the world unite!" from.

I think it's important to be kind to the curious.

user116848

10:26 PM

@HostileFork I agree

@HostileFork What did they do to you?

@StoneyB I asked reasonable questions... they downvoted and attacked and some 20k rep guy actually literally wrote I asked a "shit question"... although he had the only actual answer to it... when in reality, it was a fine thing to ask... had no sense of humor as well.

He did delete the "shit question" comment, or maybe a moderator did

But not before I could get pissed off

Not nice. There are less - aggressive ways of saying things.

Anyway, it came on the heels of me asking a question on there inspired from something on here actually

Which was poorly received

In any case, I'm done with those guys. And like I said, I really should be done with StackOverflow proper... it's... a bit of a catastrophe.

Certainly a cautionary tale for any other network site here about how to deal with growth.

When I first arrived on ELU I spotted a handful of folks doing basically the same thing to English learners - that's why I jumped on the ELL bandwagon that RegDwight had just launched.

I didn't get the impression it was a community-wide attitude there: but I felt the ELLs needed a room where they would feel welcome.

Besides, their questions were more interesting!

10:35 PM

Well, keep it nice. Although in the "You can't handle the truth!" fashion of Jack Nicholson, the angry experienced people will shout that "nice doesn't scale!"

user116848

It's very good to have you here Mr B :-)

user116848

I like your answers too

user116848

Me too. I hate mean teachers.

user116848

Or anyone who is mean to a learner

Thank you, Arrowfar. I like my answers, too. More fun than TV.

10:36 PM

This isn't TV?

user116848

lol

(pokes at screen)

I'm not really a language expert, I just ...

Play one on the Internets.

"I'm not really an actor..."

But I really was an actor.

10:38 PM

I went to film school.

And I'm a video editor now. What goes around gets dizzy.

Editing is fun. And once you know how, you can even enjoy bad movies by watching the edits.

I saw like... Anaconda 7 or something... and was just laughing at the editing job.

Regrettably, however, you cannot enjoy bad movies by performing the edits.

Oh, I was laughing sympathetically

My sound editing teacher worked on Sling Blade, and Billy Bob Thornton told him he wanted everything authentic... "no recordings of crickets"... it had to be all real

muttering ****** **** footage what am I supposed to do with this **** **** ****

10:42 PM

And he was going "what... the... hell...?"

And he just did a normal sound design job on it

And to this day, perhaps, unless he reads this chat

Billy Bob Thornton believes they went out and held microphones up to crickets

Or could somehow mix decent atmospheric audio from on-location recordings

Our mantra is "Never limit your imagination. That's what the client is for." Substitute producer for client.

@StoneyB Little editing gag I shared the other day in here: metaeducation.com/video/simons-cat-meets-dave-gahan

Can't put it on YouTube because of automated censors.

Oh great god of copyright, may I worship at your temple.

Gorgeous. Cutting to the music's one thing, but I do like people who cut to the lyrics too.

I thought it was fun. But whatever animation syndicate Simon's in had an automated flag thrown on it on YouTube immediately.

Funny it wasn't Dave Gahan's syndicate.

Who needs to see it is Tofield. And prolly Gahan.

10:53 PM

Yeah, I mentioned, I need to send it more personal-like to him

It originated from an accidental juxtaposition when I had the song playing while watching the cat abusing the guy and thought "hm, I could probably put these together"

That's happened a few times now, where I'll have music playing and see something and think "wait, that kind of goes together" and "I should make a video" (in the universe where I have infinite time. which sometimes seems like this universe. I am talking here now, after all...)

@snailboat: did you see John Lawler echoing your comments on CGEL's terminology?

O noes, there's linguistics now? :-/

Could StackExchange slow down and learn how to manage existing traffic?

And--here's a crazy idea--listen to feature requests and maybe implement one or two?

@HostileFork Linguistics is a lot older than ELL. And it's 95% real linguistics. Well, maybe 92%. The cranks and wide-eyes show up there, but they don't stick around.

I enjoyed linguistics in college, took two classes, read "The Language Instinct", etc. But I didn't stick with it.

I was a linguistics minor in college - I originally intended to do Germanic philology, but got sidetracked. And then when I was in grad school structuralism was the hot new critical theory, and thanks to my linguistics background I was the only guy in the department, student or faculty, who understood what it was about.

... I have to run now and make dinner for my hardworking son.