Linguistic Survey

Tiffany   Saturday, December 25, 2004, 23:28 GMT
On second thought, I think Halloween IS all hallow's eve and the day after is all saint's day. So then Oct 30th is the day before Halloween.
Steve   Saturday, December 25, 2004, 23:29 GMT
Tiffany, ''All hallows Eve'' is the full name for ''Halloween'' or ''Hallowe'en'' (as it's sometimes spelled). It's not the term for the night before Halloween. I have no term that I use for the night before Halloween other than October 30th.
Joe   Sunday, December 26, 2004, 02:00 GMT
I think the question was just to see if we say " 30 October" or "October 30th"
mjd   Sunday, December 26, 2004, 02:29 GMT
In my part of the country the night before Halloween is known as "Mischief Night." I didn't think this was a regionalism, but perhaps it is. Generally it's a night when kids go out and, well, cause mischief....smashing people's pumpkins, soaping windows, shooting shaving cream or silly string on shrubs or windows, toilet papering trees, egging cars, etc.
Someone   Sunday, December 26, 2004, 03:04 GMT
That sort of activity is done on Halloween itself where I live.
mjd   Sunday, December 26, 2004, 03:15 GMT
Yeah, it's done on Halloween here too, but it's overshadowed by the kids going around and collecting candy. No one goes out for candy on Mischief Night. They only go out to cause mischief.
Ved   Sunday, December 26, 2004, 06:32 GMT
>>Joe Sunday, December 26, 2004, 02:00 GMT
I think the question was just to see if we say " 30 October" or "October 30th" <<

Clever.
Joanne   Monday, December 27, 2004, 11:48 GMT
Maybe he wanted to see if we called it Mischief Night or Cabbage Night, which is what October 30 was called, back in the day.
Easterner   Monday, December 27, 2004, 12:31 GMT
I wonder why my post has been deleted...
Mike   Monday, December 27, 2004, 22:11 GMT
Southern California

1.
No
No
No
Yes

2.
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No

3.
Faucet
Soda
Pit
You guys
Sprinkles
October 30th
Fireflies
Kirk   Tuesday, December 28, 2004, 09:57 GMT
Age (or age group if you don't want to put your real age): 20
Location where you grew up, or location where you learned English: California

1. Do you distinguish pronunciation between:
pen and pin--yes
caught and cot--no
Mary, marry, merry--no
draw and drawl--yes

2. Do the following sentences sound okay to you? (Don't worry about "technically" correct grammar, just tell me if these sound allright in your opinion, or if you use them.)
I might could do it tonight.--no, "I might be able to do it tonight"
Do you want to come with?--yes
We stood on line for two hours.--no, "in line" sounds better
She is in hospital.--no, "in the hospital"
We seen the movie yesterday.--no, "we saw"
The car needs cleaned.--no, "needs to be cleaned"
We are in five.--what's the context? sounds strange

3. Write the word that you use to refer to these:
source of water over the sink or tub--tap
a carbonated drink--soda
center of a peach--pit
plural form of 'you'--"you guys" (even if it's all girls). if the situation is formal, then "you all".
tiny candies put on top of an ice cream cone or cupcake--sprinkles
the night before Halloween--I don't think I have a word for this...Halloween Eve, maybe, but otherwise I'd just say "the night before Halloween".
small glowing insect visible after dark--firefly
nic   Saturday, January 01, 2005, 07:44 GMT
Age (or age group if you don't want to put your real age): 14
Location where you grew up, or location where you learned English: Minnesota

1. Do you distinguish pronunciation between:
pen and pin YES
caught and cot NO
Mary, marry, merry NO
draw and drawl YES

2. Do the following sentences sound okay to you? (Don't worry about "technically" correct grammar, just tell me if these sound allright in your opinion, or if you use them.)
I might could do it tonight. NO
Do you want to come with? NO
We stood on line for two hours. NO (how can you stand online?)
She is in hospital. NO
We seen the movie yesterday. NO
The car needs cleaned. NO
We are in five. NO

3. Write the word that you use to refer to these:
source of water over the sink or tub FAUCET
a carbonated drink POP
center of a peach PIT
plural form of 'you' YOU
tiny candies put on top of an ice cream cone or cupcake SPRINKLES
the night before Halloween HALLOWEEN EVE
small glowing insect visible after dark FIREFLY
nic   Saturday, January 01, 2005, 07:49 GMT
Being from the Midwest, I think of people who call pop 'soda' as quite ignorant, as soda is a white powder used in baking. People who say soda are often made fun of.
Jonne   Saturday, January 01, 2005, 16:59 GMT
16
Finland

1. Do you distinguish pronunciation between:
pen and pin - yes
caught and cot - yes
Mary, marry, merry - yes
draw and drawl - yes

2. Do the following sentences sound okay to you? (Don't worry about "technically" correct grammar, just tell me if these sound allright in your opinion, or if you use them.)
I might could do it tonight. - no
Do you want to come with? - no
We stood on line for two hours. - yes
She is in hospital. - yes
We seen the movie yesterday. - no
The car needs cleaned. - no
We are in five. - yes

3. Write the word that you use to refer to these:
source of water over the sink or tub - faucet
a carbonated drink - soda
center of a peach - ...
plural form of 'you' - you
tiny candies put on top of an ice cream cone or cupcake - ...
the night before Halloween - ...
small glowing insect visible after dark - fireflies
Smith   Saturday, January 01, 2005, 20:21 GMT
''Being from the Midwest, I think of people who call pop 'soda' as quite ignorant, as soda is a white powder used in baking. People who say soda are often made fun of.''

Nic,

being from California, I think of people who call soda ''pop'' as being quite ignorant, as pop is a kind of music. If someone down here called a carbonated drink a ''pop'' they'd be made fun of.