How can I tell the difference?

Brian Huang · #1 (permalink) Fri Mar 07, 2008 15:00 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

When someone says" A is his brother", does it mean" A is his big brother" or "A is his little brother"? I'm confused.

So how can I identify the exact meaning of the speaker?

Thanks in advance.

Alan · #2 (permalink) Fri Mar 07, 2008 15:25 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

Hi,

It would be a case of saying 'younger' 'older' or even 'twin' brother.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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Brian Huang · #3 (permalink) Fri Mar 07, 2008 16:01 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

Thanks for your reply, Alan

You mean, we can only get the answer in the light of the concrete situation in which the speaker talks?

I don't know if you've seen the latest Pixar film "Ratatouille", in this movie, a rat called Remy has a brother named Emile, so Emile is Remy's younger brother or older brother, when Remy introduced Emile is his brother?

Jamie (K) · #4 (permalink) Sat Mar 08, 2008 13:20 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

In Chinese you have different words for different types of brothers and sisters, based on their comparative ages and their position in the birth order.

English doesn't have words of that type, and if we think it matters whether the brother or sister is younger or older, we just say, "younger brother", "older brother", "big brother", "little brother", "oldest brother", "middle brother", etc. Most of the time we don't think that information is important, so we just say "brother". If you want to know the comparative ages, you either have to ask, or you have to figure it out from the context. In English speaking society, we don't think age relationships are very important a lot of the time.

Brian Huang · #5 (permalink) Sat Mar 08, 2008 13:59 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

Thank you, Jamie.
This time I know better. and this question is finished now.
People in different Society do have a lot of differences. and this forum is a great place that help us disminish that difference and make us understand each other better.
BTW, I think you must know a lot about Chinese, don't you?

Jamie (K) · #6 (permalink) Sat Mar 08, 2008 14:00 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

Brian Huang · #7 (permalink) Sat Mar 08, 2008 14:08 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

It is weird, if you know a lot about Chinese people, how can you only know a little about Chinese?

Jamie (K) · #8 (permalink) Sat Mar 08, 2008 14:10 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

Because Chinese people speak English to me.

Brian Huang · #9 (permalink) Sat Mar 08, 2008 14:13 pm *How can I tell the difference?*

Oh, I see, you can communicate with Chinese people only in English.

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