What English does - but most languages can't

Summary

This video explores some of the rare and unusual linguistic features of the English language. It highlights English's quirks, such as its peculiar spelling, unique use of ordinal numbers, plural markers, articles, and its reliance on the verb 'have.' The video also delves into rare grammatical features, like the perfect tense, passive voice, and subject-only verb marking, which are uncommon globally. The speaker compares English's structure and sounds to other languages, showcasing its distinctiveness in comparison to the world's linguistic diversity.

Takeaways

• 📝 English's spelling is complex, but that's not the focus here—there are other quirks to explore.
• 🔢 English places numbers before nouns (e.g., 'three cats'), which is less common globally.
• 🥇 Ordinal numbers like 'first,' 'second,' and 'third' are inconsistent compared to other languages.
• 🐝 Plural markers in English ('bees' from 'bee') are unusual since many languages omit or don't require them.
• 🗣️ English uses definite and indefinite articles ('a,' 'the'), which many languages either simplify or avoid entirely.
• 🤝 Not all languages have a direct equivalent for the verb 'to have'—they use clever constructions instead.
• ⏳ The perfect tense in English ('I have spoken') is rare outside of Western European languages.
• 🔀 The passive voice is common in English but absent in many languages worldwide.
• 🔤 English has an odd phoneme system, especially its many vowels and sounds like 'th,' which are rare globally.
• 🏞️ In some languages, words for body parts like 'hand' and 'arm' are the same, a contrast to English's specificity.

Q & A

What are some rare traits of the English language compared to other languages?

English has several rare traits, such as placing numbers before nouns (e.g., 'three cats'), irregular ordinal numbers (first, second, third), and its use of articles like 'a' and 'the,' which many languages lack. It also has an extensive vowel system and unique interdental fricatives like 'θ' and 'ð.'

How does English handle ordinal numbers differently than other languages?

English has irregular ordinal numbers like 'first,' 'second,' and 'third,' while many languages keep their ordinal numbers consistent. For example, in English, it would be unusual to extend these as 'oneth' or 'twoth,' which is not the case in some other languages.

Why is English spelling often considered difficult?

English spelling is considered difficult because it does not always follow consistent phonetic rules. For instance, the word 'ghoti' can whimsically be pronounced as 'fish' by following different spelling rules for each letter group. The mismatch between sounds and spelling makes it tricky for learners.

How do other languages handle plurals compared to English?

In English, plurals are marked with an 's' (e.g., 'cat' becomes 'cats'). However, many languages either omit plural markers altogether or only apply them to animate objects (e.g., people and animals), leaving inanimate objects unchanged.

What is unusual about the English verb 'have'?

The verb 'have' is uncommon in many languages. Some languages, like Nepali, express possession through constructions like 'it's of you,' while others, like Sango, use phrases like 'you are and it' to convey the same meaning. This makes 'have' a linguistic oddity.

What makes the English perfect tense unique?

The perfect tense in English (e.g., 'I have spoken') is rare outside of Western European languages like French and German. Many languages express past actions without using this tense, relying instead on words like 'already' or 'finish' to indicate completion.

How does English compare adjectives differently from other languages?

In English, comparatives are formed with an adjective, a suffix (like '-er'), and a particle (e.g., 'bigger than'). This pattern is rare outside of Europe. Some languages use alternative structures, like 'tough exceed mine' in some Sub-Saharan languages, or 'tough from my language' in Uzbek.

Why are English vowels considered odd?

English has an unusually large number of vowel sounds compared to most languages. While some languages like Kabyle have just three vowels, British English has 13 distinct vowel qualities, making it more complex and challenging for non-native speakers.

What makes the 'R' sound in English rare?

The 'R' sound in English is rare globally, and the way vowels are pronounced before the 'R' (as in 'far,' 'fir,' 'for') is even rarer. This unique pronunciation pattern is only found in a few other languages, like Mandarin Chinese, which has a similar process called 'érhuà.'

How does English handle adjectives in a unique way?

In English, when using an adjective without a noun (e.g., 'the red one'), the language expects the word 'one' to follow the adjective. This is uncommon. Most languages either use just the adjective or add a suffix/prefix to convey the meaning.