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Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page |
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#1 |
Guard of the Citadel
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxon
Posts: 2,205
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Thanks Downers!
Well, I'll keep this short and simple.
We received our English and History (also in English) tests today and I got very good marks at both. So my teacher asked me what it is that makes me speak English so well - is it what I learned before coming to Germany, is it what I learned here or something that I learned from my parents? Personally I think it is what I learned on the Downs. By posting often and discussing with native speakers on different topics I really feel that I have improved my skills. Sooo... Thanks to all you Downers that have helped me! ![]()
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“The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.”
Delos B. McKown |
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#2 |
A Voice That Gainsayeth
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In that far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 7,431
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Congratulations!
![]() ![]() And so I presume you told the teacher that it was the Downs! You know, propagation is necessary!
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"Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories |
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#3 |
Guard of the Citadel
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oxon
Posts: 2,205
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Nah, he wouldn't understand I guess... not the fantasy interested type.
![]() And indeed it seems the Downs has a practical use. Btw, anyone else who also wishes to thank the Downs for something is of course welcome to post. ![]()
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“The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.”
Delos B. McKown |
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#4 | |
A Voice That Gainsayeth
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In that far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 7,431
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"Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories |
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#5 |
Pittodrie Poltergeist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again
Posts: 633
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I failed my degree because of it.
(This may be a joke)
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As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering. |
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#6 |
Woman of Secret Shadow
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells
Posts: 4,511
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I could thank the Downs for the same thing as Might: improving my English skills. I admit my language is still rather poor but at least I can write English much more fluently now than when I first joined.
Personally I find it wonderful to talk with Tolkien fans from all over the world- especially as I catch myself quite often from judging people based on whether they like Tolkien (good) or not (bad) or maybe don't even have an opinion (uncivilized!). I also want to thank the Downs for keeping me from studying, causing me sleep deprivation and occupying a great part of my free time.
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He bit me, and I was not gentle. |
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#7 |
Auspicious Wraith
Join Date: May 2002
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 4,859
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It's not just those who knew other tongues prior to English that have a reason to thank the Downs. I have had my own language skills improved by discussion with the many fine folk assembled here, now and in years past. Many aspects have been polished or introduced: debating, constructing arguments, proofreading, and vocabulary (interesting new words such as lycanthropy, etc.
![]() To think I would once litter my posts with (sp?)...... ![]()
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Los Ingobernables de Harlond |
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#8 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lurking in the shadows.
Posts: 711
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The Downs especially taught me many ways to express suspicion, and how to eloquently accuse people of the most heinous crimes.
![]() But yes, I wholeheartedly agree with all statements above. Of course, I mostly thank the Downs for something else entirely. |
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#9 |
Shady She-Penguin
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: In a far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 8,093
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Like The Might and Aganzir, I should thank 'Downs for my English skills that are - I'm afraid - quite a lot better than those of an average Finn of my age. Of course things like that I did about half of my lower secondary studies in English and I read a lot in English have improved my English as well (and being naturally talented in languages doesn't hurt either
![]() Which brings me to another issue for which I'm even more grateful than for my improved English skills. For, without the 'Downs, I wouldn't have met a lot of lovely people nor have so many friends of different ages and from different countries. That is a thing I truly value. So thank you, 'Downs!
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Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris
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#10 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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Though I've moved on to other fandoms for the most part, I must thank the Downs for getting me started on role playing and thus improving my written English skills (I'm still fluent in spoken Bad English as well as spoken English.)
Not to mention that the Downs helped turn me away from chatty abbreviations. ![]()
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"So why the safe distance, this curious look? Why tear out single pages when you can throw away the book? Why pluck one string when you can strum the guitar? MeWithoutYou http://fortyfifthparadox.com |
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#11 |
A Voice That Gainsayeth
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In that far land beyond the Sea
Posts: 7,431
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I just finished (or well, I am finishing, just a few words remain) a paper for the school where we are to interpretate some article in other language (English, some people chose also German ones), refer about it, and add some own opinions on it. And I remembered that I should say here that I owe the Downs for the training to quick read information in English, of course, but first and foremost I realised I should thank all you people for the Books discussions, because I have the possibility here to practice work with text, critical thinking and dialogue on such basis. And when I re-read what I wrote, I was greatly amused by the fact that the last part where I am offering my own opinion looks almost as if I responded to some Downer's post in the Books. Well, I tried to keep a more formal style, of course
![]() (And by the way, though this should belong rather to the addiction thread, when I started to write the paper, I had the itching to write: Quote: "..." - So you say, professor, that...? ![]()
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"Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories |
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#12 |
Alive without breath
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla
Posts: 5,912
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When I first began on the 'Downs I was very poor in my spelling* and my grammer was real bad not good yes. I wholeheartedly thank the people of the Downs for offering such insight into Tolkien and encouraging me to write so much.
Without this here Barrow, I don't think I'd be at university right now (Obviously not, RIGHT now, I'm actually at home RIGHT NOW, but you know what I mean). If not for Assigned to Mordor 2, I don't think I would have kept up such a constant stream of writing for a prolonged period when I would otherwise have been too lazy to write. This is such a special place and we should all get together and go into space. *I actually still am, but thanks to Google Toolbar, it is often hidden. ![]()
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I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket... |
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#13 | |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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I'll have to agree with Hookbill in this thanks, or a part of it, my spelling was absolutely horrible, and I did not do my english any justice by trying to learn two languages on my own at once during that time... I actually found out it is possible to loose the means for words, even if it is your mother tongue.
![]() I imagine I probably came off rather horrible myself during that early period. Also, so many conversations here have indeed helped with critical thinking and writing skills, that I am very indebt to. Another thanks o'course, to those lovely Downers who parle francais aussi. Oro, tgwbs, and many others, if it wasn't for you I don't think I would have kept up with my french study and probably would have embarassed my mother even more than I already have. ![]() Merci mes ami! As for czech or polish, that is my own battle to try and reclaim. Plus all the other languages I try to study at once, I just can't decide half the time. Yet another thanks to all of the Downers who have taken the time and sanity to become my friends, without which I probably would not be intelligent and kind enough without. Quote:
Though, you have to admire at how stuctured, yet strange the english language is. You can take a word from another language or even make it up, tinker with it a bit, make a few more people use it, give it some experience in the writing field and somehow it finds its way into the OED along with its 5,000 other meanings. ~ Ka
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Vinur, vinur skilur tú meg? Veitst tú ongan loyniveg? Hevur tú reikað líka sum eg, í endaleysu tokuni? |
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#14 | |
The Sweetest Spoiler
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: from beneath you it giggles incessantly
Posts: 5,789
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Quote:
And to those of you that aren't native English speakers, kudos! To be honest, you speak (or at least type) a lot better English than some of the people I know in college. I congratulate you! ![]()
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"My heart always cowers behind the defense of my wit." Friendship is two pals munching on a well-cooked face together. Fenris bookworm.
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#15 |
Shade with a Blade
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Thanks Downers for making me feel stupid because you all speak five languages and I only one. Thanks for every day reminding of the fact that I am an inferior life-form and a dullard. It means so much to me.
EDIT: Wow. Someone must have hacked my account, because this doesn't sound like something I would say at ALL.
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Stories and songs. Last edited by Gwathagor; 02-24-2008 at 12:29 AM. |
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#16 | |
Child of the West
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Watching President Fillmore ride a unicorn
Posts: 2,132
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The Downs has also provided a great place to discuss the books I love and not be called a "super nerd" for it. And it's where I can work on my writing skills through RPGs and even WW to a lesser extent. Thanks Downs!
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"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain |
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#17 |
Princess of Skwerlz
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles)
Posts: 7,500
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Gwathagor, if the above post was not written by you, you have the option of deleting it to avoid perpretrating a misunderstanding. If it remains, then it is by your choice and must be considered as having your approval.
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...' |
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#18 |
Shade with a Blade
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I jest, I jest. It was extended sarcasm.
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Stories and songs. |
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#19 | |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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Quote:
~ Hmm Ka
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Vinur, vinur skilur tú meg? Veitst tú ongan loyniveg? Hevur tú reikað líka sum eg, í endaleysu tokuni? |
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#20 | |
The Sweetest Spoiler
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: from beneath you it giggles incessantly
Posts: 5,789
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Quote:
~~Sally~~
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"My heart always cowers behind the defense of my wit." Friendship is two pals munching on a well-cooked face together. Fenris bookworm.
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#21 |
Blossom of Dwimordene
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: The realm of forgotten words
Posts: 10,359
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The Downs has helped me with essay writing more than four years of school did.
![]() ![]() ![]() On the less practical side, I want to thank the Downers for being Downers and mking the Downs such a great place! ...And, for bearing with me through all my nonesense posts. :-)
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You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera |
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#22 |
Blossom of Dwimordene
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: The realm of forgotten words
Posts: 10,359
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I'm kind of repeating myself here, but I feel I should do this anyways...
I recently wrote my Eglish exam, where I had to do a lot of on-the-spot analysis and essay writing in a relatively short time period. I think that I managed to finish it in time only because I had so much practice arguing one point or another and/or analyzing stuff here on the Downs. It got me into the habbit of reading something and replying coherently right away, without spending time on planning the post out. A coupe weeks ago my English teacher made a comment about some of my creative writing assignments that they could serve as the beginning of short stories or even novels. I would like to blame the Downs for that. ![]()
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You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera |
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#23 | |
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,506
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And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision. |
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#24 |
Blossom of Dwimordene
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: The realm of forgotten words
Posts: 10,359
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No. *goes to get book*
"There were no sea gulls on the masts." Come on, the Downs may be scary for hobbits, but we're WIGHTS! ![]()
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You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera |
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