gamera 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 I was educated that if I wrote post cards, letters with letter in red, it means something like 'I would like to break off with you'. So I have never written any post cards, letters with a red pen. Probably this is just a Japan domestic manner? Because sometimes I get some post cards, letters with red letter from abroad. And I have been confused if 'letter' is singler, it means characters like ABCDE..... and if 'letter' is used as plural (letterS), it means documents in an envelop... right??? sorry for a silly basic question but have been confused with this problem for more than 30 years since I started learning English, hard to explain why. Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 ok so if we say "man of letters", does that mean he can spell, or write? Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Author Share Posted January 28, 2005 Hum... Write, right??? Link to post Share on other sites
white-void 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 and whats a red letter day? Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Author Share Posted January 28, 2005 Red letter day? I donno, what's that? Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 maybe he can write the right way.. (btw we can use the plural for both. eg "what are the letters in this word?" and "where are my letters?" don't know nuthin' about the red stuff though) Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Author Share Posted January 28, 2005 Quote: Originally posted by montoya: btw we can use the plural for both. eg "what are the letters in this word?" and "where are my letters?" Probably this is what has confused me, so both singler and plural 'letter(s)' could mean both, RIGHT? Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 it could mean both, but _usually_ it refers to letters we put in envelopes. just depends on the context. eg you're a stock trader, want to look up Disney stock: "hey, what are the letters for Disney?" ("DIS", btw) Link to post Share on other sites
Retired Morris Dancer 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 So gamera did you get some red letter for some hot girlfriend then? Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Author Share Posted January 28, 2005 Hum..... plural letterS could mean both, but usually it means letters we put in envelops. Singler letter always mean characters like ABCD.. Thanks montoya, I think the only way for me is just to get used to it! Practice practice! Gonna go to an onsen to warm my waists Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Author Share Posted January 28, 2005 LOL RMD, Nah fortunately No! Ah, RMD asked in singler.. red 'letter' Are you teasing me to confuse? Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 hey gamera, I think you work at a pension/lodge, right? Is there a website for it somewhere? I have some friends who might be heading up to Hakuba later this season. Link to post Share on other sites
js 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 To answer your initial question: The word 'letter' is probably a corruption of its original meaning. These corruptions occur frequently in the English language. 'Letter' usually refers to one of the characters in the alphabet; since 'letters' are used in writing, it is also a colloquialism for a written correspondence. In pure form, a message sent via the post should be called a correspondence, but this is old-fashioned so most people just call a postal message a 'letter'! Today however, the word 'letter' defines two areas - the characters in the alphabet, AND, a precise type of correspondence, namely a postal correspondence, as opposed to a fax, email, sms, etc. (The term 'red-letter day' originates with the tradition of marking holy days in a church calendar in red. The term now designates days of special significance - holidays, anniversaries, days with memorable things attached.) Link to post Share on other sites
wendy-cake 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/viewhotel.php?hotid=8 or directly http://www.hakubajapan.com/ * hope Im not mistaken! Link to post Share on other sites
jstepp 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 corruptions also occur frequently in the nations that use the english language Link to post Share on other sites
jstepp 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 No but seriously, if you get some red letters or letter or whatever from abroad, dont worry about it unless its a death threat or the like. I myself have only slightly heard of this red letter concept, in fact it was in this very thread, but not in the US. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted January 28, 2005 Author Share Posted January 28, 2005 Back from an onsen! Montoya - pm-ed you, just check it Subzero - what an academick description, do you think I can get it???? lol too busy to see my dico (dictionary ! but thanks. Wendy - hehehe, hope not :0 Sakitumi - yeah,I just wondered why some of my customers have sent me letters in red lol.... wondered if I did anything wrong to them Probably they just don't know we say that. Link to post Share on other sites
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