Bloodbath is so awesome

[derek]

Wow that's really interesting. I'd like a few lessons in Czech.

It's nigh on impossible to learn. Barring Asian languages plus the Finno-Hangarian language group it's the most difficult around. I'm not so bad with languages so I'm getting it, but it's certainly not easy.

 

[Swabs]

See I'd rather use "is" because saying "are" implies that each individual member is awesome, when that may not necessarily be the case, but together, combined with all the other studio people, like producer and mixer, et al, whom result in making their music in recorded form, they result in awesome. Because really that's all that matters, sounds resulting under a particular moniker, to which is being referred.

And your example fails because it would be impossible to say "Bloodbath is a fag" because the fag would have to refer to the sexuality of the members themselves, completely independent of the band, requiring you to use "is" or "are" depending on whether it is the group or an individual.

Bloodbath is a fag.

 

[Phoenix5]

I would say "is" because we're talking about a single group, Bloodbath, and groups are singular. To use "are", we would say "the guys in Bloodbath are...".

Can you really talk about a group as being singular?

The group is in reference to more than one person, so I'm pretty sure it's "are"


Bloobath rock either way.

 

[Chromatose]

Burzum are awesome.

 

[Chromatose]

Bloodbath is a fag.

Can't say I know him.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Dead Winter]

Can you really talk about a group as being singular?

The group is in reference to more than one person, so I'm pretty sure it's "are"


Bloobath rock either way.

It's used like this in other languages, but if I'm not mistaken, the correct form in English is "is". Remember that in English, a group is a singular noun and not plural.

For instance, "His family is fucked up." Family is a group, yet a single entity, but you don't say "His family are fucked up". At least I hope you don't.

I do see your reasoning, and it makes sense...it's correct in Italian and other languages to use the plural.

 

[Dead Winter]

Burzum are awesome.

 

[Phoenix5]

It's used like this in other languages, but if I'm not mistaken, the correct form in English is "is". Remember that in English, a group is a singular noun and not plural.

For instance, "His family is fucked up." Family is a group, yet a single entity, but you don't say "His family are fucked up". At least I hope you don't.

I do see your reasoning, and it makes sense...it's correct in Italian and other languages to use the plural.

hmmm

I'll have to pull out the 5th grade English book I think. haha.

They both seem to make some sense in some way.

 

[Dead Winter]

I know! It's really common to use both in English, and to tell you the truth I've heard both of them used so much that I'm not 100% sure that I'm correct. It's just one of those things.

 

[Dead Winter]

It's nigh on impossible to learn. Barring Asian languages plus the Finno-Hangarian language group it's the most difficult around. I'm not so bad with languages so I'm getting it, but it's certainly not easy.

I'm thinking about learning some Deutsche for survival purposes. I've just about got Italian down to pseudo-fluent, minus a few common small grammatical errors. I hear that German is easy to learn due to the rigid structure for everything, but difficult to pronounce. Everyone has told me to start working on my pronunciation of Deutsche before learning the grammar.

 

[derek]

Well, Scottish people are notoriously good at perfecting German pronunciation, so I can't offer much help there, I found it quite easy. I think it's well worth working on, but knowing how to say things (even if it sounds strange) is just as important, so I'd say do both. It's not all that different from English, so it's relatively easy to learn, I think.

 

[Dead Winter]

Really? Cool...I'm really interested now.

 

[derek]

Germanic Language group, it's considered easier to learn from one's own language grouping, because many of the same rules apply - patterns, grammar and so on. Slavic speakers can usually pick up other Slavic languages quite easily - same for Romance language speakers amongst that group.

One of the things that I find quite interesting is that Slavic speakers (i.e. Czechs in my own experience) often find it difficult to distinguish in their minds whether a particular word or small phrase is English or German. Quite frequently they'll come out with a word in German and then when I look confused they'll consider it for a moment and go "Oops, that's German!". My lay interpretation is that they lump Germanic languages together in their brains somehow.

 

[Dead Winter]

I'd love to sit and pick their brains about how they interpret these things. You can really learn a lot about an entire people just by listening to how they interpret in their mind languages.

 

[derek]

Indeed. It's fascinating. In many ways we're defined by how we express ourselves, our own language being particularly important in that respect. I've read articles in the past, scientific and philosophical, that question how much influence your native tongue has on your greater psychology. I'm not sure how much I'd read into it, but it's feasible for sure.

Also if you hold to such an idea, then it's even more interesting what impact learning another language has on you. For example, does it change you in a rather more important way? Or is it all bollocks and you just think in exactly the same way, but can order coffee from a Spanish waiter? Who knows.

 

[Super Mahrio]

You really didn't like Nightmares? I thought it was a great album with great riffs. Tatgren has a great voice and was a good choice to replace Mike, imo.

I really love Eaten and Blood Vortex.

Oh its not that i dont like it. it is a decent record. its just the weakest in my opinion. I do love Eaten. that song is awesome.

 

[Dead Winter]

For me personally, my personality changed a bit when I started learning Italian. Of course, it was probably due to the fact that I live here, but when you start thinking in a different language instead of translating in your head, I've found that I tend to react differently to different scenarios based on the language.

I'll give you an example. Today a friend of mine from here who has been going to college in the states just brought back a friend with him during his visit, and said friend has never left the US before. It's his first time anywhere in the world, and he's in Italy. Granted, he's still reeling from culture shock and can't get his head around a society that puts such little emphasis on status and success, as well as little emphasis on efficiency (unfortunately, the stereotype of Italians being very inefficient is 100% true). He's just 20 and has this deer-in-the-headlights look about him and doesn't understand the somewhat forceful nature of Italians when they speak; very matter-of-fact, very blunt and very boisterous. He was glad to meet someone else who spoke English besides my other friend and we carried on a conversation about this and that and I realized that while explaining things to him in English like why I didn't want to go back, you could almost see this stunned look of puzzlement, as if to say incredulously, "WHY NOT?!?!?!" I found myself walking somewhat on eggshells and trying to tiptoe around by choosing the precise words so as not to offend. Whether he would've been offended or not I'll never know, but I still wasn't able to put myself completely at ease while speaking English to a native English speaker. Had we been speaking Italian, I don't think it would've even crossed my mind.

Conversely, when I speak Italian and explain to Italians things I don't like about Italy, it's a much more relaxed and open atmosphere without fear of offending someone. I had to sort of re-learn how to communicate with a foreign native English-speaking "tourist" in English because our language is so rich that we often try to soften the blow in English, whereas in Italian you can pretty much say what you want within reason without fear. Americans (typically) err on the side of caution when conversing about these things, and I think a lot of that has to do with our day-to-day language being somewhat harmonious with our quasi phobia of not offending people.

I think you've really hit on something there, Derek. It's quite possible that the language we speak has a direct impact on our culture and how it impacts our own psychology.

 

[derek]

I just mentioned it in the passing, as I'm generally interested. Greater minds have no doubt mused over it for decades.

 

[azal]

I'm pretty sure it's Bloodbath "are" because it's a group of people. At least that's what most of my editors have done when I've written about a band.

anyway, the last Bloodbath album is amazing and fills the hole that Morbid Angel have left by not putting out albums lately.

 

[stefan86]