User Comments - zhenlijiang

Posted on: Car Decorations and Bumper Stickers

No ... disappointing that there's no deeper meaning or reason for my mistake other than that I just wasn't thinking.

Posted on: Car Decorations and Bumper Stickers

No Baba, sorry if it's a disappointment. I just meant I wasn't thinking.

Posted on: Car Decorations and Bumper Stickers

Baba you're up late (or is it early?)! I'm up late, trying to digest a late, big dinner. Well actually those wings do look quite different from the Mini motif. It was really an automatic reaction and I wasn't thinking.

I also wasn't thinking these stickers are messages meant for the driver right behind you. So I guess it's just saying, as David explained, "In a hurry? You should fly then (not drive a car)!".

Posted on: I'm gonna be Late

I wouldn't mind if the comments here regarding "pissed" and "gonna" are removed, if CPod so decide (so many, including so many of mine!). I feel sorry for the lesson, and the people who want to talk about it.

Posted on: I'm gonna be Late

Oh that's right, "bitch about" something as in complain, was made an issue of a while ago and CPod apologized for that. Those may be the only two!

Posted on: I'm gonna be Late

I guess I was responding to this--If the Chinese learners of English start using "gonna" in speech, as well as in writing, it's only because they are imitating natural patterns of speech used by native English speakers. They should not necessarily be discouraged from doing so, although it would be best if they were informed that the usage of such is in the grey zone between formal, proper speech and informal speech, with the written form of "gonna" being particularly at the informal end of the spectrum.

And I completely agree with this--on the street, trying to learn, say, Chinese among friends, I would throw most of my caution to the winds, and try to imitate the speech of my friends, though, at the same time, I'd try to understand the informal rules governing such usage. Paying attention whenever they burst into laughter when I say something would be important.

As to--Did you really mean "wanna" as being "less respectable" than "want to" ? Less intelligent, I might almost agree with, But less respectful, I don't think would be my take, as it obviously would not be intentional in the case of a foreign speaker.--Yes I do think it looks and sounds less respectful. I think too that it looks worse in writing than sounds said. And that was my point, that it would be unintentional. These Chinese, Korean and Japanese students of English do this not knowing really how it's sounding. Again it's this dissonance. All of a sudden "wanna" shows up in a sentence that is otherwise quite formal. I have no idea where these Asian students are all picking it up from, but I think it should be brought to their attention if we're helping them with their English.

Posted on: Car Decorations and Bumper Stickers

Ah I guess I saw the wings and automatically thought Mini, looked no further really. Now I don't know.

Posted on: I'm gonna be Late

Just like to make clear I’m not suggesting that Jenny or John sit the hosts down right before the recording to run through a “no-no check list”, and just ruin the spontaneity or fun of the podcasts, haha. Anyway there really aren’t many of these “borderline impolite” words to be careful about. I can't really think of any other right now than “pissed （off）”.

Posted on: I'm gonna be Late

Hi sclim, actually I personally would discourage Chinese （and Korean and Japanese） learners of English from using “gonna” and “wanna” as if they were just the same as “going to” and “want to” only more casual, because I think it looks and sounds less intelligent or respectful than they realize. Native speakers know what they're doing with these things. It‘s actually a more advanced-level distiction.

Posted on: Car Decorations and Bumper Stickers

Baba If I had to guess I would say something like "There you go flying by. What's your big rush?" but not at all sure I'm getting the intent / tone. Hope someone can enlighten me. It's cute anyhow, they played with the wings motif.