Things I don't understand...

[pfrsantos]

From time to time (more often than not), I come across some things that really REALLY make my brain hurt. I think I'd share them with y'awl. Maybe that way I find I'm not alone in this. Maybe I find I am alone in this.

 

Anywho, let's get this show on the road.


Can any of you, native english speakers, explain the following to me:

Why are Kansas and Arkansas pronounced differently?!

Why is the same true for cough, bough, rough, dough, through, though?

In the word scent, which letter is silent? The S or the C?

Why does fridge have a D, but refrigerator doesn't?

Why are Zoe and Zoey pronounced the same, but Joe and Joey aren't?

Is the word QUEUE just a Q, followed by four silent letters?

 

[pfrsantos]

Why can you drink a drink but can't food a food?

Why do stores that are open "24/7" have doors?

   

[Tasky]

>Why are Kansas and Arkansas pronounced differently?!
The first is the English spelling of the Native American tribe for which this place is named, the second is the French spelling of a similar, but separate, tribe for which that place is named.

>Why is the same true for cough, bough, rough, dough, through, though?
England, home of the modern English language, has been occupied and ruled by various other languages, so while teh spelling may be similar they each had their own way of pronouncing it.

>In the word scent, which letter is silent? The S or the C?
Whichever one you feel like!

>Why does fridge have a D, but refrigerator doesn't?
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/fridge-vs-frig-spelling-short-for-refrigerator

>Why are Zoe and Zoey pronounced the same, but Joe and Joey aren't?
Sometimes they're not.
Spellings vs pronunciation based on place of origin - Rory vs Ruairi, for example.

>Is the word QUEUE just a Q, followed by four silent letters?
Yes, because queueing quietly is a very British idiom!

[Aloha]

Etymology.  The wonderful world of words. 

[pfrsantos]

Why is this called a U-turn, when the letter U is the complete opposite of that?

 

[pfrsantos]

If the black box of airplanes can resist even the strongest impact without being damaged, why don't they build awl of the plane with the same material?

 

[pfrsantos]

If you have a bottle of poison whose expiration date as passed, is it more or less deadly?

 

[Farmer X]

On aircraft: probably because no material that is as tough as the black box, yet suitable for construction of the entire aircraft, exists at present time.

On expired poison: if it's anything like medicine (which loses efficacy after its best-by date), probably less deadly.

[Tasky]

>Why is this called a U-turn, when the letter U is the complete opposite of that?
Because you're holding the road map upside down.

>If the black box of airplanes can resist even the strongest impact without being damaged, why don't they build awl of the plane with the same material?
Because then the insurance industry would go out of business.

>If you have a bottle of poison whose expiration date as passed, is it more or less deadly?
Neither. It just means you can't get a refund if it doesn't work.

[Aloha]

How I came onto MTO with a couple of questions and I've never left and my sharps increased exponentially.   

[Syncop8r]

>Why is this called a U-turn, when the letter U is the complete opposite of that?
Because you're holding the road map upside down.

Apparently, women are more likely to orient a map to suit the direction they are heading and men are more likely to keep North at the top of the page, due to differences in the way in which our brains work. Apparently.

[Tasky]

Things I just don't understand:

A white lie that night
A sly touch, at times

[Syncop8r]

Women. 

[pfrsantos]

Women. 

 

 

[pfrsantos]

 

[pfrsantos]

Why do we drive on parkways but park on driveways?

 

[pfrsantos]

If it's zero degrees outside and it's supposed to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold would it be?

 

[pfrsantos]

Why are there five syllables in the word monosyllabic?

 

[pfrsantos]

How come abbreviated is such a long word?

 

[pfrsantos]

Why is it called 'taking a dump'? Shouldn't it be called 'leaving a dump'?

 

[pfrsantos]

(Image removed from quote.)

 

Actually, I might have the answer to this one: 'cause he's mean!



 

[pfrsantos]

If suede gets ruined by water, why do deer seem perfectly fine, standing in the pouring rain?

 

[pfrsantos]

If you manage to be in a car, travelling at the speed of light, and you turn the lights on, what happens?

 

[tattoosteve99]

Native speaker here and I’ve taught conversational English as well. To be 100% honest English is stupid. If you want some correct English ask the UK and brits as I believe they have better pronunciation of it. I would much rather speak Spanish, Latin or even Japanese than English. (Working on learning a second language now). Anyway don’t let it hurt your brain as it hurts mine and I speak it.

[Reinier]

If it's zero degrees outside and it's supposed to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold would it be?

 

Steve Mould did a nice routine on that topic:

[andywork]

Am I speaking English when I say, “It’s de rigueur, to be au fait speaking French?”

C’est la vie…

[Syncop8r]

Steve Mould did a nice routine on that topic:

I recall a TV weather presenter saying that one place would be 10°C and another would be twice as warm at 20°C (say).
0°C = 273.15K so 10°C = 283.15K. "Twice as warm" (if that concept even exists) as 283.15K would be 566.3K which is 293.15°C. 

[Syncop8r]

Why do we drive on parkways but park on driveways?

I have never heard of a parkway, but I park and drive on driveways.

[SurgeUk]

If the black box of airplanes can resist even the strongest impact without being damaged, why don't they build awl of the plane with the same material?

 

My late father asked the same question about the original Knight Rider, when he noticed that Michael had a watch that controlled K.I.T.T and it broke after he jumped over a fence 

I had no answer and still don't

[Syncop8r]

If the black box of airplanes can resist even the strongest impact without being damaged, why don't they build awl of the plane with the same material?

My guess is that it could be too heavy and/or expensive.