OUR QUEER LANGUAGE.

Southland Times, Issue 17004, 30 March 1912, Page 8

OUR QUEER LANGUAGE.

FBBHCH2KAH PUZZLED BY THE WOED “PAST.’* The orthography of our English language does not by any means contain all of a foreigner's troubles. One of the most perplexing characteristics of the English tongue is the fact that, as a rule, the same word has different meanings. Sly dictionary gives to (ho verbs “ace,” “lead,” “hold,” and "draw” 11, IS, 19, and i!2 meanings re-peeti vely. Sow, - for,a foreigner to be able to distinguish all these various meanings is a tremendous task. The words which have only t one dr two meanings are comparatively . few. Is it surprising; 'that, a foreigner Often puzzled by the numerous and sometimes opposite meanings of many ■ .fin-English word? Just as an illustration, consider the perplexity of a persevering Kremhm.-m. over ihc intoning pf the v.pr.l ”fa. t.” "Zl.j horse, salr. he go queck; what you \ eayV “Ves. he is a fast horse.” ,“Ah. pardon, monsieur, hut your friend say he make fast Ids horse, and he tie him to n post, so iie no go at all." “Very true; lie is made fast by being .tied.” "All, zat cannot I."-; lie cannot go fast, but what you call a man that keeps fast?” | "Oil, he is a good man that does not | eat on fast days.” j “But I have seen one hun vivant who ! ' eat and drink and' ride, and do every- j ‘ zing. Ze people say he is a bud man he is very fast.” _ , “True, that is called living a fast life.” ’ “Ah, ceriainement, Zen all zu days of bis life must he fe -'t days?” “No, of course---” “Eli, bien. Does lie eat every day?” “Certainly lie do e.--.“ “Zen hO vr can ha keep fa-si?" | “Why, lie keeps going, to he i-tire." • “Vy, you tell me to stx;.] fa ti .when i you want me to keep still, a.id go fast when you. want me to rum J-!.;w can 1 Understand ?** Bo o 1 im: m. 2 ' E