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Peculiarities of the English LanguageThe English language poses one of the most challenging learning opportunities a non-native speaker can face. Because of irregularities, inconsistencies and the oft repeated ?exceptions to the rule?, the learner will face challenges that even the native speaker may have difficulty with due to the fluid and changing nature of the language. English is the child of many languages including Greek, Latin, French and German. But many languages have punctuated and been adopted in the English language. For example, from Sanskrit comes the word ?guru?. Due to the contributory nature of other languages and absorption into the English language, the diversity seems to lend credit to the many peculiarities of the English language. Some specifics seem to be anomalies that we accept as truth. For example: ?I can produce produce.? This indicates two separate meanings, two separate pronunciations and two separate uses in the sentence structutre. The first use of produce is a verb meaning one can make something and the second is used as a noun which means vegetables or other grown matter. But it is correctly used back to back in the same sentence and meaning is understood. While these are known as homonyms, there are no rules as to which words can be used as such. English plurals can also cause problems for the foreign learner. Usually adding and ?s? or and ?es? will satisfy the plural state of the word but in English there are many exceptions that are confusing to the student. For example, the plural of thief is thieves, or the plural of mouse is mice. To even further cause perplexity you can pluralize box to boxes but ox becomes oxen. And if the plural of tooth is teeth, why doesn?t the plural of booth become beeth? Many of the nuances are picked up by native speakers through years of training, education and simple listening and modeling others. English also has an illogical twist to it. For example there are no pines or apples in pineapple, nor are there eggs in eggplants. Boxing rings are square and quicksand is actually slow. If a vegetarian eats vegetables why doesn?t a humanitarian eat humans? We take English for granted and some complex and innate learning from being a native speaker should always be appreciated especially when teaching others the language. Sometimes it is okay to say ?I don?t know. It is just a rule of the language.? English also has another facet in its intricacy that comes from use in different countries as a native language. There is vernacular and slang to consider, different spellings, and pronunciation. It would be important for beginners of the language to not be distracted by these complexities and should be introduced to them in the more advanced stages of learning. It is important to focus on grammar, sentence structure and the rules of English that are not exceptions to the rule. While one cannot ignore these exceptions, to focus on them or try to teach something that ?just is? would distract the student and cause confusion. By simply telling the students that English is difficult and they will find many inconsistencies and exceptions, it is important to move on to learn the heart of the language so they can learn to communicate and the students can increase their level of fluency in later learning courses. BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.anadubawi.com/ www.mngogate.com www.usingenglish.com
