Job Discussion Forums

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

I want to check just how good we are at word recognition. On the Hong Kong forum, I wrote this "Ludwig, please tell us when the border at Lo Wu started to operate 24 ho urs. (sic) It is news that has passed me by. I was aware that the Lok Ma Chau border had been opened 24 hours, but not Lo Wu. Please let us know. It would be fascinating.

And Ludwig then wrote "I am afraid I do not know what an "ho ur" is, actually. I did just find out, however, that in fact the proposed 24-hour crossing remained just that; a proposal and is still undergoing debate.

I was amazed that given the context and letter configuration, Ludwig could not work out the word.

I want to test if it is so difficult. So please, one and all, hazard a guess at what you may think "ho ur" to be. And don't be worried about getting it wrong. Ludwig didn't know, so it must be quite hard.

leeroy · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 777 Location: London UK

"ho ur" could be interpreted in a number of ways.

Firstly, "ho" (although usually spelt "hoe") is known as

a) A garden tool, and/or
b) A prostitute

Secondly, "ur" is internet chat room slang for "your".

There is a grammatical discrepancy here, though, as if we are indicating a possessive we should surely have said "ur ho" (your hoe, or prostitute). Still, it would be racist, bigoted and xenophobic to assume that "hoe your" is wrong per se, let's not let the dogmatic prescriptive grammar approach enslave us... I see this new way of expressing possession as a symptom of an emerging dialect. Where are you from once again?

Taken contextually...

"please tell us when the border at Lo Wu started to operate 24 (of) your garden tools."

or, alternatively..

"please tell us when the border at Lo Wu started to operate 24 (of) your prostitutes."

I can see how ludwig was confused. And I have too much time on my hands.

rj · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 159

[quote="leeroyFirstly, "ho" (although usually spelt "hoe") is known as

a) A garden tool, and/or
b) A prostitute
[/quote]

I believe "hoe" refers to a garden tool and "ho" refers to a prostitute. I'm not sure what it means when Santa says it though.

Ludwig · Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 6:30 pm Post subject:

Nice posts, Leeroy and RJ; thanks for not letting the resident troll have his will.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

LUDWIG! YOU CAME!
And in doing so, YOU yourself have just let me have my will.
Hope that thought cheers your day. Laughing

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Forgive me if you have all seen this, but it is interesting.

The PAOMNNEHAL PWEOR OF THE HMUAN MNID

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig, huh?

Now, how do we make this work to our benefit? Does it apply to folks learning the language or just native speakers?