tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post3368617680925884623..comments2024-03-14T10:31:26.918+00:00Comments on DCblog: On the 800-word mythDChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10192779827863835310noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-59708793761271541282010-06-11T13:07:01.674+00:002010-06-11T13:07:01.674+00:00In this context, I find it interesting that Espera...In this context, I find it interesting that Esperanto is said to be based on just 900 core words. Even when that's multiplied by the number of lexemes, I can't help feeling that Esperanto speakers must grow accustomed to rather long conversational silences... ;-)Robin Wiltonhttp://futureidentity.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-79764148134102221042010-01-16T02:52:45.473+00:002010-01-16T02:52:45.473+00:00As a retired medical doc I have always found the s...As a retired medical doc I have always found the subject of language of great interest. It is what makes us cognizant beings. To me, the questions of how we acquire it in the first place, how we use it, and how extensive our own personal lexicon is...this is my focus. So, attempts to marginalize the younger generation by the size of their store of words can be questioned. What kind of people ARE they? Have they learned to treasure the virtues of life, family, and independence? Are they becoming educated in the essentials of a productive life? They will make their mark in society...for better or for worse. From the degradation of many of society's value by mass media, I fear for the future.Roger Deehttp://rdpmd.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-375698897964487102010-01-14T11:20:43.253+00:002010-01-14T11:20:43.253+00:00I appreciate the work of all people who share info...I appreciate the work of all people who share information with others.College Research Paperhttp://www.researchpaperspot.com/college_research_papers.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-37677412712536593862010-01-12T11:49:28.765+00:002010-01-12T11:49:28.765+00:00Thank you DC, this blog post was needed! The comme...Thank you DC, this blog post was needed! The comments teenagers themselves are posting below the "800 word" article should be used for a follow up article!<br /><br />I teach and develop materials for teens in Italy where the "800" words have become "20" in Italian newspapers. <br /><br />Bad incorrect news travels fast!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18280350206250956814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-55059312936941021662010-01-12T11:01:52.749+00:002010-01-12T11:01:52.749+00:00thanks for this!thanks for this!michihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06477831910779342533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-65994534561021942612010-01-11T10:55:31.088+00:002010-01-11T10:55:31.088+00:00I'm getting old! It's a challenge to remem...I'm getting old! It's a challenge to remember anything.... <br /><br />I found a link to it on google. <br /><a href="http://bit.ly/5YnM0P>Distribution of Discourse</a>Davidhttp://eflclassroom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-28994582952433037062010-01-11T09:29:58.677+00:002010-01-11T09:29:58.677+00:00David: yes, an excellent essay, Steiner's. Peo...David: yes, an excellent essay, Steiner's. People will find it in his collection <i>On Difficulty and other essays</i>, though it's also been reprinted in a Steiner Reader. Note that the actual title is: 'The distribution of discourse'.DChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10192779827863835310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-62096204829785532972010-01-11T08:02:20.521+00:002010-01-11T08:02:20.521+00:00Read Flat Earth News by Nick Davies for more incid...Read Flat Earth News by Nick Davies for more incidents of fabricated/exagerrated media reporting - this book exposes the current state of the British media and makes you question some of the things you see published. <br /><br />By the way I have no other interest in this book except as a reader. I heard Nick Davies on BBC World Service after the London G20 riots when police information (which turned out to be erroneous) was used as the basis on news reports without the facts being checked. So I ordered the book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-72594935121914800122010-01-11T04:42:14.955+00:002010-01-11T04:42:14.955+00:00Thanks for this. We need people who actually know ...Thanks for this. We need people who actually know what they are talking about to comment on issues as they are reported in the mainstream media. We are in a fortunate position nowadays, in that we can read an article in the paper and then go and check what David Crystal ACTUALLY said!<br /><br />I'm sure you are familiar with Ben Goldacre's work, trying to bust the bad science in the papers....<br /><br />http://www.badscience.net/Darren Elliotthttp://www.livesofteachers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-66647815481896504512010-01-11T00:54:15.468+00:002010-01-11T00:54:15.468+00:00David,
Great thoughts and you hit the nail on the...David,<br /><br />Great thoughts and you hit the nail on the head of "the diamond oft lost in the grains of sand". I think much more focus must be paid to HOW we learn a language (and if I may even be so bold as to suggest that most language learners are "disabled" and we should start there). <br /><br />However, about vocabulary size. I totally agree, we are often so far off the mark. Have you ever read George Steiner's "Demographics of Discourse"? A great extension of your idea into the realm of "internal speech" as he calls it. You'd love it and its online on google books. <br /><br />DavidDavidhttp://eflclassroom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-34357442806729178042010-01-10T20:26:59.582+00:002010-01-10T20:26:59.582+00:00A blast of informed comment of the kind we’d expec...A blast of informed comment of the kind we’d expect, David. Why don’t newspapers print things like this, rather than the half-truths or worse cobbled together by know-nothings?Barrie Englandhttp://grammarforgrownups.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-9294487314345710062010-01-10T20:26:04.741+00:002010-01-10T20:26:04.741+00:00media attention focussed on one silly claim.
No s...<i>media attention focussed on one silly claim.</i><br /><br />No surprise there.<br /><br />I teach English in Spain, mainly to advanced students. I use newspaper articles to stimulate discussion. Sometimes I show them copies of the Sun, but as a sociological/anthropological phenomenon not as a language teaching exercise. I know that much of the language of the Sun is beyond even advanced learners of English.<br /><br />It is interesting to see simplistic ideas expressed in (for foreigners) obscure language, but I am not at all sure that that is a sensible way of using the language.Peter Harveyhttp://lavengro.typepad.com/peter_harvey_linguist/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-58987103488315492402010-01-10T20:01:36.183+00:002010-01-10T20:01:36.183+00:00Just to say that there's an account of the -is...Just to say that there's an account of the <i>-ise/-ize</i> issue already on this blog, in March 2007.DChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10192779827863835310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-53068075338694463292010-01-10T19:56:31.679+00:002010-01-10T19:56:31.679+00:00I guess this is more evidence of the assumptions p...I guess this is more evidence of the assumptions people make about teenagers. Thanks for the interesting discussion on it, which I will ask them about at school and see what they think! On another topic, if you'll forgive me, I note that you use the American-influenced -ize spelling for that suffix. I've still been correcting this in the pupils' books. Do you think I'm fighting a losing (lozing?) battle?Fran Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07935088780461825341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8377709913595182916.post-66186445630485867202010-01-10T19:49:00.783+00:002010-01-10T19:49:00.783+00:00"Oracy" increases the size of my vocabul..."Oracy" increases the size of my vocabulary by one. Thanks!vphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647609487352038948noreply@blogger.com