Quotes About Language

Habla en francés siempre que no encuentres la palabra en inglés para nombrar alguna cosa, saca ligeramente los dedos de los pies al andar y ¡Recuerda siempre quién eres!.

The "i" in "slithy" is long, as in "writhe"; and "toves" is pronounced so as to rhyme with "groves." Again, the first "o" in "borogoves" is pronounced like the "o" in "borrow." I have heard people try to give it the sound of the "o" in "worry." Such is Human Perversity.

Quando eu uso uma palavra', disse Humpty Dumpty num tom bastante desdenhoso, 'ela significa exatamente o que eu quero que signifique: nem mais nem menos

Meu nome é Alice, mas...' 'Um nome bem bobo!' Humpty Dumpty a interrompeu com impaciência. 'O que significa?' 'Um nome deve significar alguma coisa?' Alice perguntou ambiguamente 'Claro que deve', Humpty Dumpy respondeu com uma risada curta.

O por el contrario, si fue así, pudo ser, y si así fuera, sería; pero como no es, no es. ¡Es pura lógica!

Cuando yo utilizo una palabra significa lo que yo quiero que signifique, ni más ni menos.

The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand.

As evolutionary time is measured, we have only just turned up and have hardly had time to catch breath, still marveling at our thumbs, still learning to use the brand-new gift of language. Being so young, we can be excused all sorts of folly and can permit ourselves the hope that someday, as a species, we will begin to grow up.

It's Yiddish. Like…Ikh hob dikh lib." Evie narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "What does that mean?" Sam smiled. "Maybe one day I'll tell you.

Meraa mitra yahaan aaiye, he murmurs. I understand only a little Hindi, enough to know what he has said: Come here, my friend. I've never known a braver girl, he says.

Our mouths and bodies speak for us in a new language as the trees shake loose a rain of petals that stick to our slickness like skins we will wear forever. And just like that, I am changed.

They misspelled 'party.' How evil genius can they be?

chasing after words like trying to grab the tails of comets.

I miss Latin. So much fun--all those exciting verbs that don't come until the end of the sentence. It's like a movie trailer for language.

Alliteration. It's when you repeat the same consonant in a phrase," Memphis explained. "Huh. I was hoping it was something dirty.

That's totally their interpreter, a girl with a lip ring informs us. Even though they totally record their music in English, they totally speak in Inuktitut. Totally.

People think boundaries and borders build nations. Nonsense—words do. Beliefs, declarations, constitutions—words. Stories. Myths. Lies. Promises. History.

Tell him I went to the lavatory," Evie said with a roll of her eyes. "Men are pos-i-tute-ly paralyzed by the mention of females in lavatories.

Mr. DuBois, you are a rehearsal accompanist. I do not pay you for your musical interpretation.' The impresario marched down the aisle and stood in the middle like the commander of a mutinying ship. 'No, Mr. Ziegfeld. I'm not. I'm a songwriter. My songs are a damn sight better than this garbage.' One of the midwestern chorus girls gasped. 'Forgive my language,' Henry added.

This brings a fresh wave of tears. To my great surprise, Kartik wipes them away with his hand. Meraa mitra yahaan aaiye, he murmurs. I understand only a little Hindi, enough to know what he as said: Come here, my friend . I've never known a braver girl, he says.

What is the French word for rain? Le rain? La rain? Is the rain masculine or feminine? It's such a bother that it must be masculine.

Wow, I miss Latin. So much fun - all those exciting verbs that don't come unit the end of the sentence. It's like a movie trailer for language.

There's only one way I can explain it: She had bequeathed me her love of words. She was a librarian.

the caller might say abruptly, 'Whoozis?' In that case I would say grandly, '*Whom* are you calling, sir?' And he would hang up immediately without even an expletive. Of all the four-letter words I know, the speediest turn-off in such circumstances is *whom*.