Hey or Hay which do you say?

[wwfpooh]

And at least for the english language, the states would be the worst offender 'cause at least MY country uses proper british spelling.

*shrugs* That's why the colonies revolted, because they disliked the rulings regarding religion, speach, and other things, hence why the First Ammendment is the freedom of speech, religion, & press and whatnot.

But whatever, I hate bringing back a past that that's full of hate and stuff. All I wish for is a brighter future, no matter what country a person resides in.

 

[MrsPepper]

No, don't fold now, this is fun. I can debate all day! I can't help it, it's in my blood: Instead of revolting as you say, my country got it's independence by talking about it and asking nicely.

 

[wwfpooh]

No, don't fold now, this is fun. I can debate all day! I can't help it, it's in my blood.

Same. But I can't help but feel that I might say something that will be a "mouth meet foot" moment & I don't want to offend anybody.

 

[dwayne1115]

Please try to ofeend me

 

[wwfpooh]

Please try to ofeend me

I'd rather not.

 

[MrsPepper]

Hahaha, Dwayne. You brat.

 

[TogetherAgain]

Seems like I remember learning in Grade 8 Reading or English classes that the English language is so hard to learn because we keep creating all these new slang words and phrases so much it get confusing to those who don't speak the language, hence why other countries supposedly make slang illegal in their vocabularies.

I'm going to apologize in advance because I did a speech last Fall about the evolution of the English language... But I will have to keep my spiel short, because I'm off to work sooner than later.

It is true that the English language incorporates a lot of slang. Some of it is "created," as Snowthie here put it, and some of it is absorbed from other languages. Historically, various exposures of the English language to other languages- various invasions, immigrations, and other times when two or more cultures have interacted- have all brought more and more foreign words into English. English therefore has more words than just about any other language. I think some version of Chinese might have more, but I don't remember now. But as Snowthie mentioned, the fact that we have so many words it can be a more difficult language to learn, especially since "spelling rules" don't always apply, since we've drawn from so many different languages! On the other hand- and please excuse me while I get a bit poetic here- having so very many different words, different ways to say virtually the same thing, gives a writer a far more varied pallate from which to paint. We have some awesome diction potential.

As for slang being illegal in some countries, I haven't heard of that, but I have heard- or rather, read- that there's an organization in France trying to keep the language pure of the English words that are creeping in. I might look that up after work tonight, if I remember, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow for me to report back, (supposing I remember to,) because my computer is non-functional and I won't be able to use my parents' computer that late at night!

In other news, and getting back to the thread title, I use "hey" as an interjection and "hay" to make stacks, but either spelling, plus "heh," all pronounced the same way, can be used to refer to the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Okay I'll stop showing off now. Off to work with me! Ta!

 

[Kiki]

People mock me at school because I pronounce 'hello', 'hallo'. I don't know, lol! I usually say 'hey' or 'greetings' or even 'yo'.

 

[dwayne1115]

some times i say what it is!

 

[Ilikemuppets]

I've always used the greeting "hi" myself, personally.