What is In A Word: Part Thirty-Four
Double Meanings/ Pronunciations:
Learning a language can be difficult at the best of times. Understanding words does not necessarily mean one understands the culture it comes from and when the words have more than one meaning and one sound, the learning process becomes even that much more complicated (Mandarin Chinese for example has five different tones, so saying a word in the wrong tone would change completely what one is saying).
Here are a few examples of such cases in the English language. Try some of these on for size.
-The bandage was wound around the wound
-The farm was used to produce, produce.
-The dump was so full it had to refuse more refuse.
-We must polish the Polish furniture.
-He could lead if he would get the lead out.
-The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
-Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present to his loved
one.
-A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
-When shot at, the dove, dove into the bushes.
-I did not object to the object before me.
-The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
-There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row the boat.
-They were too close to the door to close it.
-The buck does certain things when does are present…. All in the attempt to be noticed.
