HispanicVista Columnists

English Language Hard to Master

By Domingo Ivan Casañas

April 4, 2005

I was talking to a few friends over the weekend on why so many Spanish-speaking people never apply themselves to learn English.   Many things came up from transportation being a problem for many including not having anyone to take care of the children.  On the other hand, I brought up the name of Lilia who was a woman about 48 years old who had gone thru about ten courses of English, classroom as well as video and to this date can barely be understood. 

What is one of the reasons that many Spanish people don’t take the initial step?  I came to the conclusion that it must be intimidation.  In reality, the English language is very difficult to learn, to write, to pronounce and to even write a good paragraph.  What truly encouraged writing this piece (not peace) today was because of an email that a friend sent me.  The email will explain why English is so difficult and I added a few of my own

reasons.

Why is it so difficult and tough?  Let’s take some examples:  The bandage was wound around the wound.  The farm was used to produce produce.  The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.  We must polish the Polish furniture.  He could lead if he would get the lead out.  The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.  Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.  A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.  When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.  I did not object to the object.  They were too close to the door to close it.  The wind was too strong to wind the sail.  Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.  I had to subject the subject to a series of tests. 

But it does not stop with just words that sound the same, it goes further to words that don’t have anything to do with the actual meaning of the word.  For example, there is no egg in eggplant, nor any ham in hamburger; neither is there apple or pine in pineapple.  English muffins were not invented in England and French fries were not invented in France.  Many paradoxes exist in the English language.  For instance, quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.  And why does a writer like myself write but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham.  .

When it comes to the plurals think about this, the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth beeth?  One goose, two geese.  So one moose, two meese?  One index, two indices?  We might have a whole bunch of odds and ends, but when we get rid of all, but one of them, what then do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught?  If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?   It is crazy I tell you, how about when we ship by truck and send cargo by ship?  How about at times we have noses that run and feet that smell?  How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? 

When it comes to plurals as a writer I can find many.  For instance if the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn’t the plural of pan be called pen?  If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?  If one is a  tooth and whole set are teeth, why shouldn’t the plural of booth be called beeth?  The pronouns are something else also, because if the masculine pronouns are he, she and him, can you imagine the feminine ones being she, shis and shim? 

Not, to make light of it, English is a very difficult language and I congratulate all of those who have taken the initiative to learn it, speak it, & read it because you have accomplished a great feast.  So, for those of you that are getting this in translation I urge you to start on your way to domination of this a very crazy and confusing language. 

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Domingo Casañas Email:  LatinoAchievers@aol.com