Ask the Lorax

[The Lorax]

Is it just English or do all languages have so many words that are spelled differently, sound just alike, but mean different things?

sea/see

bear/bare

steak/stake

Hi Scarlet! Great question.

Different words with identical pronunciations are called homonyms. You're right, the English language is full of them, and that has a lot to do with its eclectic roots. Picture two trains running on the same track, head on. One train is the Latin train and the other is the German train. BOOM, they collide. The English language would be the rubble. English is riddled with grammatical exceptions, weird spellings and weird pronunciations. Homonyms among them.

But that doesn't really answer your question, and I can't answer it fully. The only other language I can speak is Italian, and like what Dave said, romance languages tend to pronounce words the way they are spelled. This means less homonyms. I did a Google search for "homonyms in other languages" and the first page that came up was about Lithuanian homonyms. There are a bunch, apparently. Lithuanian is weird in other ways as well, including its lack of articles (words like "a", "an", and "the"), and the fact it is Sanskrit-based, meaning it is more closely related to Hindi than any European language. Lithuanian is also one of the oldest languages in the world. I know this because I am Lithuanian in descent, and I regret that my parents never taught me to speak a word of it.

[The Lorax]

No thunder here. I was using the whisper-ma-phone.

Crikey! That was a good one. We have a fish named the Onceler and I used to chase my 4 yo around with the groovulous glove.

Nicely done.

[The Lorax]

(1) Does "modern science” make it impossible to believe in the “Resurrection of Jesus Christ” as described in the New Testament - the same position traditionally held by the Christian church for over 2000 years?

The answer to that question depends on one's personal view of modern science and its relationship with Truth. For instance, if a person believes our current understanding of science is completely accurate and, furthermore, that it is the be-all and end-all of all knowledge, then it would seem all miracles are either impossible or were not miracles at all, but tricks like those of a stage magician or, by extension, a modern-day technologist. But I think that person's belief would be rather extreme. I think most people would agree that while science is immensely helpful in elucidating the mechanics of the universe, it is not necessarily all there is to know. This opens us up to the mind-bending possibility that God can defy natural law at will, and thus there would be no limits to his miraculous power. This notion sounds crazy until we remember the very creation of our universe seems to defy our most basic natural laws.

(2) Does a Christian have hope without the "resurrection of the dead", and therefore without the "resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ"?

“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14).

Nope.

[Scarletprayers]

Thanks to both Davem and Lorax.................................when I was in high school about 100 years ago, and in a creative writing class, I wrote my story using the incorrect spelling of the word, when read aloud, it was fine to those listening, however when read from the paper...............well my teacher was highly amused...............I personally thought it was great fun. but its always made me wonder, why? Basically we are a unromantic train wreck!

[The Lorax]

do you believe God did “defy natural law” – do you believe God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:9-10 )?

That's the Bible's message.

[The Lorax]

Thanks to both Davem and Lorax.................................when I was in high school about 100 years ago, and in a creative writing class, I wrote my story using the incorrect spelling of the word, when read aloud, it was fine to those listening, however when read from the paper...............well my teacher was highly amused...............I personally thought it was great fun. but its always made me wonder, why? Basically we are a unromantic train wreck!

Hahaha.

...

Can I ask what word?

[Scarletprayers]

Thanks to both Davem and Lorax.................................when I was in high school about 100 years ago, and in a creative writing class, I wrote my story using the incorrect spelling of the word, when read aloud, it was fine to those listening, however when read from the paper...............well my teacher was highly amused...............I personally thought it was great fun. but its always made me wonder, why? Basically we are a unromantic train wreck!

Hahaha.

...

Can I ask what word?

I guess I didn't explain that very well, all of them, if I was supposed to use sea like water, I used see, talking about a big bear, I used bare..........it took me forever to come up with enough words that I could twist to work in the story, and it was awfully fun steaking down the tent.............

[The Lorax]

Do you personally believe God raised Jesus from the dead?

I think I just made that clear in my last two posts.

[MorningGlory]

About nature stuff. Or anything really. I'll try my best to help you find the answer.

Okay, Lorax, this is your stage...climb on up there. If you could go back in time, to any point in time, which would it be and who would you try to meet in person? (Assuming that our species existed in your chosen time period, of course.)

[ted]

How many fingers am I holding behind my back right now....

t.