Wednesday, October 6, 2010


(Lovers of the English Language might enjoy this)

How do non-natives ever learn all the nuances of English? There is a two-letter word, and that word is "UP". It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky, or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting why does a topic come UP/ Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends, and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers, and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house, and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble. line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special, This UP is confusing; A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning, but we close it UP at night, we seem to be pretty mixed Up about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the pages, and can add up to a;bout thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain. We say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth, When it doesn't rain for a while, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now, my time is UP, so time to shut UP! 

Hope you enjoyed this, I had fun with it, and even though it took tremendous writing, It did not wipe me out completely. I am doing good, better every day, and hope to be able to attend church Sunday, looking for ward to that too. I did get my staples removed and all seems to be healing well. Thanks again for all the prayers you have prayed on my behalf.

Photobucket

18 comments:

~~Deby said...

you are so right...we have had Japanese exchange students...and try asking them if they need help "making the bed"...make ???...you need to make a bed...same thing..it is so confusing ...good job of writing this out..you sure nailed it !!!nail?...so many words..toooo many meanings...or nuances..
So glad you are feeling better !! woohoo church soon...that will feel wonderful, I am sure.

Anonymous said...

We hosted exchange students as well. The nuances of the English language were always confusing! I'm glad that you are feeling better, Barbara.

Sharon said...

I am so glad to hear that you are doing better.
I have heard that the American is the hardest to learn.
I truly enjoyed reading this and it does make you wonder about our words.
Prayers and Hugs

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I have read that one before, Barbara.... I love it --and enjoyed reading it again. Can you imagine anyone TRYING to learn our crazy language???? ha

How are you feeling? Better I hope.
Hugs,
Betsy

Mrs. B, a very peculiar person said...

Hi Barbara,

I really enjoyed this post ... it brought a smile to my face.

Glad to hear you are on the mend.

Mrs.B

Rocky Mountain Homemaker said...

Glad to hear you're "up" and around and feeling well!

Rebecca said...

Very UP lifting!

MadSnapper said...

all your UPS make perfect sense to me. NOT!!! our english language is strange indeed. LOVE your autumn look and thanks for my afternoon smile

Aliene said...

Glad you are feeling better, Barbara.
Yes, the English language is one of the hardest to learn to a foreigner.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post about our confusing language. It's good to see you "up" and around again!
Hugs,
Deb

Anonymous said...

I pray that you will continue to improve. I enjoyed reading this so much. Hope you have a restful evening.

Phyllis Blickensderfer said...

Ours is not an easy language! Yet we use it daily in prayer for your continued recovery. Thanks for the day brightener, and may yours be blessed.

Deborah said...

That was so good! I've read something similar but I think it may have been a different word. Yes, our language is strange indeed!

Joyce said...

I loved this post...we lived in the UK for several years and while we do 'speak the same language' you realize pretty quickly that you don't!

Also, gorgeous photo here today!

Anonymous said...

In Sweden that word (but in Swedish) is used a lot too!! I'm glad you're feeling better, and that autumn pic is wonderful!!! Cheers!

Jean Tuthill said...

I am so happy to hear that you are on the mend. And I'm really glad I don't have to learn English as a second language! Take care, my friend, and get better real soon.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Isn't English amazing?

I noticed you as a follower on my blog and wanted to say "Hi" and "Welcome"!

Sounds like you are recovering well.

Dee said...

LOL. I will be up all night thinking up other ups.