[quirky3]

Subject: English Lesson: ‘Complete’ or ‘Finished’?

For those of you interested in linguistics:

Here's your English lesson of the day:

"Complete" or "Finished?"

No dictionary has ever been able to satisfactorily define the difference
between "complete" and "finished."

However, during a recent linguistic conference, held in London, England, and attended by some of the best linguists in the world, Samsundar Balgobin, a Guyanese linguist, was the presenter when he was asked to make that very distinction.
The question put to him by a colleague in the erudite audience was this: “Some say there is no difference between ‘complete’ and ‘finished.’ Please explain the difference in a way that is easy to understand.”

Mr. Balgobin’s response: “When you marry the right woman, you are
‘complete.’ If you marry the wrong woman, you are ‘finished.’ And, if the
right one catches you with the wrong one, you are ‘completely finished.’”

His answer received a five minute standing ovation.

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by quirky3

Subject: English Lesson: ‘Complete’ or ‘Finished’?

For those of you interested in linguistics:

Here's your English lesson of the day:

"Complete" or "Finished?"

No dictionary has ever been able to satisfactorily define the difference
between "complete" and "finished."

However, during a recent linguistic conference, held in London, England, and attended by some of the best linguists in the world, Samsundar Balgobin, a Guyanese linguist, was the presenter when he was asked to make that very distinction.
The question put to him by a colleague in the erudite audience was this: “Some say there is no difference between ‘complete’ and ‘finished.’ Please explain the difference in a way that is easy to understand.”

Mr. Balgobin’s response: “When you marry the right woman, you are
‘complete.’ If you marry the wrong woman, you are ‘finished.’ And, if the
right one catches you with the wrong one, you are ‘completely finished.’”

His answer received a five minute standing ovation.

[TheVillageChicken]

While pledging a fraternity, I was tasked to report to the brothers how many bricks it took to complete a certain section of an old street in town. I will never forget the number I came up with, 32117. I counted three times, because it was very important to be precise. I got three different totals, so I averaged it, and prayed I was correct. When I reported at the next meeting, I was told that, "No, pledge, it took one brick to complete it."