English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

I hate abbreviations and symbols that make no sense.

Which one? X?

4:17 AM

Never in my life will I be able to remember which chromosome is which.

Y?

Either.

Do I really have to give you the mnemonic? You shall never, ever forget it.

It is like...diabetes type I, or herpes type I.

No.

4:18 AM

I doubt it.

The Y looks like a tumescent male.

Now you shall never forget.

It is a striking visual mnemonic, you see. )

Not one tied to language.

Hah.

I will try, but...

Think cock.

I will probably forget that there was a mnemonic at all.

I know this can be hard for you, but do please try. :)

4:19 AM

I got it, I got it.

Congratulations!!!

It's just remembering it that is hard.

Few men forget themselves.

It becomes harder with dinosaurs. They have ZW to be female and ZZ to be male.

Sex-determination system

A sex-determination system is a biological system that determines the development of sexual characteristics in an organism. Most sexual organisms have two sexes. Occasionally, there are hermaphrodites in place of one or both sexes. There are also some species that are only one sex due to parthenogenesis, the act of a female reproducing without fertilization. In many species, sex determination is genetic: males and females have different alleles or even different genes that specify their sexual morphology. In animals this is often accompanied by chromosomal differences, generally through combinations...

Funny.

Notice there are never more than two sexes.

4:24 AM

Zz.

I believe some species have more?

Can you think why that might be?

No.

There are steriles, x-noughts.

@tchrist Because that is the smallest number greater than one?

Simplest explanation.

Because there are two helical strands that must combine sexually.

But why are there two strands?

Oh, that’s something else.

4:26 AM

Does an amoeba have DNA?

Binary coding stuff.

Of course.

All animals have DNA.

First of all, an amoeba is a eukaryote.

> How is it that an Amoeba has 200 times the DNA of a human ? An onion 12 times as much. A rasberry has 12% of the DNA of a human wich seems logical. It`s a simpler organism and would require less DNA to produce the fewer attributes to be expressed. As far as I know ,no one has come up with a cohesive answer yet.

@Cerberus So do all plants and all fungi.

4:27 AM

But who says a raspberry is simpler than a human, hmm?

@tchrist Probably...

makes raspberry sound

But perhaps not all bacteria.

The point, though, is that eukaryotes have nuclei where they hide both their nuclear DNA and their mitochondrial DNA, plus all the little messenger RNA and μRNA.

Why do most animals exhibit bilateral symmetry?

We were taught that neither bacteria nor plants had cellular nuclei.

4:30 AM

Even prokaryotes have DNA, but the transfer is asexual.

@Robusto Hmm I thought that had something to do with the way embryos developed...

@Cerberus Bacteria are procaryotes, so no nuclei. Plants are eukaryotes, so yes nuclei.

Hmm.

I’m trying to think what you might be remembering.

Perhaps I was mistaken, then.

Do fungi have cellular nuclei?

4:31 AM

Yes of course. Fungi are closer to animals than to plants.

Why not radial symmetry (like plants) or no symmetry, like slime molds?

@Robusto Rob Rob Rob!

Are they really?

Starfish have radial symmetry.

Starfish.

Cnids have radial symmetry.

4:32 AM

I said most animals.

And sea-urchins.

And sand dollars, sea cucumbers, etc.

But the two are related.

Which two?

Sea ccs too.

Starfish and sea-urchins.

4:33 AM

Leaving out annelids and echinoderms and molluscs.

Cnids cnids cnids!

But ccs too, and sand dollar as well, probably, if I knew what they were.

All of phylum chordata displays bilateral symmetry. Also arthropoda.

@Robusto How about vertebrates?

@Cerberus He said that already.

4:34 AM

Right, arthropods too.

24 secs ago, by Robusto

All of phylum chordata displays bilateral symmetry. Also arthropoda.

Hey, I can't read while I type.

22 secs ago, by tchrist

@Cerberus He said that already.

11 secs ago, by Cerberus

Hey, I can't read why I type.

> cnicin [n.]
cnicnode [n.]
ˈcnictrope ← cnicnode
‖ cnida [n.]
ˈcnidoblast ← cnida
ˈcnidocell ← cnida
ˈcnidocil ← cnida
ˈcnidocyst ← cnida
cniˈdogenous [adj.] ← cnida
ˈcnidophore ← cnida
ˈcnidosac ← cnida

4:35 AM

While, dammit.

I don't know why you type. I can read what you type.

Cerb, do you know what cnidae are?

I figure you should because it has a pain-in-the-Greek-ass consonant cluster.

It does sound Greek. But they are no organisms, are they?

They are bits.

Cnidaria are a phylum.

Kwallen?

4:37 AM

Jellies.

You have such a funny name in English.

> ǁ cnida /ˈknaɪdə/. Zool.
Pl. cnidæ.

Etymology: mod.L., a. Gr. κνίδη nettle.

The nettle cell (urticating, or thread cell) of the Cœlenterata (jelly-fish, hydra, etc.), in which their power of stinging resides: usually called nematocyst. Hence combining form cnido-, ˈcnidoblast Gr. βλαστός germ, the cell in which a nematocyst is developed; ˈcnidocell = cnida; ˈcnidocil L. cilium, cf. cil, the external irritable ciliary process of a cnidoblast; ˈcnidocyst, a nematocyst; cniˈdogenous a., producing or containing nematocysts; ˈcnidophore Gr. -φορος bearing, a process bearing a ‘battery’ of cn…

Cnidaria

Cnidaria (/naɪˈdɛəriə/) is a phylum containing over 10,000 species of animals found exclusively in aquatic and mostly marine environments. Their distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that they use mainly for capturing prey. Their bodies consist of mesoglea, a non-living jelly-like substance, sandwiched between two layers of epithelium that are mostly one cell thick. They have two basic body forms: swimming medusae and sessile polyps, both of which are radially symmetrical with mouths surrounded by tentacles that bear cnidocytes. Both forms have a single orifice and body cavity...

NB radial symmetry.

@Cerberus Well, I grant you that they are no fish.

Then again, what is a fish anyway?

A starfish is not a fish, now is it?

Which is why we use a non-silly name.

A starfish is no more a fish than a seahorse is a horse.

Zeester.

4:40 AM

Tengo que ir a dormir.

Tengo que dormir(me).

@tchrist Or a sea cucumber is a cucumber. Or a sea.

What does tengo mean in this context?

They don’t go to sleep with ir, unless you mean leaving.

I intend to?

4:40 AM

I hafta.

@Cerberus have to

Ah.

have => have to

It’s Tenho in Portuguese.

Que with an infinitive, eh?

4:41 AM

Yes.

I asked a question about that on Linguistics, because I found it odd.

Tengo que = I have to.

tengo que ir a la cama

And I believe I was told they disapprove of that construction in Portugal.

As oppose to ir a, which take "to" or venir de which takes "from".

Q: Why the infinitive in Portuguese "Cartago tem que ser destruída"?

4:42 AM

6

Cartago tem que ser destruída. "Carthage must be destroyed." I'm wondering about the infinitive (ser): where does it come from? In what situations is the infinitive used after que: only with ter + que, or also with other verbs? It looks strange to me, because I don't know of any similar con...

Brazilian?

buenas noches

Night falls, and snow.

1 min ago, by Cerberus

And I believe I was told they disapprove of that construction in Portugal.

Adios.

Well, there exists both ter amado and haver amado for making the compound tenses. Nobody in Portugal ever says haver there, but some write it. I'm not sure about Brazilians.

Now you’re making me think of more verbs that take que.

He de decir que hay varios. Tengo que decir que hay varios.

You can use "haber de" for "tener que". It is less strong, further from "must".

4:48 AM

It is more proper.

I’ve gotta say there are various.

I hafta/must say there are various.

He de isn't more proper, just lighter in tone. It is more common in writing I think, but don't quote me on that.

As I said, I was told ter que was disapproved of in P.

Meanwhile, the hour of sleepytime is fast approaching.

The computer will shut down in ten minutes.

It is really hard to keep all the periphrastic tense constructions straight between the Iberian languages. I believe that Catalan use "vou a" for something very different than you would think, like for pasts not futures. I get quite confused.

Yes, time to dose.

Venir de?

To slumber, not to drug oneself.

4:51 AM

Doze?

Je viens de te l’expliquer.

It is the same in French, no?

l'

Well, yes.

I have just explained it to you.

I hesitate because "te" + "(l)o" makes a contraction in Portuguese.

4:52 AM

Non pas en français.

Right.

Dutch is so much simpler.

heh

We have moeten and that's about it.

For musting? :)

4:53 AM

Yes.

Ich möchte

The construction with hebben is...complicated, but not practical in practice.

That is from mögen, not müssen.

Waaaaa

But of course.

And we do not have it in Dutch.

Ah.

Morgan? Have you morgan? :)

4:54 AM

Ik zou [inf].

We have mogen.

But it has two meanings.

Already, even. :)

Which two?

To like (less common), to be allowed to.

German has only to like, I believe.

And the Dutch like only takes nouns, not infs, normally.

> Ik mag hem niet.

Oh right, Dutchland measured land area in morgens.

That is true.

It takes one morning to plow a morning of land.

Only takes nouns, odd.

Now I have to wait for two minutes.

4:57 AM

It sounds really old fashioned if you use an infinitive after.

Why two?

Vengeance. :)

And you can only do it if you add something like graag, or it will mean "be allowed to", not "like".

In three minutes, I shut down.

So it has no "must" sense at all?

Oh, now it's two.

No must sense at all.

Nor does it have that in German.

30 seconds

4:58 AM

What!

2 minutes before 6 here.

I caught you not plufffing.

Pluffing?

You plowed like a normal person.

Did I?

You did.

4:59 AM

Where?

1 minute...

3 mins ago, by Cerberus

It takes one morning to plow a morning of land.

Oh, I see I did.

Even the best dog...

I’m sensitive to these things. :)

Sleep!

No more pluffing but your pillow.

Limerick Machine: I think I should give up my job As working is making me sob But being poor will Make me very ill …

5:40 AM

This is unusual:

1

Q: What exactly is a podcast?

I'm asked to prepare a 'podcast' in the form of an audio file. Should I structure it like a speech of some sorts? Formal/Informal? I can't find a 'podcast' definition anywhere.

meaning

SmokeDetector

6:22 AM

[ SmokeDetector ] Repeating words in answer: Is there a correct techincal term used to describe a phrase or name consisting of a pair or group of homonyms; i.e., "Spring Spring?" by KLH on english.stackexchange.com

Stack Exchange

11:21 AM

posted on February 21, 2015 by sgdi

I think I should give up my job As working is making me sob But being poor will Make me very ill I guess there are banks I could rob

Q: Difference between “marque”, "make", "mark" and “brand”?

11:58 AM

0

What would be the difference between marque, make, mark and brand?

differences nouns

0

Q: Difference between “site”, "place", "position", "situation" and “location”?

What would be the difference between site, place, position, situation and location ?

differences nouns

0

Q: Difference between 'mistake', 'fault', 'wrong' and 'error'?

I want to know the difference ,in usage, between mistake, fault, wrong and error?

differences nouns

Looks like this guy is synonym-trolling.

I'd say get a thesaurus.

1:07 PM

> Snow accumulations... 10 to 16 inches... with up to 20 inches in the foothills west and southwest of Denver.

1:18 PM

@tchrist Maybe Albuquerque is a better bet for me.

Heh.

I'm in the foothills northwest of Denver. We’ll see what difference that makes. :)

So people should avoid unnecessary travel today. It will go away. The base was almost down to zero, and was so in most places.

Denver said it may mobilize its fleet of 96 light trucks to plow out one center lane in residential areas. They don't do that very often.

We only plow main street because it melts soon enough that it doesn't build up and leave ice and ruts.

Normally.

@tchrist ¿Es una sorpresa?

una gran sorpresa

How did he leave without leaving tracks around?

So it seems words ending in -ción and -edad are feminine. ¿Es cierto?

Yes.

I cannot think of any exceptions.

1:33 PM

la inflacion tiene importantes efectos sobre la sociedad

Con una sola efe.

si, justo, lo corrijo

> You can now read 73% of all real Spanish text

I wonder what my number will be when I finish this course. I expect about 80%?

Well, I don’t know how they measure these things.

Not clear to me either.

Whatever the number, the price was right: free.

And if this was a catalyst for me actually learning the language: priceless.

1:41 PM

Did you read the article on lo I posted last night?

@crl Mud dried up then he could leave without leaving tracks

This. It is mostly examples.

Matt E. Эллен

Schindler's lift

hehe

@tchrist I don't think so. I went to bed.

I shall read it after I complete my daily lesson(s).

@MattE.Эллен You're speaking with a lifp today.

Matt E. Эллен

1:52 PM

tho I am

weafel

Writer Steve Brust of the Twin Cities says that the Boston snows are impressive even by Minnesota standards. (He just visited there.)

@tchrist: I fell asleep to a Spanish-language film last night. Can't say I understood much of it.

Ooh sleep lessons.

2:08 PM

There wasn't a lot of dialogue.

But it seemed oddly compelling.

There are plenty of Spanish-language films worth seeing.

And across numerous genres.

I still haven’t seen Vigo Mortensen’s Alatriste yet.

Hello.

@Robusto I find it very hard to follow a French film too (wouldn't even try Spanish).

Reading is so much easier, luckily.

2:25 PM

@Cerberus But you don't really know a language until you can converse in it.

Why not?

Depends on what you use it for.

Se usa una lengua para conversar, charlar, platicar, dialogar, monologar, discutir, parlamentar, orar, relatar, anunciar, disertar, discursear, responder, denunciar, y explicarse.

But for reading, one uses one's eyes.

It’s nice to be able to read literature and poetry.

And newspapers. And food labels.

2:41 PM

@Cerberus I use it for knowing the language. And oral aspects are part of that.

It would be odd to say that you can read without knowing a language.

@tchrist Then what is language in Spanish?

@Cerberus The same as everywhere: una lengua, un idioma, un lenguaje.

Limerick Machine: I’d sing you a song about fish Or one about making a wish There is but one song I...

@Cerberus So if we were all in a room together speaking English, how do you think you would fare?

Stack Exchange

posted on February 21, 2015 by sgdi

I’d sing you a song about fish Or one about making a wish There is but one song I won’t sing along The one with my head on a dish

@tchrist So you were just messing with us, hmm.

@Robusto How do you mean? I speak English, one has to speak with foreigners all the time.

2:50 PM

That's easy. Just don't talk to them.

I can't produce French in any way, neither in speech nor in writing.

That is, only a little bit.

@Cerberus Do you think you could keep up the sometimes elevated level of conversation we have here if you had to do so orally?

Pah, you call that elevated!

Sure, I could.

I have had similar conversations in English with people.

@Robusto there are many stages of 'knowing'.

Then we need more drunkards shpeakin fashter.

2:52 PM

It's harder with non-native speakers, though.

@Mitch I have made my definition and I stand by it.

Odd how foreigner = English.

@Cerberus OK, inebriated.

@tchrist Foreigners can be anything, English or American or Belarussian.

@Robusto Better.

I find it easier to understand people speaking in other languages if they are Americans speaking that language. The native speakers of that language have such an outrageous accent it's hard to hear.

2:53 PM

SCOTTISH!

@Robusto you have a definition? there are many stages of 'definition'

@Mitch Yes, people of your own language make mistakes that are easier to recognise for you in a foreign language.

Flemish is a fringe case: on the one hand, they have our grammar; on the other hand, they have a very different accent in English, more like a French accent.

Flamingo, Flamenco: let’s call the whole thing off.

@tchrist For example? Amores Perros taught me basically only profanity. Useful for stubbing your toe, but not for asking the lady next door for a cup of carrots.

Every trial in Spanish is of the juiciest kind.

2:57 PM

@Robusto The spanish pomegranates are the juiciest.

I remember talking to an American, Christian mother of four through MSN Messenger or something, when I was 16.

Joke on el juicio