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 Fri Oct 19, 2007 21:22 pm How romantic is English? |
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I'll offer this: Romeo catches sight of Juliet on her balcony in Shakespeare's play:
| Quote: | It is my lady; O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!--
She speaks, yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answer it.--
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.--
See how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek! |
Alan
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Alan
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| Sat Oct 20, 2007 4:41 am How romantic is English? |
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| Quote: | How romantic do you find the English language is? Are words of love and affection more romantic when expressed in English compared to your mother tongue?
For native speakers of English who speak other than English, what is your take on this? Do you find any other language more romantic than English?
Just wondering. |
Well, I don't know if English is romantic. But I prefer reading English novels to my native language novels.  |
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Nicholas
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| Sat Oct 20, 2007 5:32 am How romantic is English? |
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| This is a tough question, Nina, because often people who speak a second or third language never get a feel for emotional expressions, such as cuss words or romantic words. So even if a person speaks a couple of different languages, I don't think he or she is equipped to distinguish between them when it comes to whether the language is romantic or not. |
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Jamie (K)
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| Sat Oct 20, 2007 16:59 pm How romantic is English? |
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I'm not too sure about Shakespeare being romantic (I apologise for my lack of 16th century adeptness), but I'm sure that English can express romantic feelings just as well as any other language. I probably feel closest to English, so I think that the language sounds very romantic, even when performed by an American country singer. 
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Ralf
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| Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:28 am How romantic is English? |
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| NinaZara wrote: | | How romantic do you find the English language is? |
Try listening to Nightwish (Sleeping Sun, Come Cover me, Nemo, Over the hills and far away) or Blackmore's Night (Village Lantern, Streets of London) - you'll be amazed how good one may combine the words that may sound not so romantic when standing alone 
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aereal
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| Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:55 am How romantic is English? |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: | | people who speak a second or third language never get a feel for emotional expressions, such as cuss words or romantic words. |
Because you, English teachers, never bother to teach us anything about cuss words/expressions !
In passing, I just watched a movie (Office space) and from it learnt one vulgar expression: Take this job and shove it !
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 lost_soul
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| Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:59 am How romantic is English? |
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| lost_soul wrote: | | Jamie (K) wrote: | | people who speak a second or third language never get a feel for emotional expressions, such as cuss words or romantic words. |
Because you, English teachers, never bother to teach us about cuss words/expressions !
In passing, I just watched a movie (Office space) and from it learnt one cuss expression: Take this job and shove it ! |
The problem is that even if a teacher or anyone else teaches you a cuss word or a romantic word, you still don't feel the word the way you would a similar word in your own language. Even in foreign languages I speak reasonably well, I can't feel anything when I'm cussing. That's why people get into trouble getting excessively vulgar in other languages. |
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Jamie (K)
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| Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:03 am How romantic is English? |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: | | The problem is that even if a teacher or anyone else teaches you a cuss word or a romantic word, you still don't feel the word the way you would a similar word in your own language. |
A matter of time, practice, e.t.c.
I certainly feel the f-word much better now than 2 years ago when I could barely use it Sometimes I even find myself saying "goddamit" instead of "Chort poberi"
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Alex
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lost_soul
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| Sun Oct 21, 2007 14:10 pm How romantic is English? |
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| lost_soul wrote: | | In passing, I just watched a movie (Office space) and from it learnt one vulgar expression: Take this job and shove it ! |
Did you ever think of possible contexts or implications when using an expression such as 'shove it'? You won't be making many friends, I'd say.
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Ralf
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| Sun Oct 21, 2007 22:11 pm How romantic is English? |
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I agree with Ralf. As a learner of English you should ask yourself how important it is to you to be able to 'use and feel cuss words'. If you're really ambitious about cuss words and swearing, you should get hired as a garbage man or construction worker at an English speaking company.
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| Fri Oct 26, 2007 21:40 pm How romantic is English? |
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Nina, tell me if you think these sound romantic:
I love you
You light up my life
Your eyes are wondrous, incandescent portals to your lovely soul
You are wonderful
You are beautiful
God broke the mold after he made you
Your daddy must be a thief, because he stole the stars and put them in your eyes.
etc.
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prezbucky
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| Fri Oct 26, 2007 21:44 pm How romantic is English? |
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conversely, things can be said in precious/passionate moments that probably sound rather rough:
-- Let's do it, baby
-- Ooh, you're so hot
-- Is that a mirror in your pocket? 'Cause I've seen myself in your pants all night long.
etc.
hehe
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prezbucky
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| Sat Oct 27, 2007 1:55 am How romantic is English? |
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| "Yo' daddy must be a magician, cuz you sho' got the magic touch!" (followed by magical "boooiiiIINNNG" sound effect. |
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Jamie (K)
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| Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:07 am How romantic is English? |
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Tom,
I definitely think "I love you" is more romantic than "Aku cinta kamu"(I love you in Malay). I don' t know why but I am not comfortable with romantic words in Malay.
Talk later,
Nina
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