Homophones : words that sound alike or one reason English is difficult to learn

One reason the English language may seem difficult to learn is that there are so many words that sound alike but are spelled differently. This large group of multiple-meaning words is called homophones. The term "homophone" comes from the Greek words "homos" (same) and "phone" (sound). There are hundreds of homophones. This book lists those that may help English as a second language students the most in their study of the English language. Some words are not pronounced exactly the same way but are very similar. Studying homophones is a fun and interesting way to improve one's language skills. The reader might be amazed at how many homophones are used in everyday life.

This exciting third volume of David B. Honey's comprehensive history of Chinese thought begins with China after nomadic invaders overran the northern regions of the historic kingdom. The differentiation between scholarly emphases—northern focus on the traditional pedagogical commentary, and southern classical school's more innovative commentary—led to an emphasis on the interpretation of the overall message of a text, not a close reading of smaller sections. As Honey explains, serious attention to the phonological nature of Chinese characters also began during in this long era. Based on the work of earlier Sui dynasty classicists, Kong Yinga and his committee produced theCorrect Meaningcommentary to the Five Classics during the early Tang Dynasty, which is still largely normative today. The book demonstrates that the brooding presence of Zheng Xuan, the great textual critic from the Eastern Han dynasty, still exerted enormous influence during this period, as his ritualized approach to the classics inspired intellectual followers to expand on his work or impelled opponents to break off in new directions.

"The daughter of a famous mystery writer takes on the massive undertaking of completing a book he started before his death, plunging her into more drama than she bargained for"-- Provided by publisher "A lighthearted guide to homophones for English Second Language learners or anyone who wants to improve their language skills"-- Provided by publisher