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I'm inclined to think that, after all, there is no such all-vowel language. I said I had seen a short mention of something like that somewhere, sure, but it is of course possible that it was just false information on the net.

Murihiku, is the Maori language more or less phonetic, like short vowels are pronounced short, and long vowels (those with the macron above them) are pronounced long? Soft consonats, as in Spanish?

Moomingirl, early bird finds a worm!

I feel sorry for that Australian Giant Squid.

At least he did not die on a beach in Greece.......

They would have eaten him.

Don't want a worm.

^ Not even Earthworm Jim?

Thanks, Murihiku!

Uhm what do you mean by 'figures'? Surely I don't understand what that's supposed to mean



That was my reaction too, Sylkat.

Standard Māori is more or less phonetic but there are a few exceptions, along with regional variations in pronunciation and influences from New Zealand English.

Each vowel has only one sound, but a macron indicates that the sound should last slightly longer (like "really" vs "reeeeeally" in English); so it's a longer-length vowel, rather than a "long vowel" in English. Macrons are important in some cases, because they can change the meaning of a word – e.g., "wahine" (woman) vs "wāhine" (women).

Like vowels, each consonant has only one sound, except for the two digraphs "wh" (which is like an English "f") and "ng" (like in the English "singer", but not like in "finger").


There was one in Australia? That's news to me. Are you sure you didn't mean the one that washed up in New Zealand just recently?

Squids are so bizarre creatures that they can wash up in two locations at the same time.

Squids are so bizarre that...

Or

Squids are such bizarre creatures that....

It's not often I get to correct your English. Feel free to correct my Finnish whenever I am brave enough to use it.

It's okay to be corrected once in a while. Just the subject matter itself... I have always thought you can say it the way I tried. Another surprise was how the verb "win" behaves. Of course I was familiar with "beat" but I really thought "win" could be used similarly.

What about, say, "He is so bizarre a person that..." ?

Yes, that would be fine, although "he is so bizarre that..." sounds a bit tidier.

You've got the hang of it though. Happy to answer any grammar questions whenever you like.

How's grammar this morning; did she sleep well?

No, grammar sleeps in her bed, not a well. Sheesh.

Well, well! Who could have guessed?

If you both are referring to our grammar lady, I guess she's done counting her 2,236,414 sheep and should be here any minute now.

Huh? I've been working all day. Just having a brief sitdown while dinner is cooking.