Homonyms

[dogmandouglas]

This little article was in the English "Daily Mail"

Why the English language is so hard to learn:

Bandages are wound around the wound.

Farms are used to produce produce.

Landfills were so full that they had to refuse more refuse.

Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

I did not object to the object.

When shot at the dove dove into the bushes.

The insurance was invalid for an invalid.

There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

They were to close to the door to close it.

The buck does funny things when does are present.

The wind was too strong to wind in the sail.

How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend.

Any more?

[ElyseC]

It is a tough language to learn to read and write, and you really see that when there's a six year old in the house starting his educational journey!

[Michael Rowley]

Douglas:

When shot at the dove dove into the bushes

The writer appeared to have been educated in America.

[donmcc]

They were to close to the door to close it.


I think that should be:

They were too close to the door to close it.

[LoisWakeman]

'Homonym' isn't quite the word you want for all the above: I think this is right but I'm sure someone will tell me if not:

A homonym is for words spelt and pronounced the same but with different meanings (see two uses of 'present' as noun above, and in fact 'spelt' itself is one: alloy and spelled!)

A homograph is for words with the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations (almost all of the examples above)

And to add to the confusion, we also have homophones - for words pronounced the same but with different meanings and spellings (e.g. 'principle' and 'principal')

There will, I am pretty sure, be cases of overlaps in the above, but I am too busy to spend any longer thinking of them. Venn diagram, anyone?

Another example (of a homograph):
"The girl with the bow in her hair stood in the bow of the ship"

(or it could be a man with a different kind of bow in his hand. Both 'bows' are then homonyms, but homographs for the ship's part. I think I need a cup of strong coffee by now!)
More related fun at this page: http://www.cooper.com/alan/homonym.html

[Richard Waller]

There was an old woman of Slough
Who developed a terrible cough
She said, "what do you know
I feel better now"
And I think by and by I'll pull through.

[donmcc]

Another example (of a homograph):


"The girl with the bow in her hair stood in the bow of the ship"


(or it could be a man with a different kind of bow in his hand.




Let's not be sexist. A woman could use a bow ... leaving us with a triple in:

"the girl with the bow in her hair stood in the bow of the ship to get a good shot with her bow."

[Michael Rowley]

Lois:

'Homonym' isn't quite the word you want for all the above

Homonyms include homographs and homophones, so the description of the examples as 'homonyms' is correct. Some words that are homonyms but not homographs are often artificially written differently: examples are 'dying' & 'dyeing'.

The example 'dove [the bird]' and 'dove [past of dive]' shows that the Daily Mail had copied an American source or (much worse) become Americanized. Had it been dove/dived, it wouldn't have been adduced as an example; but I wonder if any of the readers noticed?

[JohnC]

I'm just surprised that no one has noticed (or mentioned)...

They were to close to the door to close it

Should it not be...

They were too close to the door to close it

or maybe...

The two of them were too close to the door to close it

[donmcc]

I'm just surprised that no one has noticed (or mentioned)...



I did. Look up the list a bit.

[PeterArnel]

That is great - as u will see that the Elitist nitpickers are out again. Soon they will stop anyone posting amessage in case they get it wrong :-)
Peter