Did you know...

[Guest]

that over 10,000 of English words are French in origin. (Dude called Norman conquered England or something.)

That's a lot of suger to borrow. And they say they hate their neighbour.

 

[Stout chap]

Both languages are derived from the Latin, ultimately, although English has much more Germaicism than the French which is why we all sound like thugs.

 

[Stout chap]

In fact, the only reason we Britons use the -ise and -re spellings is because of those Frenchies. In the seventeenth century, the French began spelling with the -ise suffix as opposed to the -ize one. As impressionable Britons, we copied them, but the American Britons did not.

The spelling of -re/-er words such as centre/center was also a Frenchie thing. Both spellings were used rather often, and center was slightly more popular and thus the one the Britons took to America. Then us Englanders decided to fully adopt the centre spelling and it has stuck ever since.

The spelling of -our/-or words was similar. The -our method was the most popular, although -or were acceptable variants. Webster thought the -or spellings were superior and adopted them as part of his American English publication, and Yanquees spelt with considerably less Us for ever after.

 

[Dantetier]

"American" English is such a hodgepodge of languages, it's amazing that anyone can keep track of all the different rules of grammar and spelling

 

[Stout chap]

Every region has their own standard spelling and variants. Some of my students here in the south of England spell "something" as "somethink" because that's how they say it. I have to admit I speak like that, too.

 

[Prince Romeo]

Fuck this shit.


How's that for some good ol' use of the English language.

 

[Guest]

Ph.D in English Litreture?

 

[Prince Romeo]

Nah, just a Masters.

 

[Guest]

Sorry. I was speaking to Stout Chap. It's the second time this happened.

I really should begin to use quote button once again.

 

[Stout chap]

I'm all very well and pleased with the word fuck in our language, but where's the use in replacing every word with shit? Whilst I enjoy saying, "Fuck! the fucking fucker;s fucking fucked the fucker up!" when marking my students' test results, talking about my belongings as "shit" isn't really appealling. You got da shit. I beg your pardon, that sounded more like an insult than a compliment.

 

[BgMma]

I wasn't aware of all this, but I am now. You learn something new everyday.
Good to know.

Of course, knowing that PrinceRomeo has a Master's in English Literature, is a fright.

 

[BgMma]

Sorry. I was speaking to Stout Chap. It's the second time this happened.

I really should begin to use quote button once again.

CV, I knew you weren't talking to me on the other thread.
I thought that was clear, even to you.

 

[Prince Romeo]

....and what's so frightening about that? I resemble that last remark!

 

[BgMma]

....and what's so frightening about that? I resemble that last remark!

You are so cute, you make me want to spank you!

 

[Stout chap]

I have a Ph. D. indeed. Ho ho! I did it on Andrew Marvell, whose poetry is preposterously dull. The politics of the time are quite interesting, though.

 

[BgMma]

I have a Ph. D. indeed. Ho ho! I did it on Andrew Marvell, which is preposterously dull.

 

[Prince Romeo]

BgMma99 you don't happen to be related to PeachyKeen do you?

 

[BgMma]

BgMma99 you don't happen to be related to PeachyKeen do you?

Nope, but I would be proud if I were.

 

[Guest]

I have a Ph. D. indeed. Ho ho! I did it on Andrew Marvell, whose poetry is preposterously dull. The politics of the time are quite interesting, though.

WTF is the metaphysical poet?

 

[Guest]

did you know there is no word that rhymes with orange and the original spelling of fuck is phuck?

 

[BgMma]

did you know there is no word that rhymes with orange and the original spelling of fuck is phuck?

I do now, honey!

 

[Stout chap]

Fuck has always been spelt with an 'f'. And Andrew Marvell was a metaphysical poet, indeed.