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/lit/ - Literature

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14249778 No.14249778 [Reply] [Original]

As ESL, my familiarity of words are largely out of touch with 'modern' terms, because I almost always have exclusively read old classics.
What resources are the best to 'modernise' my English? Is it contemporary novels? I tried John Green but couldn't get past the first couple of pages.

>> No.14249816

Don’t bother.
Native English speakers will be impressed with your formal English grammar. You will come across as very educated.

>> No.14249974

>>14249778
Is that my boy Tagore

>> No.14250000

>>14249816
Not true. That's like saying you don't need to speak different registers in any language, just speak the same no matter the context. At best it hinders communication, at worst it's social castration. Furthermore, old classics don't necessarily impart formal English. It's doubtful that OP actually knows and can use formal English in a real conversation. By that I mean polite English.

>> No.14250009

>>14249778
Podcasts. It's not the language, it's the diction and nuance. You have to read it right to understand it.

>> No.14250266

>>14249974
yes

>> No.14250276

>>14250009
I meant my written prose too. Will podcast cover that?

>> No.14250317

Even "old classics" would have "As an ESL" rather than "As ESL."

You're not half as great as you think you are.

>> No.14250327

>>14250317
Also, "my familiarity with words IS largely..." you also split the infinitive with "have exclusively read."

Also not "what resources" but "which resources."

You fucking suck, bro.

>> No.14250394

>>14250276
A lot of written language is based in spoken word styles, especially essays and speeches. Understanding how the language is spoken is understanding how it is written. The divide between written and spoken language has differences and most of us have trouble with the written aspect reading well.

>> No.14250401

>>14250327
>muh split infinitives

Split infinitives are perfectly cromulent english.

>> No.14250415

>>14250401
I don't care that much about them. It's actually a split verb rather than a split infinitive, but whatever.

I was just annoyed and disgusted by OP's arrogance.

>> No.14250578

>>14250394
but spoken aspect is a lot simplified. atleast if you intend to write beautifully

>> No.14250593

>>14250317
>>14250327
Came here to post this

>> No.14250596

>>14250415
OP here. What are you annoyed about exactly? I didn't brag or said I mastered old my English on op. I just said whatever I've learned it's almost all old english. Where are you finding my arrogance?

>> No.14250599

>>14250596
>said I mastered old English on op