SEOUL TRAIN: MANILA OR BUST?

The influx of Korean nationals in the country have shown how important it is for them to learn the English language. Interestingly, many of them learn it with a strong Filipino flavor. English is a funny language, especially in pronunciation, stress and syllabication. Here, you'll see a few peculiar examples why. Try it.

- The bandage was wound around the wound.
- The farm was used to produce produce.
- The dump was so full that 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.
- 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.
- The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
- There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
- The buck does strange things when the does are present.
- A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
- To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
- The wind was too strong for us to wind the sail.
- After a number of injections, my jaw got number.
- Upon seeing the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.
- I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
- How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

So, many of us take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly. Confusion, thy name is English!

And to our visiting Korean friends in the Philippines, learn on - but please behave while here.

(Image from http://www.pcij.org/)