Community Chat

[Shanus]

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@Desertdi wrote:

Q  also has that sound (mostly in foreign words:  like Qatar)

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@Desertdi   In English, can't think of an instance where a Q is not followed by a U.

[occasionalrain]

I should have given it more thought before I posted.

Thank you to those who, while thinking me a bit dim, were kind not to mention it.

[Sooner]

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@occasionalrain wrote:

I should have given it more thought before I posted.

Thank you to those who, while thinking me a bit dim, were kind not to mention it.

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@occasionalrain One suggestion for you:  Don't bring this up to a Chineese person or they will think you are dim!  

Altogether there are over 50,000 characters, though a comprehensive modern dictionary will rarely list over 20,000 in use. An educated Chinese person will know about 8,000 characters, but you will only need about 2-3,000to be able to read a newspaper.

See what I mean?  

[Mz iMac]

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@Shanus wrote:

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@Desertdi wrote:

Q  also has that sound (mostly in foreign words:  like Qatar)

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@Desertdi   In English, can't think of an instance where a Q is not followed by a U.

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@Shanus    I can.....

Qtip (Q-tip)

[Shanus]

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@Mz iMac wrote:

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@Shanus wrote:

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@Desertdi wrote:

Q  also has that sound (mostly in foreign words:  like Qatar)

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@Desertdi   In English, can't think of an instance where a Q is not followed by a U.

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@Shanus    I can.....

Qtip (Q-tip)

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@Mz iMac   Do brand names count?

[Mz iMac]

@Shanus  I would think so at least for that word.  It's the only word for a bendable stick w/cotton on both ends. I've never heard it call anything else but the "brand name."

[Shanus]

@Mz iMac   I'm the medical field, it's called a cotton swab, but you're right that Kleenex is the name for all tissues. 😜

[Desertdi]

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@Shanus wrote:

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@Desertdi wrote:

Q  also has that sound (mostly in foreign words:  like Qatar)

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@Desertdi   In English, can't think of an instance where a Q is not followed by a U.

@Shanus    In British English, Q is sometimes followed by a W, but I've only seen it in "names"; although Century Link's net server is Qwest.   A name or a "thing"...??

Actually, I don't "have a clue" since even the local newscasters "make up" words....(!)

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[sunshine45]

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@Shanus wrote:

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@Desertdi wrote:

Q  also has that sound (mostly in foreign words:  like Qatar)

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@Desertdi   In English, can't think of an instance where a Q is not followed by a U.

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interestingly, it is not really pronounced with a Q, except for perhaps just outside of the middle east. it is actually pronounced with a "GH" sound which is difficult for americans to say because it comes from the back of the closed throat.

[Porcelain]

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@sunshine45 wrote:

so who knows why we use them together if the sound is the same?

tackle.....pick......tack.......pickle.....packer?

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I think that has something to do with the type of vowel sound. Pike = long I sound. Pick = short I sound. Bake = long A sound. Back = short A sound.