The document discusses various nuances in the English language. It explores differences in pronunciation, plural forms, use of articles, ambiguous sentences, and variations between American and British English. It also examines the role of punctuation and provides examples of alliteration. The document emphasizes that one learns nuances of English through thorough practice, reading extensively, and using digital resources.

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Nuances of English
Presented by:
Dhirendra.P.Suthar
Dept.of English
A.P.Patel Arts & N.P.Patel
Comm. College
Naroda, AHMEDABAD
2nd
Refresher course in ICT
Academic Staff College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad

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Introduction
 Nuances means difference in meaning,
sound,colour,or somebody’s feelings that is not very
obvious.
 "English is the easiest language to speak badly but
the most difficult to use it well.”
C.L.Wrenn

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By the way, is this English ?By the way, is this English ?
Onemay be that and three may be those, yet the plural hatOnemay be that and three may be those, yet the plural hat
could never be hose.could never be hose.
•If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth; why shouldn’t theIf one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth; why shouldn’t the
plural of booth be called beeth ?plural of booth be called beeth ?
•Onemay be that and three may be those, yet the plural hatOnemay be that and three may be those, yet the plural hat
couldnever be hose.couldnever be hose.
•We speak of brother, and also of brethren, but though we say
mother ,we never say methren.
•The musculine pronouns are he,his and him,but imagine the
feminine she,shis and Shim!
•So that ,I think you will all agree ,is the trickiest language you
ever did see!

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contd.
 Then the one fowl is goose, but two are called geese;
yet the plural of moose is just moose not meese.
 You may find a lone mouse or a number of mice; but
the plural of house is houses ,not hise.
 The cow in the plural may be cows or kine,but the
plural of vow is vows, not vine.
 And I speak of foot and you show me your feet, and I
give you a boot –could a pair be called beet?
 We will begin with a box, and the plural is boxes; but
the plural of ox should be oxes,not oxen.
 If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth; why
shouldn’t the plural of booth be called beeth ?

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Some other examples of plurals
 agendum =agenda
 datum = data
 Criterion=criteria
 Medium =media
 Curriculum=curricula
 Phenomenon=
phenomena
 Half =halves
 Wife=wives
 Self=selves
 Woman =women
 Corrigendum
=corrigenda
 Memorandum=memora
nda

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Nuances of pronunciation
 ‘s’ or ‘es ’ is pronounced /z/after vowels and
Voiced consonants
Examples:
shows,trees,robs,bags,things,waves,forms,
replies ,children's, lines,
 /iz/ is pronounced after ch,jh,s,z sounds
 Catches,passes,noises,washes,judges

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Problems related to ‘ed’ form
 If ‘ed’ is preceded by aspirated by
p,k,ch,ph,gh,b,ss,sh ,f,in any words ‘ed’ is
pronounced as ‘t’
 Example :
 Laughed ,smashed ,barked ,poked ,passed

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Asking questions ?
 ‘Yes /no’ (confirmatory) (Rising tone)
 Do you play cricket ?
 Is her name Radha ?
 ‘Wh’ (informatory) (falling tone)
 What can you sing ?
 Who is the king ?

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Tricky intonation
 He never works for me.
 He never works for me.
 He never works for me.
 He never works for me.
 He never works for me.

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Nuances of articles
 Use of a
 a unique a year a humble
a one a European a half
a university
 Use of an
 an honest an LIC officer an honor
 an hour an MA an RCC

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Ambiguous Sentences
 Sitting on the gate, a scorpion stung me.
 Entering the room ,the light was quite dazzling.
 I like sweets better than my wife.

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Different words but same meaning
American Eng. British Eng.
Apartment flat
Down town city center
Chips crisp
Pudding dessert
Sidewalk pavement
Trash rubbish
Vacation holiday
Gray grey
Call phone

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Play of punctuation
 Go slow, work in progress.
 Go, slow work in progress.
 My wife, who is in Bombay ,has arrived.
 My wife who is in Bombay has arrived

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The most rhythmic one
 Here is a good example of alliteration:
 To Prove it:
Batty bought some butter but the butter was
bitter, so Batty bought some more butter to
make bitter butter better.

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How to learn nuances ?
 Through thorough practice.
 Reading books, articles, journals of your interest in
English
 Be techno savvy ,use digital dictionary and internet etc.

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Question ???