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Author Topic: Word Usage Pet peeve  (Read 17457 times)

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Offline Brinestone

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Word Usage Pet peeve
« Reply #25 on: October 11, 2005, 09:00:14 AM »
There were two people in my meeting this morning who kept saying processes as if it were a Latin plural (PRAH-sess-EEZ). I have no idea why they were doing it, but it bugged the heck out of me. Why are people so obsessed with Latin plurals, even when we have perfectly acceptable English ones?
Ephemerality is not binary. -Porter

Offline Porter

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« Reply #26 on: October 11, 2005, 09:04:28 AM »
I've heard that plural before.
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Offline Jono

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Word Usage Pet peeve
« Reply #27 on: October 11, 2005, 09:54:17 AM »
Quote
There were two people in my meeting this morning who kept saying processes as if it were a Latin plural (PRAH-sess-EEZ). I have no idea why they were doing it, but it bugged the heck out of me. Why are people so obsessed with Latin plurals, even when we have perfectly acceptable English ones?
Because we're taught all our lives that Latin is the best language.
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Offline Brinestone

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« Reply #28 on: October 11, 2005, 09:56:05 AM »
Well, is it?
Ephemerality is not binary. -Porter

Offline Porter

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« Reply #29 on: October 11, 2005, 09:58:23 AM »
Very few people know what constitutes a "latin" plural.

I sure don't.

But not realizing that they come from Latin doesn't keep people from thinking that polysylabic latinate words are somehow better than monosylabic germanic words, so there may be some truth to what you say.
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Offline Jono

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« Reply #30 on: October 11, 2005, 09:58:28 AM »
If it was, wouldn't it still be alive?
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Offline Brinestone

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« Reply #31 on: October 11, 2005, 09:59:27 AM »
There are plenty of really great people and really great nations that have gone kaput.
Ephemerality is not binary. -Porter

Offline Jono

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« Reply #32 on: October 11, 2005, 10:06:33 AM »
Dude, don't answer my joke with facts.
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Offline Mal

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« Reply #33 on: October 11, 2005, 10:06:47 AM »
The plural of syllabus is syllabus right?
"This is the Captain. We have a slight problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some turbulence and then... explode."

"Doctor, I've taken your sister under my protection here. If anything happens to her, anything at all, I swear to you: I will get very choked up. Honestly. There might even be tears."

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Offline Jono

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« Reply #34 on: October 11, 2005, 10:07:26 AM »
Syllabuses or syllabi.
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #35 on: October 11, 2005, 10:08:12 AM »
In their defence, I like the sound of processEEZ better than processes -- the almost repeated syllable in the second one makes it more difficult to say.
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Offline Mal

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« Reply #36 on: October 11, 2005, 10:08:26 AM »
Huh. Then my prof is wrong. She said it was the fifth Latin plural conjugation. I had no idea what she was talking about because it was an Italian language and lit class.  
"This is the Captain. We have a slight problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some turbulence and then... explode."

"Doctor, I've taken your sister under my protection here. If anything happens to her, anything at all, I swear to you: I will get very choked up. Honestly. There might even be tears."

Kojabu

Offline Brinestone

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« Reply #37 on: October 11, 2005, 10:09:04 AM »
Dude, I'm not a dude.  :pirate:  
Ephemerality is not binary. -Porter

Offline Porter

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« Reply #38 on: October 11, 2005, 10:09:24 AM »
Whatever, man.
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Offline Jono

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« Reply #39 on: October 11, 2005, 10:10:25 AM »
It could be that English speakers, not knowing Latin, have incorrectly formed the plural. I don't know enough Latin to say.


Dude, it's an interjection, not a vocative noun.
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Offline Mal

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« Reply #40 on: October 11, 2005, 10:14:09 AM »
Ah ok, she's not a native English speaker I don't think. Oh well.  
"This is the Captain. We have a slight problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some turbulence and then... explode."

"Doctor, I've taken your sister under my protection here. If anything happens to her, anything at all, I swear to you: I will get very choked up. Honestly. There might even be tears."

Kojabu

Offline Teshi

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« Reply #41 on: October 11, 2005, 11:35:26 AM »
I hate "me either"

*claws out ears*

"funner" shouldn't be allowed to exist. I don't care if it's right.

Offline Jono

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« Reply #42 on: October 11, 2005, 11:36:09 AM »
Fascist.
The Ghost of Simon Tam

Offline sarcasticmuppet

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« Reply #43 on: October 11, 2005, 11:44:44 AM »
Fascister. :P
You know, I think I'd make a great Queen of England.  --Porter

Offline Mal

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« Reply #44 on: October 11, 2005, 12:06:31 PM »
More funner makes me twinge.  
"This is the Captain. We have a slight problem with our entry sequence, so we may experience some turbulence and then... explode."

"Doctor, I've taken your sister under my protection here. If anything happens to her, anything at all, I swear to you: I will get very choked up. Honestly. There might even be tears."

Kojabu

Offline Porter

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« Reply #45 on: October 11, 2005, 12:10:15 PM »
Most facistist.
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Offline Mike

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« Reply #46 on: October 11, 2005, 12:35:58 PM »
Here's one that I just noticed recently: "opposite tact".  It's "tack", guys.

Offline Porter

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« Reply #47 on: October 11, 2005, 12:38:29 PM »
I know it's correct, but it still grates me when people talk about something filling a nEEsh instead of a nich.
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Offline sarcasticmuppet

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« Reply #48 on: October 11, 2005, 12:39:52 PM »
Erik:  I have a niche?
Mr. Feeny:  niece
Erik:  Ahh... *drinking motions*
You know, I think I'd make a great Queen of England.  --Porter

Offline Porter

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« Reply #49 on: October 11, 2005, 12:41:52 PM »
???
:huh:
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