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Fantastic Features We Don't Have In The English Language

Fantastic Features We Don't Have In The English Language

Tom Scott

7.6M views 13 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What “fantastic features” do you think other languages might have that English doesn’t?
Do you think English is missing any useful ways to express meaning (like time, direction, or certainty)? Why?
If you could add one feature to English, what would it be?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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Fantastic Features We Don't Have In The English Language

Intro + Feature 1: Time independence (00:00 – 01:00)

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1. What mistaken belief about languages does the speaker mention at the start?

Other languages are basically the same as your language, just with different words and word order.
All languages have the same grammar rules.
Other languages are just English with different accents.

2. In English, what do you usually have to say when describing an activity?

When it happened (or will happen)
Why it happened
Where it happened

3. According to the speaker, why can Chinese be good for poetry?

Because it has longer words
Because it can express a more vague sense of time
Because it always uses rhyme

Fantastic Features We Don't Have In The English Language

Feature 2: Clusivity + Feature 3: Absolute direction (01:00 – 02:43)

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1. What is the main problem the speaker points out with the word “we” in English?

It is hard to pronounce.
It can have two meanings depending on whether the listener is included.
It is only used in formal writing.

2. In languages with clusivity, what changes?

You must always say people’s names instead of pronouns.
There are different words for “we” based on whether you include the listener or not.
There is no word for “we” at all.

3. In languages with absolute direction, what do speakers use instead of left and right?

Cardinal directions (north, south, east, west)
Numbers
Hand signals

Fantastic Features We Don't Have In The English Language

Feature 4: Evidentiality + Why language diversity matters (02:43 – 04:00)

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1. What does evidentiality require in some languages when reporting something?

You must include whether you personally witnessed it or not.
You must include the exact time it happened.
You must include your opinion about it.

2. How can some languages express complicated evidence distinctions?

By using a longer sentence every time
By repeating the information twice
By changing the ending of a word

3. Why does the speaker say keeping minor languages alive is important?

So everyone can travel more easily
So we don’t lose rich languages and insights into what the human mind is capable of
So English can borrow more slang

Fantastic Features We Don't Have In The English Language

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1. Which option best summarizes “time independence” as described in the video?

A system where verbs don’t have to conjugate for time because context can make it clear
A system where you never talk about time at all
A system where only the future tense exists

2. What is the key idea behind “absolute direction”?

People avoid giving directions in public
People use north/south/east/west instead of relative direction words
People always use left/right because it is simpler

3. What is one main message of the ending of the video?

English should replace smaller languages
Language diversity is valuable because different languages contain unique ways of expressing meaning
All languages are becoming the same

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Fantastic Features We Don't Have In The English Language

Which of the four features would be most useful in your daily life: time independence, clusivity, absolute direction, or evidentiality? Why?
English often relies on context. What are the advantages and disadvantages of that?
Should languages try to become more “efficient,” or is it better that they stay diverse and different? Explain.
Can you think of a “brand new language feature” that would improve communication? Describe how it would work and give an example sentence.

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