As President of a company that uses language to connect cultures, at year end, I enjoy reminding everyone why English is such a strange language. Although I have studied eight others, I am always amazed that foreigners learn English so well …. because it often makes no sense.

For example:

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

How are patients reassured that doctors have a “practice”?

If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of Progress?

Why is a bra singular and panties plural?

If a deaf person must go to court, is the session still called a hearing?

 English logic

Your house can burn up while it burns down.

An actor is in a movie but on TV.

You fill in a form by filling it out.

An alarm goes off by going on.

We have noses that run and feet that smell.

We ship by truck and send cargo by ship.

 More English logic

Writers write but fingers don’t fing.

Grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham.

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

If corn oil comes from corn and vegetable oil comes from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?

Why are housing units all stuck together called Apartments?

Why does quicksand work slowly?

Why are no eggs in eggplants?

Why are boxing rings square?

Answers to these questions? Let’s blame the Brits. They invented the language. We North Americans are just borrowing it.

Even if your own projects start in English, we look forward to translating and interpreting them next year because you deserve our 30+ years of A+ precision into 120 languages. Please contact us for a free quote.

With best wishes for a joyous holiday and excellent health,

Sincerely,

Philip Auerbach
Founder, President & CEO
Auerbach International
Headquarters - 415-592-0042 x107
[email protected]
www.auerbach-intl.com
[email protected]

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