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

Purpose of Research Future intent of becoming the Chief Editor of a successful publishing company (which I may eventually own) Future intent of becoming the Chief Editor of a successful publishing company (which I may eventually own) Drive toward teaching the subtle nuances of the English language Drive toward teaching the subtle nuances of the English language Inspired interest in languages and cultures Inspired interest in languages and cultures

Objects of Comparison German vs. English pronouns German vs. English pronouns Latin vs. English tenses Latin vs. English tenses Conclusion regarding the overall scheme of our ever-changing and –acclimating lingo and its future Conclusion regarding the overall scheme of our ever-changing and –acclimating lingo and its future

Primary Companion Source for Reflective Poem Bill Brysons 1990 piece, The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way Bill Brysons 1990 piece, The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way

German Pronouns Personal Pronouns in German Singular Iich you (familiar)du you (formal)Sie he, she, iter, sie, es Plural wewir you (familiar)ihr you (formal)Sie theysie german_pronouns.htm Direct Object Pronouns in German Singular memich you (familiar)dich you (formal)Sie him, her, itihn, sie, es Plural usuns you (familiar)euch you (formal)Sie themsie

German Pronouns, continued (and there are even more that need not be shown) Indirect Object Pronouns in German Singular to memir to you (familiar)dir to you (familiar)Ihnen to him, to her, to itihm, ihr, ihm Plural to usuns to you (familiar)euch to you (formal)Ihnen to themihnen 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 Thanks to for data on types and amounts of English pronouns

Latin Tenses Example: the infinitive verb to walk Example: the infinitive verb to walk –Present (ambulo) –Imperfect (ambulabam) –Perfect (ambulavi) –Pluperfect (ambulaveram) –Future (ambulabo) –Future Perfect (ambulavero)

Fallacy of Appeal to Ignorance The Latin language is proven dead, due to the fact that we English-speakers rarely utilize its affixes in our daily speech. The Latin language is proven dead, due to the fact that we English-speakers rarely utilize its affixes in our daily speech. –The English words ambulance (an emergency vehicle carrying injured persons to a hospital) and ambulate (to walk) are both derived from old Latin. The prefix ambi- signifies bothas in, ambivalent or ambidextrous.

English Tenses for the Infinitive Verb to walk Type of Tense Past Tenses Present Tenses Future Tenses SimpleWalkedWalk Will walk Continuous Was walking Am walking Will be walking Perfect Had walked Have walked Will have walked Perfect Continuous Had been walking Have been walking Will have been walking Verbs.html

List of Commonly Used Latin Words/Phrases Law: Law: de facto bona fide de jure habeas corpus status quo prima facie cui bono ex post facto nolo contendere pro bono 43units/Roman%20Empire/W orksheets/LAW2.htm

List of Commonly Used Latin Words/Phrases, continued Medicine (suffix –ology or –ics means the study of): Medicine (suffix –ology or –ics means the study of):anesthesiologycardiologydermatologyaudiologypediatricsneurologyorthopedicsradiologyurologygeriatrics

List of Commonly Used Latin Words/Phrases, continued Music: Music:altopianofortetenorsoprano Other: Other: quid pro quo gratis et cetera (etc.) persona non grata per capita

Probability of Encountering Common Latin in Daily Speech At least 1 in 50, depending on individual circumstances At least 1 in 50, depending on individual circumstances –If in law school, it is estimated that one would come across a Latin word or phrase at least times in one day. –If in medical school, it is estimated that one would come across a Latin word or phrase at least times in one day. –If in music school, it is estimated that one would come across a Latin word or phrase at least 15 times in one day (especially with choral pieces). –If involved in another situation, it is estimated that one would come across a Latin word or phrase when employing effective means of conveying ideas, such as et cetera (which means, and so on), and quid pro quo (which means, returning of favor).