How do you say it?

[Simon Barden]

English is quite complicated to learn in detail, but a lot of it is very simple and unlike a lot of other languages, can be understood when some words are left out, or wrong tenses used. In some languages unless it's 100% right, you just get a blank stare and a look of total incomprehension.

Yes, we forget that a standardised English is a relatively recent occurrence. Same with French. Only once cars became more common and people started moving around their own country more did things really start to standardise. Radio helped a lot as well.

[JohnH]

English is quite complicated to learn in detail, but a lot of it is very simple and unlike a lot of other languages, can be understood when some words are left out, or wrong tenses used. In some languages unless it's 100% right, you just get a blank stare and a look of total incomprehension.

This happens to me a lot. I’ve been learning mandarin for a year or two, and if the inflection of the syllable is wrong, it’s usually meaningless. Also, if you forget something like a measure word before a noun, it’s again rendered meaningless. Add to that my Aussie accent and I get a lot of blank stares or laughs when I try to speak! But, it’s enjoyable to learn, and it’s an interesting language, so I’ll perservere