Definition Of English Is A Crazy Language

English is used by a diversity of people throughout the world in numerous ways. There are multiple amounts of definitions and ways to say them. In the short essays, “Redefining Definition” by Erin McKean and “English is a Crazy Language” by Richard Lederer, the authors come to a conclusion that the words used in the English dictionaries do not always have the same meaning but depends on the context being used. Some things we say may not be exactly what we mean, such as, “it’s raining cats and dogs.” The way we define words and speak English can cause a problem of language. The meaning of language is the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. Putting words together to give it a definition takes place on how we use them, which makes one question on what is the real definition of the words we use today.

In “Redefining Definition” by Erin McKean, she is elaborating how the dictionary can be misleading. It is explaining that in dictionaries they put words together and tell you that’s the definition. They assume that you will understand the “real” definition without giving an explanation on how to use it in the correct context. Apparently the cause of why various examples are not included in the dictionary is because of its lack of space. McKean feels that because the World Wide Web has an unlimited amount of space that can change the problem. So McKean and her colleagues try and accomplish an online dictionary called Wordnik.com while using techniques.

In “English Is a Crazy Language” by Richard Lederer, he states that English is the most spoken language of the world. English is spoken by various people in the many fields. We use English from readi...

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...hen we communicate with one another, making English a crazy language. English is determined to be an undependable source until we are able make a sense of it. Not in every language, we use the same terms for the same meaning such as, “in what other language can your nose run and your feel smell?” (Lederer 218). In reality you can run with your feet and you smell with your nose. Every day we are growing with the advancement of modern technology that is improving our grammatical form of speaking.

Overall, what we say is not always what we mean. Both Lederer and McKean explain how language is more than English, but is something we should enhance on. The importance of our grammar and meaning is a big part of our everyday life. Establishing the better usage of our language, and awareness of how we interpret what we mean to communicate with one another.