We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.
quote by Booker T. Washington
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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His vocabulary
her vocabulary
every word fits into its space
like a classroom
her vocabulary
each word carries its own weight
as it files into my mind
her vocabulary
notes of the morning birds
that strain to sing
her vocabulary
my mind polished
like silver
her vocabulary
the calisthenics of her mind
in my mind
her vocabulary
the precision of her mind
etched onto my heart
her vocabulary
sublime as a glass of
evening whisky
her vocabulary
strikes like
glitters of diamonds
his vocabulary
my brain has no space
to breathe
his vocabulary
every piece of writing
has become a thesis
his vocabulary
he asks to take him
as he is
his vocabulary
she feels he is not true
to his own feelings
his vocabulary
she asks it is weaned from
dictionary or experience
his vocabulary
she asks he is out to impress
or express
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Pronunciation Problem
Easily written poems mixing
languages Indonesian plus English.
Alas fatal flaw is found in
communication pronunciation problem.
Rhyming Indonesian words are
incorrectly pronounced by English speakers.
Compounding this problem English
is spoken by very few Indonesians.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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This African American Vernacular English shares most of its grammar and vocabulary with other dialects of English. But it is distinct in many ways, and it is more different from standard English than any other dialect spoken in continental North America.
quote by William Labov
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It's like there are all these languages available, especially in terms of image. Why confine yourself to only English? There's all these languages and possibilities and concepts to speak or communicate with.
quote by William Wiley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The two most misused words in the entire English vocabulary are love and friendship. A true friend would die for you, so when you start trying to count them on one hand, you don't need any fingers.
quote by Larry Flynt
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Beat It
They told him don't you ever come around here
Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear
The fire's in their eyes and the words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it
You better run, you better do what you can
Don't wanna see no blood, don't be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
Just beat it, beat it, beat it
No one wants to be defeated
Showin' how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
Just beat it, beat it
They're out to get you, better leave while you can
Don't wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it, just beat it
You have to show them that you're really not scared
You're playing with your life, this ain't no truth or dare
They'll kick you, then they beat you
Then they'll tell you it's fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
song performed by by Unseen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bullock cart
I am not here
To pull the bullock cart only.
I want to know english
The window to knowledge and west.
Welcome welcome
Welcome to the world
To a great spectacle of languages.
My language is frist and primary
English is secondary and necessary.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
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The f word and me
The other day we discussed reasons
why people use
the magical f word.
a Young woman is of the opinion
that it’s because of a lack of imperfect language,
where a person’s vocabulary
lacks other words to use.
I think that there are many more other reasons
to slip in everywhere
and that vocabulary
has very little
or nothing to do with it.
One thing that can incite it
is exposure,
where people hear it
hundreds of times
every day
like in an army.
Subsequently without intention
it becomes part of your conversation
and your own vocabulary,
without drawing any attention
with yourself.
The word f is a power word
that give colour intensity
to the meanings of other words
and it can underline, emphasize
or lift some out.
You can also use it as a word
that has many meanings
and use it like a good shifting spanner
that shift for meaning values.
This word can also
be almost any word type
that gives bigger power
to other words used with it.
The thing that really matters
what others read
in the meaning of my words
and if I loose integrity by using it.
There are times
my mother wants to catch a fit
when I use the f word
and not from the meaning
of my words,
but from the negative context
that can be drawn with the word
and the easy transfer
of the word on children that hear my dialogue.
[With thanks to Skymaster, whose article inspired this poem.]
poem by Gert Strydom
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Incorrect
Of a reckless life,
Of a reckless act,
Of the windows of the odds in a society without a clue;
How many clues do i have to give before you make the right decision?
Come back to reality and come to the truth.
You are scurried away like bats and,
I am with the timid crowd outside;
But, come back to reality to gain your status in life.
Of my day,
Of your days,
Of our time to share together in life;
Sometimes we have to play together before we get what we want.
Soon it is time to get dressed for an occasion,
But do slide down to listen to the story;
Like love under the greenwood tree.
Reckless life and reckless acts,
When are my people going to learn? !
To the teacher,
To the soldier,
And to the farmer;
The mistake of the nights are vocabulary incorrect!
The variety of literature,
The exploration of my mind on paper;
But, is this the drama? !
Of words and deeds,
Of visions and missions,
Words without thoughts do not go to heaven!
But i am courageously impressed than a discouraged mouse.
I am bravery than a coward ice and,
I don't have to live a reckless life;
No, it is mathematically incorrect! !
Compare my status and compare my masculine acts of my impetus,
For i am vocabulary named after a King like the muse of my mind.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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The business, task or object of the scientific study of languages will if possible be 1) to trace the history of all known languages. Naturally this is possible only to a very limited extent and for very few languages.
quote by Ferdinand de Saussure
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In fact, eloquence in English will inevitably make use of the Latin element in our vocabulary.
quote by Robert Fitzgerald
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Be You Pursued
Be you pursued!
This day.
Be you,
With patience kept.
Freed of memories,
Bringing tears to eyes...
Once wept now dry.
Be you pursued!
This day.
With a closed not to openly inspect,
Treasure chest.
Waiting for that special one to come,
And identify a suffering done now overcomed to go.
With a showering of light that bestows clear and cloudless sky.
Be You,
Pursued.
Don't give away what has been given to you,
As a gift...
For all that you have been through.
Reveal that treasured chest to only the best.
To an open heart that connects and sparks start.
Protect your assets.
With the best invest your mind and time.
Be you now pursued!
With a self worth you know is valued.
To be recognized by the one who knows life...
As you do too!
Be you...
Pursued to be cherished.
And be loved by the one for you,
Who is true.
Be you now that one pursued.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Science gives us a powerful vocabulary, and it is impossible to produce a vocabulary with which one can only say nice things.
quote by John Charles Polanyi
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Those who prefer their English sloppy have only themselves to thank if the advertisement writer uses his mastery of the vocabulary and syntax to mislead their weak minds.
quote by Dorothy L. Sayers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When I Borrow
I borrow some blue from the sky,
Pour them on my sadness
And living becomes joy!
I borrow some laughter from the spring,
Rub them over my face
And returns my happiness!
I borrow a little of the tree's selflessness
Plant them in my heart
And living becomes caring for others!
I borrow some radiance of the sun,
Store them in my eyes
And all darkness is illumined!
poem by Pradip Chattopadhyay
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In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming languages.
quote by Alan Perlis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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English is necessary as at present original works of science are in English. I believe that in two decades times original works of science will start coming out in our languages. Then we can move over like the Japanese.
quote by Abdul Kalam
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Voices
Voice speaks every words.
Voice is within.
Give me voice.
I will give you words.
Voices of sorrows.
Makes me something to borrow.
Don't know what to borrow.
Voice has incredible powers.
The power to change.
Which will make common sense.
poem by Yash Pradhan
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Keep It Focused
Focus,
You may never have a chance to start again.
Focus,
There's no promises to end what just begins.
Focus on the 'here' and 'now'.
Tomorrow is not here to borrow.
Don't be dragging baggage,
From a past.
Focus,
You may never have a chance to start again.
Focus,
There's no promises to end what just begins.
Focus on the 'here' and 'now'.
Tomorrow is not here to borrow.
Focus and participate.
Today do not procrastinate.
Focus and participate.
Today do not procrastinate.
Even yesterday,
May be too late.
Don't be dragging baggage,
From your past!
Keep it focused,
On the things you do...
Knowing what it is pursued.
Focus,
On the things you do...
Knowing what it is pursued.
Focus!
Just keep your focus.
Focus,
You may never have a chance to start again.
Focus,
There's no promises to end what just begins.
Focus on the 'here' and 'now'.
Tomorrow is not here to borrow.
Focus!
Just keep your focus.
Focus.
Keep it focused.
And don't get caught up dragging,
Lugging baggage from your past.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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