Why I hate English some days

By JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
January 29, 2016 6:22am CST
"Why do we go to war? Why do we go to wor? We don't drive in a cor Or drink in a bor So why do we go to wor? " I just don't get English some days. I guess there must be some archaic reasoning behind it, but why isn't 'war' pronounced as it is spelled? Every other three-letter word that begins with a consonant and ends with 'ar' rhymes with each other. bar car far jar mar par tar But 'war' rhymes with 'oar'. But 'ear' doesn't rhyme with 'oar'...or 'car', for that matter. Must be that damn 'w' because wad rhymes with cod instead of bad...
Let Me Google That For You
3 people like this
4 responses
Jabo
@jaboUK (64350)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 16
We native English speakers must be grateful - it must be so more difficult if it isn't your first language.
5 people like this
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43902)
• Cambridge, England
29 Jan 16
I suppose that it was nearly as difficult for us when we were learning to read but children are so much more accepting of things 'as they are' than adults and they can quickly store all the complex rules and exceptions
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (102100)
• India
29 Jan 16
Our plight acknowledged
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (478541)
• Italy
29 Jan 16
Believe me Janet, it is horribly difficult.
1 person likes this
Wintersweet
@IcyFog (17)
• China
29 Jan 16
And dont forget the different dialects in UK. when some British online friends recorded their greetings and send us,everyone was like ?! FYI,those listeners' english is not really that bad in their own countries. but still,i love to learn more about english,not only becasue if offers me a chance to know more about the world and different people living in different countries,but also i quite enjoy the learning process and those little achievements.
3 people like this
JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
•
29 Jan 16
It's not only dialects, American and British English use the same words, but with different meanings, which can really get confusing sometimes. To Americans, a 'boot' and a 'bonnet' (just to name two words) are completely different items from what it would be for someone from the UK.
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JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
•
29 Jan 16
@IcyFog They are clothing items in America, and car parts in the UK.
2 people like this
Wintersweet
@IcyFog (17)
• China
29 Jan 16
@JolietJake they are the same for Americans?
1 person likes this
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43902)
• Cambridge, England
29 Jan 16
You have to be wary of the way you walk when spelling English or you may end up wan and wasted. In the old days, of course, thou wast able to claim ignorance and able to write things as they sounded, pretty much, but, since Mr Webster came along, you have to worry about things like the way the 'a' and the 'o' sound after 'w'.
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JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
•
29 Jan 16
...and then 'wax' rhymes with 'backs' instead of 'box'...someone should've shot Webster before he got his book published
2 people like this
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43902)
• Cambridge, England
29 Jan 16
Mind you, few Americans pronounce 'a' in the same way that we do in Britain. A vase is a 'veyz' not a 'vahz' and automobile sounds like 'aaromobile' not 'ortomobile'. Then there are tomatoes ... maybe we won't go there!
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (478541)
• Italy
29 Jan 16
@owlwings I have noticed the enormous difference in pronunciation. I remember my first trip in the United States, it was to Los Angeles. It took a full days before I started to understand what they were saying.
2 people like this
vanny
@vandana7 (102100)
• India
29 Jan 16
I love you bro...seriously...you understood the plight of us the non-native English speaking community. It is one thing to write (even there we make mistakes). But to understand accents. And there is no consistency there..the Australians want their flavor added and the Brits want to push marbles in their mouth to get those sounds. Honestly, you all are really amusing aliens..lol
2 people like this