[ExI] language question

[BillK]

On 29 October 2016 at 18:29, William Flynn Wallace  wrote:
> I wish to add nothing to this conversation and am doing so.  But it teased
> my memory and I found this online:
>
> In line with Spike's attention to parentheses, as noted earlier, do yourself
> an enormous favor and re-read the following.  If you have not read this as
> yet, be it known that it is a perfect ruby of writing on the vicissitudes
> and vagaries of language, as presented by the inimitable Mark Twain:
>
> http://www.kombu.de/twain-2.htm
>


Twain's description of German is very true.  I read a story that at
the UN the translations that you hear in the headphones usually run
along with the speaker. Except that when the German started speaking,
all the translators fell silent --- they were waiting on the verb to
turn up.

BillK