Author Topic: Word and phrase misuse (Read 24516 times)

Jonathon · « **Reply #25 on:** February 16, 2012, 07:46:40 PM »

Nope. It comes from the Latin mater with the -trix suffix of feminine agent nouns (so "xtrix" means someone who does x). It looks like mater originally just meant "mother" but came to be used in postclassical Latin to mean "womb" in translations from Greek. Greek had the related words meter for "mother" and metra for "womb."

The word metropolis comes from the Greek for "mother city," meaning a city that had established colonies.

Marianne Dashwood · « **Reply #26 on:** February 16, 2012, 10:46:02 PM »

It still means womb in French.

rivka · « **Reply #27 on:** February 16, 2012, 10:53:45 PM »

Was the movie of that name released in France? If so, what did they call it?!?

Porter · « **Reply #28 on:** February 16, 2012, 11:14:59 PM »

And what do they call matrices in French linear algebra?

Jonathon · « **Reply #29 on:** February 16, 2012, 11:17:44 PM »

Matrix means lots of things in English; I wouldn't be surprised if it also meant lots of things in French. In fact, I'd kind of expect it.

Jonathon · « **Reply #30 on:** February 16, 2012, 11:22:13 PM »

Quelle surprise! Wiktionary records ten different meanings for the French matrice, most of which correspond pretty directly to the English meanings.

rivka · « **Reply #31 on:** February 16, 2012, 11:23:33 PM »

Quote from: Jonathon on February 16, 2012, 11:17:44 PM

Matrix means lots of things in English; I wouldn't be surprised if it also meant lots of things in French. In fact, I'd kind of expect it.

Ok, but if they used the same title, I'd expect all sorts of vulgar jokes.

Maybe they had 'em. Think what we missed.

Marianne Dashwood · « **Reply #32 on:** February 17, 2012, 01:24:07 PM »

Apparently in France the movie was released retaining the English spelling.

(The French spelling is matrice)

pooka · « **Reply #33 on:** February 18, 2012, 01:31:38 PM »

The question is whether they giggled incessantly at the titles of Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions.

Marianne Dashwood · « **Reply #34 on:** March 07, 2012, 10:53:54 PM »

Neil DeGrasse Tyson just "misused" comprise. I'm counting it as a sign we can all move on to the new usage

rivka · « **Reply #35 on:** March 08, 2012, 12:26:49 AM »

BlackBlade · « **Reply #36 on:** March 08, 2012, 04:52:43 AM »

I'm just going to step in it. What's wrong with the phrase, "The atoms that comprise life on earth?"

Porter · « **Reply #37 on:** March 08, 2012, 06:17:15 AM »

The "correct" usage is the opposite -- life is comprised of the atoms. Life does the comprising, not the atoms.

rivka · « **Reply #38 on:** March 08, 2012, 08:35:23 AM »

He should have used "compose" instead.

Jonathon · « **Reply #39 on:** March 08, 2012, 09:57:40 AM »

Quote from: Porter on March 08, 2012, 06:17:15 AM

The "correct" usage is the opposite -- life is comprised of the atoms. Life does the comprising, not the atoms.

Wrong again! Life comprises the atoms. Or the atoms compose life. Or life is composed of the atoms, or the atoms are comprised in life. But never "comprised of" according to the rule.

You can see why it confuses people.

Brinestone · « **Reply #40 on:** March 08, 2012, 09:58:06 AM »

Quote from: Porter on March 08, 2012, 06:17:15 AM

The "correct" usage is the opposite -- life is comprised of the atoms. Life does the comprising, not the atoms.

Actually, you used it "wrong" too, which all the more evidence that since nobody uses it "right," the usage has, indeed, moved on.

It should have been, "life comprises the atoms." "Is comprised of" is always wrong.

Jonathon · « **Reply #41 on:** March 08, 2012, 10:06:28 AM »

ahem

*looks up*

Porter · « **Reply #42 on:** March 08, 2012, 04:41:04 PM »

Quote

"Is comprised of" is always wrong.

I'm OK with being wrong on this one.

Brinestone · « **Reply #43 on:** March 08, 2012, 07:43:16 PM »

Quote from: Porter on March 08, 2012, 04:41:04 PM

Quote
"Is comprised of" is always wrong.
I'm OK with being wrong on this one.

Yeah, me too. I forgot the scare quotes on "wrong," but that was essentially the point I was trying to make.

Jonathon · « **Reply #44 on:** March 08, 2012, 08:57:49 PM »

I thought you said "comprised of" still bugs you.

Porter · « **Reply #45 on:** March 09, 2012, 06:52:29 AM »

I'm curious as to why specifically Neil DeGrasse Tyson's "misuse" counts as a sign we can all move on to the new usage. Because he's famous? Because he's famous for being smart? Famous, smart, and well-spoken? Or because it's physicists that we should look to for linguistic advice?

Brinestone · « **Reply #46 on:** March 09, 2012, 07:49:59 AM »

Quote from: Jonathon on March 08, 2012, 08:57:49 PM

I thought you said "comprised of" still bugs you.

Maybe I did, but I'm overcoming it. How's that?

rivka · « **Reply #47 on:** March 09, 2012, 08:02:18 AM »

Quote from: Porter on March 09, 2012, 06:52:29 AM

Or because it's physicists that we should look to for linguistic advice?

THE HORROR!

Jonathon · « **Reply #48 on:** March 09, 2012, 09:28:34 AM »

Quote from: Porter on March 09, 2012, 06:52:29 AM

I'm curious as to why specifically Neil DeGrasse Tyson's "misuse" counts as a sign we can all move on to the new usage. Because he's famous? Because he's famous for being smart? Famous, smart, and well-spoken? Or because it's physicists that we should look to for linguistic advice?

I think that was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but you could make the argument that because educated speakers set the bar for standard usage, anything that's common enough among educated users should be accepted.

Marianne Dashwood · « **Reply #49 on:** March 09, 2012, 02:01:54 PM »

Quote from: Jonathon on March 09, 2012, 09:28:34 AM

Quote from: Porter on March 09, 2012, 06:52:29 AM
I'm curious as to why specifically Neil DeGrasse Tyson's "misuse" counts as a sign we can all move on to the new usage. Because he's famous? Because he's famous for being smart? Famous, smart, and well-spoken? Or because it's physicists that we should look to for linguistic advice?

I think that was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but you could make the argument that because educated speakers set the bar for standard usage, anything that's common enough among educated users should be accepted.

^ this.

Mostly the tongue in cheek part.