A former coworkers of mine stopped by my desk this morning, and we were talking. He'd intended to loan me a book he has two copies of, and was apologizing for only being able to offer my the shabbier copy. He said "I better book Tim loaned," and then looked kind of startled for a moment before phrasing his comment as "I loaned Tim the better book." He has best-native proficiency in English, but his first language is a tribal language from the northern India. I'd bet my eyeteeth that what I saw there was a glimpse of his native language's word order.
By the way, I wasn't actually trying to post this in this thread, but by the time I realized I'd clicked into the wrong thread I'd already typed the message out, and I don't yet know how to copy and paste text with the phone I'm using to connect to GC. So...
If this message has offended
Think but this and all is mended
That Jake's long not posted here
And while misplaced posts are drear
Once he's learned his phone's features
Such mistakes will be rare creatures.
GCers do not reprehend
When I get home I will mend
My missive's faulty placement
And perform self-abasement
Now to scape the serpent's tongue
I will make amends ere long
Else the Jake a liar call
Until then good day to all
Give me your hands, if we be friends
And No'mon shall restore amends.
