English is really crazy

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce, and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So, one moose, 2 meese? One index, two indices? Is cheese the plural of choose?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

In what language do people recite at a play, and play at a recital?

Ship by truck, and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? Park on driveways and drive on parkways? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can the weather be hot as hell one day and cold as hell another?

When a house burns up, it burns down. You fill in a form by filling it out, and an alarm clock goes off by going on.

When the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I end it.

and they wonder why people who try to defend use of the English language have a short life expectency.

In Korea, English is very important lang you know....
These days, English is international lang.
If you are very good speaking english in korea, you will be treated itshelf.
you know ?

Dear Shsong21, Yes, I know that being able to speak English in (some parts of) Korea can get me very special treatment, especially if I say I will teach another person English.
I am an American, so English is my primary language. And, from the time I was a small boy, 4 or 5 years old, I have loved to read. So, my vocab is high - higher than most my age, and much higher than many of the young people coming out of American colleges and universities these days.
I and my wife (a Korean who is an American citizen) did own a conversational English haukwon for five years. We closed it. But, we are currently signing for building space in Pyeongtaek City, to reopen another haukwon. We are aware of the special status that those of us who do speak English, and are English teachers, enjoy. We both have tried not to ever use that for our own gain. We have tried to minister to the Koreans who have asked us to help them, and we have done so gladly.
(Myself, I think that the special status is too much. Some who come here to teach English do take advantage of it to get extra "perks." That is not right, but the push by many Koreans to learn English/have their kid learn English is very strong.
Good to get your comment. Are you stationed in Pyeongtaek Port right now?

Hi....I am Korean and I growed up in here. I'm not a soldier.
I'm studying english now. you know..... because of English is very important lang in Korea.
But my english conversation level is very poor now.
so, I will go to English Haukwon soon and this course will be a native speaker class.
you know.... English is very difficult lang to most of korean people.
Most of Korean their money spending for learn English you know....
I also the same......

English is a very scientific language! Just like Korean.

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