And there's also people I've met who learn
>English words but don't actually learn the language. ("Throw me down
>the stairs my pants.")
>

You've accidentally brought up one of the strengths of English, Laudre. "Throw me down the stairs my pants" might sound ludicrous, but I can grok that the dood wants me to toss him his pants.
Compare this to certain other languages where such grammatical slip ups can turn an innocent request into a death threat, or some such B-) I only wish I could give a specific example, but you get the drift, I'd think.

TRB

"I wish I was reaper, culling lost souls. I wish I could cast them into deep and lonely holes."