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55 [fifty-five]

Working

55 [vyf en vyftig]	Werk

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Long words, short words

The length of a word is dependent upon its informative content. This has been shown by an American study. Researchers evaluated words from ten European languages. This was achieved with the help of a computer. The computer analyzed various words with a program. In the process, it used a formula to calculate the informative content. The results were clear. The shorter a word is, the less information it conveys. Interestingly, we use short words more often than long words. The reason for this could lie in the efficiency of speech. When we speak, we concentrate on the most important thing. Therefore, words without much information mustn't be too long. This guarantees we don't spend too much time on unimportant things. The correlation between length and content has another advantage. It ensures that the informative content always remains the same. That is to say, we always say the same amount in a certain period of time. For example, we can use a few long words. But we can also use many short words. It doesn't matter what we decide: The informative content remains the same. As a result, our speech has a consistent rhythm. This makes it easier for listeners to follow us. If the amount of information were always varied, it would be difficult. Our listeners couldn't adapt well to our speech. Comprehension would thus be made difficult. He who wants the best chance of being understood should use short words. Since short words are better comprehended than long ones. Therefore, the principle goes: Keep It Short and Simple! In short: KISS!

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What do you do for a living?	W_t i_ u v_n b_r_e_? Wat is u van beroep? W__ i_ u v__ b______ Wat is u van beroep? ___ __ _ ___ _______ Wat is u van beroep?
My husband is a doctor.	M_ m_n i_ ’_ d_k_e_. My man is ’n dokter. M_ m__ i_ ’_ d______ My man is ’n dokter. __ ___ __ __ _______ My man is ’n dokter.
I work as a nurse part-time.	E_ w_r_ d_e_t_d_ a_ ’_ v_r_l_e_s_e_. Ek werk deeltyds as ’n verpleegster. E_ w___ d_______ a_ ’_ v____________ Ek werk deeltyds as ’n verpleegster. __ ____ ________ __ __ _____________ Ek werk deeltyds as ’n verpleegster.

We will soon receive our pension.	O_s s_l b_n_e_o_t o_s p_n_i_e_ o_t_a_g_ Ons sal binnekort ons pensioen ontvang. O__ s__ b________ o__ p_______ o_______ Ons sal binnekort ons pensioen ontvang. ___ ___ _________ ___ ________ ________ Ons sal binnekort ons pensioen ontvang.
But taxes are high.	M_a_ d_e b_l_s_i_g i_ h_o_. Maar die belasting is hoog. M___ d__ b________ i_ h____ Maar die belasting is hoog. ____ ___ _________ __ _____ Maar die belasting is hoog.
And health insurance is expensive.	E_ m_d_e_e v_r_e_e_i_g i_ d_u_. En mediese versekering is duur. E_ m______ v__________ i_ d____ En mediese versekering is duur. __ _______ ___________ __ _____ En mediese versekering is duur.

What would you like to become some day?	W_t w_l j_ g_a_g e_n_a_ w_r_? Wat wil jy graag eendag word? W__ w__ j_ g____ e_____ w____ Wat wil jy graag eendag word? ___ ___ __ _____ ______ _____ Wat wil jy graag eendag word?
I would like to become an engineer.	E_ w_l g_a_g ’_ i_g_n_e_r w_r_. Ek wil graag ’n ingenieur word. E_ w__ g____ ’_ i________ w____ Ek wil graag ’n ingenieur word. __ ___ _____ __ _________ _____ Ek wil graag ’n ingenieur word.
I want to go to college.	E_ w_l u_i_e_s_t_i_ t_e g_a_. Ek wil universiteit toe gaan. E_ w__ u___________ t__ g____ Ek wil universiteit toe gaan. __ ___ ____________ ___ _____ Ek wil universiteit toe gaan.

I am an intern.	E_ i_ ’_ „_n_e_n_. Ek is ’n „intern“. E_ i_ ’_ „________ Ek is ’n „intern“. __ __ __ _________ Ek is ’n „intern“.
I do not earn much.	E_ v_r_i_n n_e v_e_ n_e_ Ek verdien nie veel nie. E_ v______ n__ v___ n___ Ek verdien nie veel nie. __ _______ ___ ____ ____ Ek verdien nie veel nie.
I am doing an internship abroad.	E_ d_e_ m_ i_t_r_s_a_ i_ d_e b_i_e_a_d_ Ek doen my internskap in die buiteland. E_ d___ m_ i_________ i_ d__ b_________ Ek doen my internskap in die buiteland. __ ____ __ __________ __ ___ __________ Ek doen my internskap in die buiteland.

That is my boss.	D_t i_ m_ b_a_. Dit is my baas. D__ i_ m_ b____ Dit is my baas. ___ __ __ _____ Dit is my baas.
I have nice colleagues.	E_ h_t g_w_ k_l_e_a_. Ek het gawe kollegas. E_ h__ g___ k________ Ek het gawe kollegas. __ ___ ____ _________ Ek het gawe kollegas.
We always go to the cafeteria at noon.	S_i_d_g_ g_a_ o_s a_t_d k_o_g t_e_ Smiddags gaan ons altyd kroeg toe. S_______ g___ o__ a____ k____ t___ Smiddags gaan ons altyd kroeg toe. ________ ____ ___ _____ _____ ____ Smiddags gaan ons altyd kroeg toe.

I am looking for a job.	E_ i_ o_ s_e_ n_ w_r_. Ek is op soek na werk. E_ i_ o_ s___ n_ w____ Ek is op soek na werk. __ __ __ ____ __ _____ Ek is op soek na werk.
I have already been unemployed for a year.	E_ i_ a_ ’_ j_a_ w_r_l_o_. Ek is al ’n jaar werkloos. E_ i_ a_ ’_ j___ w________ Ek is al ’n jaar werkloos. __ __ __ __ ____ _________ Ek is al ’n jaar werkloos.
There are too many unemployed people in this country.	D_a_ i_ t_ v_e_ w_r_l_s_ m_n_e i_ d_é l_n_. Daar is te veel werklose mense in dié land. D___ i_ t_ v___ w_______ m____ i_ d__ l____ Daar is te veel werklose mense in dié land. ____ __ __ ____ ________ _____ __ ___ _____ Daar is te veel werklose mense in dié land.

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