Recent Posts

1

English & Linguistics / Re: Quotes from work

« Last post by rivka on September 21, 2023, 07:46:05 PM »

In a recent listserv discussion about sending term-start emails, there was this gem (as a fantasy, not an actual suggestion):

Dear Faculty,
The year is about to start. Get your @#!$%! together, read your email and finish your grading on time.
Have a good year.

2

English & Linguistics / Re: Dear Expert

« Last post by rivka on September 11, 2023, 01:48:02 PM »

There was a study about it.

But this has more on the reasons.

3

English & Linguistics / Re: Dear Expert

« Last post by Tante Shvester on September 11, 2023, 11:11:19 AM »

Why is the typeset lowercase "g" so messed up.  I can't even draw it.

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English & Linguistics / Re: Word and phrase misuse

« Last post by pooka on August 24, 2023, 12:09:42 AM »

Now this guy is saying Diphtheria starts with dif and not dip sounds.  Though he also said Alabama borders Arkansas, which is not quite true, and if it were, there's a mile wide river between.  (This is the chapter on infectious disease).   
"Give him a hand!  He's British!"

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English & Linguistics / Re: Dear Expert

« Last post by pooka on August 24, 2023, 12:00:53 AM »

m-w.com

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English & Linguistics / Re: Dear Expert

« Last post by Ela on August 23, 2023, 05:07:26 AM »

m-w conjectures:

Spoiler: hiding my shame in using the literal dictionary (click to show/hide)

"In 16th-century France, vendre des canards à moitié was a colorful way of saying "to fool" or "to cheat." The French phrase means, literally, "to half-sell ducks." No one now knows just what was meant by "to half-sell"; the proverb was probably based on some story widely known at the time, but the details have not survived. At any rate, the expression led to the use of canard, the French word for "duck," with the meaning of "a hoax" or "a fabrication." English speakers adopted this canard in the mid-1800s. The aeronautical sense of canard, used from the early days of flying, comes from the stubby duck-like appearance of the aircraft."

Interesting, pooka. Which dictionary did you check?

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English & Linguistics / Re: Dear Expert

« Last post by rivka on August 22, 2023, 10:41:40 PM »

It seems like possible mispronunciations would be the main appeal to school children.

Nah. It's just silly and fun, especially once you have a chain with lots of people. Like this!

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English & Linguistics / Re: Dear Expert

« Last post by pooka on August 22, 2023, 10:31:32 PM »

I never heard of that one.  It seems like possible mispronunciations would be the main appeal to school children.  Does canard rhyme with anything potentially shocking in french?

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English & Linguistics / Re: Dear Expert

« Last post by rivka on August 22, 2023, 10:00:28 PM »

Wanna buy a duck?

A what?

A duck!

Does it quack?

(If you have no idea what I am referring to, see this (among many others).)

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English & Linguistics / Re: Word and phrase misuse

« Last post by rivka on August 22, 2023, 09:57:05 PM »

When most people describe tastes, they are definitely talking about something more elaborate than sweet/salty/bitter/sour/(umami). So if we are going by usage . . . .