There are many superior things about Korean language – even though I’m using English to spread my words, sorry King Sejong!-, the greatest one is that it is phonetic. It is always, always, or most of times – because never say never, right?- you can just say what it is and there’s ninety percent chance that you might be correct. That is why Korean is one of the easiest languages to learn once you get to know it. But I know the ‘get to know’ is the hard part.
Anyway, but English isn’t.
It failed me countless times. There are too many irregularity. In writing, in speaking. Why a isn’t always [a]? Why i isn’t always [i]? Unfortunately and luckily I’ve learn most of my English on the road, that lead me to have ability to so-so in both spoken and written English. Maybe better in spoken, slightly. Since I committed myself to writing in this nearly perfect second language, I found unlimited difficulties in writing more and more and I’m going to share that with you. I believe you’ve noticed errors on my previous and perhaps in this post. And you all were very generous. You helped me correct the errorS, and let me learn things. I thank you all for that.
Words always miss spelled and confusing
I think because of the proximity of position of the key on the keyboard or it’s not easy to spot even though I write incorrectly because it’s so small. And it sounds so similar and spelling is ‘almost’ same! I mean, it sounds exactly the same to me (most of times). Sometimes hard to tell the difference. Well, excuses and excuses.
of, if, or
buy, but
route, root
hill, heal, heel (sounds pretty similar, really)
now, not
weather, whether
roof, loop
then, than
thought, though, through, taught, throat
bought, brought
Words that impossible to actually write
It just doesn’t stick with me! I had to open Google dictionary every single time I tried to use these words. Many words I know are that I picked up from conversations or just in life. So I found myself that I know the meaning and sound of the word but not the actual spelling. Sometimes I had to go through over dozens of ‘word googling’ to find the right spell. (And you should see what I type into the Google window. It’s hilarious.)
phonetic (Yes, I had a hard time from the beginning of this post! that’s my writing life)
procrastinating (it took me so long to figure out the actual spelling)
anecdote
inevitably
inspiration (I use it a lot, but somehow I’m always wrong)
deliberately
vulnerable
Yet, I have few of favourite words too
Because of the meaning, because of the sounds, or just because. It’s a foreign language to me, so I like it sometimes just because.
serendipity (because I live by that)
mediocre (not the meaning just like the pronunciation)
peculiar (because I am)
wise / wisdom (because I want to be)
bohemian (love the meaning, love the shape of the word)
apparently (like the situation when I used this word – usually sarcastic)
procrastinating (because I do a lot)
perpetual (After I got to know ‘perpetual motion squad’)
Oh and I should add few of the newest words that I’ve learn
I have a little page at the end of my journal – it’s a dictionary. I wrote words that I’ve learn, figured out, and used recently. Here are few:
exothermic (it’s exo and thermic. wow)
affinity
evangelize (I really like the sound of this word)
lexicon / lexicographer (someone told me that, after I said I keep a dictionary in my journal)
tryst
proverbial
ramification
I’ve only doing this for just almost two years, and I can’t wait to have more difficulties and problems in English writing! It means there are more things to learn in the future.
Don’t get me wrong, I love English. I do love it dearly. It’s my the first second language that I learn, and I just fell in love with the joy of get to know the foreign languages. It has so much to offer, it’s like a sponge.
So, after you hear all my whining, what do you think? As a native English speaker, do you see what I see (this totally remind me of the song I listened this morning ‘do you hear what I hear’)?
Or, as a second language writer you, do you agree?
If you want to give me some tip and experience to share, please do comment! I’m all ears!
