Hi guys. My friend needs help with one sentence from homework.

Teacher phonetically wrote them this sentence - mo:nin bi'kamz praivit engliš

I think it's - Morning becomes private English.

Maybe I'm wrong but when I'm not how do I understand that sentence? How do I explain it? Because it seems like some kind of metaphor or something.

Thank you lots guys.

edit: Here's the photo from friend's exercise book

edit 2: It looks like it's 'Mourning becomes private English' which has beautiful metaphorical meaning.

11 years ago*

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What language is that?

11 years ago
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Well, I have a polish friend and the language seems similar.

11 years ago
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Google translate says it's Lithuanian, but doesn't actually translate it... So it's likely not Lithuanian.

11 years ago
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That's not polish. I'm from Poland, so I know.
It looks like Czech.

11 years ago
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Slovak maybe?

11 years ago
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"phonetic" lol

11 years ago
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Nice XD

11 years ago
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Yep, it's written phonetically so it's global. When you write something phonetically it means you write it how you read it. But yeah, I'm from Slovakia :)

11 years ago
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Well phonetics works for how the sentence would be spoken, that's true. But is this phonetic English?

11 years ago
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I think so.

But you know, when we have the sentence, what does it mean? - Morning becomes private English.

It looks like some metaphor to me.

11 years ago
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Is there supposed to be a colon in the phonetic sentence?

11 years ago
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I think so. I saw more of colons in phonetic words in my life.

I'm still trying to think what does the sentence mean but I still didn't get it.

11 years ago
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British, you can tell from he IPA.
In international English, it's roughly: "Mawnin', gubna! Some pry-veet Aenglish be quite becummin this marnin, too right?"

11 years ago
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Ya that's what I read too

11 years ago
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But what is the meaning of the sentence. Because it kinda looks like some metaphor. Don't you know? :)

11 years ago
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Well, the only sense I can make out of this is that "private English" might refer to a person, as in a soldier. But really the sentence doesn't make any sense at all. I feel like there needs to be another word.

11 years ago
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I feel it too :D

I added the photo from exercise book to see how it's handwritten there.

11 years ago
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The teacher ducked up probably.

It doesn't make sense and teacher, more so of the younger generations, are people and make mistakes. So he or she probably made some idiotic mistake and every kid is panicking trying to find a reason to the sentence.

11 years ago
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It's possible too. But she's such an old teacher.

11 years ago
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your friend won't master english

11 years ago
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Nah.

It looks like pretty strange sentence to me.

11 years ago
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http://cambridgeenglishonline.com/Phonetics_Focus/

Here's something I found for English phonetics. And the symbols that your friend is using are nonexistent.

11 years ago
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I know that for example private you write like this ˈpraɪ vɪt but it basically is praivit.

But I know. Teacher could write it better. I imagine she was drunk or something :D Hey students, I'll give you homework and she wrote this bullish*t :D

edit: I'm not sure about the word 'private'. 'Morning becomes' and 'English' are right 100% but 'private' messes it up.

11 years ago
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What exactly is the task? Are they suppose to explain the meaning of the sentence?
Edit: Private does mess it up. It's not pronounced like that.

11 years ago
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They're supposed to like "uncode" the sentence what basically means write it normally as we write now. And it's all. But you know, in case the word 'private' is correct we need to find out what does that sentence mean. Because when I write 'I eat an apple' everyone know what does it mean, it's not meant metaphorically or anything but if it was really 'Morning becomes private English' so then I think it is kind of metaphor which of we need to find a meaning.

11 years ago
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Actually praivit does phonetically translate to private. p-r-ai-v-i-t, in which the phenome ai sounds like eye.

11 years ago
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Oo this story sounds like an sexual innuendo ....

11 years ago
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When I think about it, it kinds does :D You got me laughing :D :D

11 years ago
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I think Morning might translate to Mourning actually, as your friend did write homophone beneath it. So, Mourning becomes private English?

11 years ago
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+1 maybe

11 years ago
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Maybeee. I like this thinking.

11 years ago
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I can't see how it would become anything else than what you mentioned

11 years ago
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Well, having homonym under becomes and private also means that those words could also use a different definition than usual.

11 years ago
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  1. also english
    a. The spin given to a propelled ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist.
    b. Bodily movement in an effort to influence the movement of a propelled object; body English.

Maybe? XD

11 years ago
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Ouuuuch, so many physics in those two sentences :D

11 years ago
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11 years ago
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I found this as well. I'm doubtful that it has anything to do with this though...or maybe it does? XD

11 years ago
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I think your point as you wrote mourning may have a meaning. You know, mourning - something sad, it may has a meaning like the sad songs with metaphors it's their private English. It has a meaning for me at least :D

11 years ago
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If it does have a deeper meaning, I'd think it would mean that Mourning becomes a common language among individuals, as mourning is an expression practiced among all cultures. Private in this sense would mean it's restricted to all of humanity, which in a sense wouldn't mean it's restricted at all. There are still a few discontinuities in my logic but we are getting closer to decoding this madness. :D

11 years ago
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I think it'll be as you said not morning but mourning and the sentence is like 'Mourning becomes private English' which as pretty nice deeper meaning which I understand so it's cool. Thank you very much for your help :)

11 years ago
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It can be the mourning word. Because in phonetics mourning equals morning. It's written like this ˈmɔːnɪŋ.

11 years ago
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Well, I suppose I should chime in, here, seeing as how I'm a teacher of English for native speakers.

First, let me point out that "phonetic spelling" will vary depending upon the alphabet used. A Slovak speaker will use different coding than a native speaker of English because they use different sounds for similar graphemes (e.g. the letter "c").

Leaving that aside, however, the most likely interpretation of what was written by your teacher would be "Mourning becomes private English." This phrase makes sense within the context of mourning (an act of grieving) being a very personal and private experience.

"Mourning" is a noun and the subject of the sentence. "Becomes" is the verb and means "flatters" or "beautifies." The adjective "private" refers to both the style and content of the English used while speaking to someone in mourning. "English" refers to both the actual language and style in which it is used.

Another way to say "Mourning becomes private English" would be "Close and personal expressions within English are beautified in the act of mourning."

11 years ago
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Thank you very much for your explanation. I appreciate that :)

11 years ago
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You're quite welcome. )

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by Mirek711.