Final Project: Quantifying the Eccentric English Language Ellen Drummonds Quantitative Reasoning 003 Mr. Dale Nelson 10 July 2012.

Final Project:Final Project:Quantifying the Quantifying the Eccentric English Eccentric English LanguageLanguage

Ellen DrummondsEllen DrummondsQuantitative Reasoning 003Quantitative Reasoning 003Mr. Dale NelsonMr. Dale Nelson10 July 201210 July 2012

Purpose of ResearchPurpose of Research►Future intent of becoming the Chief Future intent of becoming the Chief

Editor of a successful publishing Editor of a successful publishing company (which I may eventually own)company (which I may eventually own) Drive toward teaching the subtle nuances Drive toward teaching the subtle nuances

of the English languageof the English language Inspired interest in languages and Inspired interest in languages and

culturescultures

Objects of ComparisonObjects of Comparison

German vs. English pronounsGerman vs. English pronouns Latin vs. English tensesLatin vs. English tenses Conclusion regarding the overall scheme Conclusion regarding the overall scheme

of our ever-changing and –acclimating of our ever-changing and –acclimating lingo and its future lingo and its future

Primary Companion Source Primary Companion Source for Reflective Poemfor Reflective Poem

Bill Bryson’s 1990 piece, Bill Bryson’s 1990 piece, The Mother The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Tongue: English and How It Got That WayWay

German Pronouns

Personal Pronouns in German

Singular

I ich

you (familiar) du

you (formal) Sie

he, she, it er, sie, es

Plural

we wir

you (familiar) ihr

you (formal) Sie

they sie

http://german.speak7.com/german_pronouns.htm

Direct Object Pronouns in German

Singular

me mich

you (familiar) dich

you (formal) Sie

him, her, it ihn, sie, es

Plural

us uns

you (familiar) euch

you (formal) Sie

them sie

German Pronouns, continued (and there are even more that need not be shown)

Indirect Object Pronouns in German

Singular

to me mir

to you (familiar) dir

to you (familiar) Ihnen

to him, to her, to it ihm, ihr, ihm

Plural

to us uns

to you (familiar) euch

to you (formal) Ihnen

to them ihnen

http://german.speak7.com/german_pronouns.htm

Possessive Pronouns in German

Singular

mine mein/e

yours mein/e

yours (formal) Ihr/e

his, hers, its sein/e

Plural

our unser/e

yours (familiar) eur/e

yours (formal)Ihr/e

theirs ihr/e

Number of German vs. English Pronouns (not so different as we think)German Pronouns (Total) Approximately 50, contained

in the following: direct and indirect pronouns, as well as the below forms

English Pronouns (Total) Approximately 50, contained in the following: personal, demonstrative, possessive, interrogative, reflexive, reciprocal, indefinite, and relative

Basic Forms of Pronouns in Each Language

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Personal Possessive Reflexive Interrogative

German

English

Thanks to http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/pronouns-personal.htm for data on types and amounts of English pronouns

Latin TensesLatin Tenses

Example: the infinitive verb “to Example: the infinitive verb “to walk”walk”– Present (Present (ambuloambulo))– Imperfect (Imperfect (ambulabamambulabam))– Perfect (Perfect (ambulaviambulavi))– Pluperfect (Pluperfect (ambulaveramambulaveram))– Future (Future (ambulaboambulabo))– Future Perfect (Future Perfect (ambulaveroambulavero))

http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/21343.aspx

Fallacy of Appeal to Fallacy of Appeal to IgnoranceIgnorance

The Latin language is proven dead, due to The Latin language is proven dead, due to the fact that we English-speakers rarely the fact that we English-speakers rarely utilize its affixes in our daily speech.utilize its affixes in our daily speech.– The English words “ambulance” (an emergency The English words “ambulance” (an emergency

vehicle carrying injured persons to a hospital) vehicle carrying injured persons to a hospital) and “ambulate” (“to walk”) are both derived and “ambulate” (“to walk”) are both derived from old Latin. The prefix “ambi-” signifies from old Latin. The prefix “ambi-” signifies “both”—as in, “ambivalent” or “ambidextrous”.“both”—as in, “ambivalent” or “ambidextrous”.

English Tenses for the Infinitive English Tenses for the Infinitive Verb “to walk”Verb “to walk”

Type of Type of TenseTense

Past Past TensesTenses

Present Present TensesTenses

Future Future TensesTenses

SimpleSimple ““Walked”Walked” ““Walk”Walk” ““Will Will walk”walk”

ContinuouContinuouss

““Was Was walking”walking”

““Am Am walking”walking”

““Will be Will be walking”walking”

PerfectPerfect ““Had Had walked”walked”

““Have Have walked”walked”

““Will have Will have walked”walked”

Perfect Perfect ContinuouContinuouss

““Had Had been been walking”walking”

““Have Have been been walking”walking”

““Will have Will have been been walking”walking”

http://teacherjoe.us/Verbs.html

List of Commonly Used Latin List of Commonly Used Latin Words/PhrasesWords/Phrases Law:Law:

de factode factobona fidebona fidede jurede jurehabeas corpushabeas corpusstatus quostatus quoprima facieprima faciecui bonocui bonoex post factoex post factonolo contenderenolo contenderepro bonopro bono

http://center.dordt.edu/266.543units/Roman%20Empire/Worksheets/LAW2.htm

List of Commonly Used Latin List of Commonly Used Latin Words/Phrases, continuedWords/Phrases, continued

Medicine Medicine (suffix –ology or –ics means (suffix –ology or –ics means “the study of”):“the study of”):anesthesiologyanesthesiologycardiologycardiologydermatologydermatologyaudiologyaudiologypediatricspediatricsneurologyneurologyorthopedicsorthopedicsradiologyradiologyurologyurologygeriatricsgeriatrics

List of Commonly Used Latin List of Commonly Used Latin Words/Phrases, continued Words/Phrases, continued

Music:Music:altoaltopianopianofortefortetenortenorsopranosoprano

Other:Other:quid pro quoquid pro quogratisgratiset cetera (etc.)et cetera (etc.)persona non gratapersona non grataper capitaper capita

Probability of Encountering Probability of Encountering Common Latin in Daily SpeechCommon Latin in Daily Speech At least 1 in 50, depending on individual At least 1 in 50, depending on individual

circumstancescircumstances– If in law school, it is estimated that one would come across If in law school, it is estimated that one would come across

a Latin word or phrase at least 20-30 times in one day.a Latin word or phrase at least 20-30 times in one day.– If in medical school, it is estimated that one would come If in medical school, it is estimated that one would come

across a Latin word or phrase at least 10-20 times in one across a Latin word or phrase at least 10-20 times in one day. day.

– If in music school, it is estimated that one would come If in music school, it is estimated that one would come across a Latin word or phrase at least 15 times in one day across a Latin word or phrase at least 15 times in one day (especially with choral pieces).(especially with choral pieces).

– If involved in another situation, it is estimated that one If involved in another situation, it is estimated that one would come across a Latin word or phrase when employing would come across a Latin word or phrase when employing effective means of conveying ideas, such as “et cetera” effective means of conveying ideas, such as “et cetera” (which means, “and so on”), and “quid pro quo” (which (which means, “and so on”), and “quid pro quo” (which means, “returning of favor”).means, “returning of favor”).