English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

Robusto

12:05 AM

@KitFox How do you like being a mod so far? Are you drunk with power yet? Or paralyzed by indecision?

KitFox

@Robusto Drunk and paralyzed.

6

Q: A word or phrase to express "écrivain engagé", a committed writer?

I'm looking for an English expression as I'd like to form a special interest group on the international level. In French, the expression is écrivain engagé. This is along the lines of "literature of commitment" which is defined as follows: "Literature of commitment" is the act, for a writer ...

phrase-requests

Here, I think this is more or less ready to be reopened.

It's got three reopen votes on it.

I made some edits.

I replied to the OP on Meta.

0

Q: Confusion on a topic and a request for reopening?

I'm not sure why this topic has been bounced between two language sites so could you offer suggestions on improving this question. This is definitely a request for English Language & Usage. Thanks in advance. "Écrivain engagé", a committed writer?

support

Do what you will.

I'm off to watch TV with my husband.

user19161

12:52 AM

@KitFox Have a good one.

Mitch

@SpareOom yeah that's what I was asking I guess.

@Cerberus like what spareoom said, what is the extent of your programming ability.

@JasperLoy: is it good morning for you?

user19161

@Mitch It's about 9 am, so yes.

Mitch

evening here

user19161

And then there was the morning, and the evening, and the first day ended.

user19161

Then Mitch said, let there be wine!

user19161

12:56 AM

And there was wine.

Mitch

what? No. turning into wine just ruins good grape juice.

and sangria ruins both

user19161

Carlo seems to be really gone.

user19161

And he thought I could see his email.

user19161

Hello @theta! Long time.

Theta30

@Jasper Yes. Hello

user19161

1:09 AM

@Theta30 Has your pronunciation been improving?

Theta30

Thanks for you remembering. Some things improved (more often I correctly place "i"'s) but still I have problems. I have some ideas how to improve such as recording myself

user19161

You can just keep listening to native speakers of course. Even watching movies helps.

Theta30

I think recording myself is a good idea. I can hear how I mumble some words. Speaking too low is an issue. So now I can consciously raise my voice

And you? I remember you had to do some "steps" with low probability for something to succeed

I voted for JSB but he didnt win

Cerberus

1:42 AM

@Mitch My programming ability is next to nothing. I've never taken any classes or courses or anything. I can only do stuff in Autohotkey. I wrote a program in Autohotkey that switches to IPA notation when needed. And some other stuff. But that's all. I came to this site through Superuser and English.

You?

cornbread ninja

2:01 AM

@Cerberus yay autohotkey

@Mitch what is the extent of your programming ability?

Cerberus

2:13 AM

@cornbreadninja Is that your extent too?

cornbread ninja

@Cerberus no sir

I have programmed the Java and the Android.

Cerberus

Oh, cool.

tchrist

3:28 AM

0

A: How do I pronounce Gaudí, the architect?

In my neck of the woods... like Audi (the car). This is, however - not to say that my forest-friends know "their butts" from a Seat.

I couldn’t help myself.

0

A: How do I pronounce Gaudí, the architect?

The closest approximation to how a Spaniard, whether Castilian or Catalan, would say Gaudí is as [ga̠u̯ˈð̞i]. That won’t sound very English, of course. That’s because the second consonant is not one that occurs in English, and English-speakers often struggle to hear it clearly at all. Tha...

Mahnax

4:47 AM

@Cerberus Don't worry, I'm not clueless.

user19161

7:36 AM

@Mahnax Boo!

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Hi! Did you enjoy your birthday?

user19161

@Mahnax Well, just like any other, but I am having some wine right now.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Ooh, fancy. What kind?

user19161

@Mahnax Something white. I think it's a burgundy or something like that.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Interesting. I tried a cheap wine once and I did not like it, but I imagine that better wines would be nice.

user19161

7:40 AM

@Mahnax Well, I prefer the red wines I think. They seem more aromatic.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy The one I tried was red, but like I said, it was very cheap.

user19161

1

Q: What does "When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth" mean?

I found this quote by George Bernard Shaw: When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth. Can anyone please explain the meaning of this sentence?

meaning saying

user19161

OT

Mahnax

My vote is already cast, good sir.

user19161

0

Q: Is ‘then’ of ‘now and then’ past or future?

Then is commoly used for things happened in both the past and future. In a common phrase now and then, it is a bit obscure for me if then is past or future? Could anyone help?

phrases time

user19161

7:41 AM

GR

user19161

-2

Q: "Have been + past participle" vs. "have + past participle"

What's the difference between the following constructions of present perfect: I've been waiting for you for seven years. I've waited for you for seven years.

present-perfect-tense

user19161

Also, I think this question deserves upvotes and not downvotes.

user19161

@Mahnax Yours is exactly 2 months from now, heh.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Yes indeed.

Although I will not have a party for my birthday this year.

user19161

@Mahnax Well, we can have a party in this chat!

Mahnax

7:45 AM

@JasperLoy Haha.

Do you remember the New Year's party?

user19161

@Mahnax You had one at your friend's.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy I mean the one we had in here.

user19161

@Mahnax There wasn't really any, sad panda.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Oh, maybe you're right.

We must have a real one next time!

user19161

@Mahnax Yes, I hope I am still alive then!

Mahnax

7:47 AM

@JasperLoy As do I.

user19161

@Mahnax Oh, did I tell you I switched back to original from spicy KFC?

Mahnax

@JasperLoy I think so.

I have never tried spicy KFC.

user19161

@Mahnax Too bad they stopped having potato salad long long long ago...

Mahnax

@JasperLoy We still have potato salad here.

user19161

@Mahnax I imagine the chickens there must be much bigger, hehe.

Mahnax

7:50 AM

@JasperLoy It's possible, but I would think not.

user19161

@Mahnax But I really hope the chickens are killed humanely, they are life too. Pamerla Anderson was campaigning for this a while ago.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Humane killing is a bit of an oxymoron.

To some, that is.

user19161

@Mahnax In a sense, yes. In another, no.

Mahnax

It would be nice if they are killed humanely, but it all depends on the farm.

user19161

I watched a docu showing pigs being slaughtered.

user19161

7:52 AM

They are first electrocuted to black them out.

Mahnax

Hmm.

user19161

But sometimes this does not work too well.

user19161

So you hear the pig squealing as they are butchered with the knife.

Mahnax

23

A: Term for "Death by Lack of Water"

Dehydration might be the word you're looking for: He died from dehydration.

I hate this answer.

user19161

So one day I might go vegetarian.

Mahnax

7:53 AM

@JasperLoy I have considered that as well, actually.

Perhaps not seriously yet, but maybe someday.

user19161

@Mahnax I just ... , shh ...

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Figured.

user19161

@Mahnax Yes, that is a hallmark of all great men like us.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Ha! First you lump us together as fools, and now as great men?

@JasperLoy How much wine have you had?

user19161

@Mahnax Well, my words have over 9000 nuances. JLO is not wrong, he is just mysterious...

Mahnax

7:54 AM

@JasperLoy Hehe.

user19161

@Mahnax Have you changed a lot since the last time? If so, it would be nice to see a new pic of yours.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy No, not really. My hair is shorter, but other than that, not much has changed.

user19161

@Mahnax OK, maybe a few more years then.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Sure.

You are avoiding my inquiry regarding the vin, I see.

user19161

@Mahnax Not much, just about half a mug.

Mahnax

7:57 AM

@JasperLoy You are drinking wine out of a mug?

Huh.

user19161

@Mahnax I poured it into my usual metallic mug.

Mahnax

@JasperLoy Oh, that makes sense.

user19161

@Mahnax I'm off, don't sleep too late!

Mahnax

@JasperLoy OK. Bye!

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English Language & Usage: Multi-Layer…