Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: for Mary Cassidy

You asked if I was English. Well, when I lived in Cardiff I was Italian,
but now that I live in Italy everyone says that I'm English, so I get
confused myself sometimes. Anyway, I find that my Engish has gone way
downhill (I've been more worried about learning Italian) and I desperately
need help.  Luckily I've just discovered this newsgroup, which offers a good
opportunity  to keep in practice (or get back into practice) with my
English, as well as being corrected on my Italian (ref: invidia, not
gelosia).
Anyway (never start a new paragraph with "anyway"!) now I'm here I'd like to
make the most of it and ask your opinion on a few things that have been
bugging me.
Firstly, don't you think that the Italian pronunciation of the vowel a as in
cat tends to sound too much like an e as in bed? It may be true that the
phonetic ae is somewhere in between the two sounds, but wouldn't it be
better for those who can't master the exact pronunciation to just use the
Italian vowel sound a as in male?
Another thing I'd be curious to know, is if anyone remembers what happened
to the word Uranus(the planet), when about 15 years ago it was mentioned
quite often in the news, for some sort of space mission.
Well that'll do for now,
yours Cathy
P.S. Stanley, what are you doing here, you have nothing to learn?!

P.S. Stanley, what are you doing here, you have nothing to learn?!
I had already explained this to Mary, but I will do the same to you.
Everybody sees on the right column that there's written "Stanley Valayil",
who is my father, because he's the
real owner of the Internet subscription. Nevertheless, I, Asoka, am the one
who writes to this NG.
Besides, what do you mean ?
Bye Asoka xx'82
<< However fast you may run, you will never overreach the ball >>

Well, Mary is out for a few days, so I will speak first (although I think
  it's impossible to substitute FOR her)





 Italian vowel sound a as in male?
We do our best!!!!!
But I could agree it could seem not enough... ;) Do you know how englishmen
recognize Italians (& Japaneeses)?
Since they r the only one that remain sat down when the girl announce:
"Sorry but the line is stopped and train will come on another one!!!" :))))
Ciao Paolo


I think you were right the first time:
"it's impossible to substitute her"


"it's impossible to substitute her"
Are you really sure ? I found "to substitute for someone" = "sostituire una
persona".


 >



Come to think of it, no I'm not sure. It just sounded better the first time.
Maybe the "rule" is  "to substitute for sb." but this is just an exception.
Always a pleasure
Cath


 wrote in message
news:7nak54$aj0$1...@aquila.tiscalinet.it...


 Maybe the "rule" is  "to substitute for sb." but this is just an exception.
Actually, it would have been better to say "it's impossible to replace her".
You can also translate "sostitituire" as "stand in for" somebody when it's a
temporary replacement.
Substitute (or substitute for) isn't commonly used in the UK when talking about
a person, but it may be in the US.
By the way, Asoka, you should have said "Mary is away for a few days", not "Mary
is out for a few days". "Out" is used when someone has gone out for a short time
(e.g. shopping), not when they're away on a trip.
Mary
(remove "nospam" to reply)
---
"Let"s camp under these trees," opined Tom tentatively.

 quite often in the news, for some sort of space mission.
As I'm sure you know, it's a word most people avoid using unless they're
deliberately making jokes.
For the Italian speakers who haven't caught on, the pronunciation is very
similar to "your anus".
Mary
(remove "nospam" to reply)
---
"The lions and I are digging this watering hole," Tom said, welling with pride.

 Well you can say that word whenever you like now, because when that
particular space mission occurred, British newsreaders, to avoid saying your
anus, cunningly changed the pronunciation to oo'-ranus.
I mean, how could they do it? With what authority? I, personally, used to
thoroughly enjoy saying "your anus"!
cat

(e.g. shopping), not when they're away on a trip.
Yes, that's true, but not necessarily for a short time.
If I say "He's out in Australia", I mean "he lives in Australia" (coming
from another place, though)


 Your solution is much better.
Yeah, you are right.
La prima volta che andai a londra, mi accorsi subito di come gli inglesi
pronunciassero "thank you" e non "thenk you". Ammetto che sulle prime mi
stupii molto...Me l'avevano insegnato cosi'...
Ciao
-- 
Riccardo Campana
riccardo...@flashnet.it
"Chi non conosce la verita' e' uno sciocco, ma chi, conoscendola,
la chiama bugia, e' un delinquente." B. Brecht, Vita di Galileo. 

 wrote in message >


 stessa pronuncia??? :))))
Si'....ma erano gemelli!
