Leave it to the fundies to take a complex problem, and boil it down to a marginally related question in which the answer makes them look good. Because, who's going to choose death? ;)
My bitchy linguist opinion is that since we aren't speaking latin or greek, we should go with the english plural, octopuses or octopus. I don't think its odd to say "I see several octopus(es) over there", so it's fine by me. Becides, trying to intuit what language a loan word is from is often disastrous, as Alnedra pointed out.
If you want to find the proper greek plural, do you also want to find the "proper" plurals of words like tundra, which was borrowed from Saami through a number of other languages. Assuming it was from south saami, its possible that the plural is tundrat, or maybe tundrak (I can't remember my south saami), and if you go with the north saami, duottar 'tundra' leads to duoddarat. ;P Other words, like Moose should also be treated with care, as the word comes from eastern abenaki, which is spoken around quebec. The word in the language is mos, and the plural is mosak, thus we english speakers should really be writing moosek or something if we want to be correct.
I don't know about abenaki, but nevermind what happens in saami when the word is the object, or you're on the tundras. So yeah, lets just say tundras, octopuses, and moose/meese ;) English would be a different beast if we all freaked out and tried to treat words as their original languages do. Even linguists couldn't keep up.
So, its sad when people who steal software sit in front of their computers for their whole lives, and yet people who work for software companies who they steal from are not seen as sad when they sit in front of computers all day?
Certainly, I realize that these software authors are doing something productive, but... heh. I just couldnt help but see this.
I haven't heard much of what linguists have to say about Bush but my linguistic gut tells me that, while there is socio-economic variation in who says nuclear, and who says nucular, it is up to the speaker to choose to say whichever in order to affect the right sound.
Bush is most definately aware of this (at least, if he pays attention to criticism), and may well be doing it to speak to a particular crowd. He may well realize that people do have judgements on this dialectical variation, and may yet still be chosing to speak this way.
On the other hand, I kind of dislike how he sounds like he's shouting a lot of the time, particularly during the debates. The intonation he uses sometimes sets me on edge.
Didn't someone claim that the asteroid belt was once a planet, from which all redheads of our planet originated? Whoops, I have red hair. Liek omg i can liek move things with my hands omg lol
I have to agree with drjimmy. We could have learned something from the Ukraïne, anyway.
Plus doesn't protesting still imply you're buying into the innauguration crap?
Johnny: Thats what I thought. And that big dark splotch at the bottom? Hmm...
I wonder if anyone around here has the know-how to enhance some of these in the right way. I mean, I'd tweak them in photoshop, but since they're so small can't say it'd be of any use.
Damn you NASA and making us wait for a week! :P
Nostril: More like, it has rocks in that area. Looked like they had some pictures from the descent showing some areas that looked a lot darker and yadda yadda.
Whoa, so he's not gay? I guess being drunk will do that to you though.
posted by alcarilinque 18 years ago
In "Stockholm meetup"
Garlic beer? Hyi! Cider and Koff all the way. I know it ain't Swedish, but Finland, represent!
posted by alcarilinque 18 years ago
In "Rockers Die Young."
Leave it to the fundies to take a complex problem, and boil it down to a marginally related question in which the answer makes them look good. Because, who's going to choose death? ;)
posted by alcarilinque 18 years ago
In "How could you not vote for this guy?"
Yea, but who's he going to appoint? That's my worry. Something to be truely worried of: Harry Potter fangirls.
posted by alcarilinque 18 years ago
In "The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus"
My bitchy linguist opinion is that since we aren't speaking latin or greek, we should go with the english plural, octopuses or octopus. I don't think its odd to say "I see several octopus(es) over there", so it's fine by me. Becides, trying to intuit what language a loan word is from is often disastrous, as Alnedra pointed out. If you want to find the proper greek plural, do you also want to find the "proper" plurals of words like tundra, which was borrowed from Saami through a number of other languages. Assuming it was from south saami, its possible that the plural is tundrat, or maybe tundrak (I can't remember my south saami), and if you go with the north saami, duottar 'tundra' leads to duoddarat. ;P Other words, like Moose should also be treated with care, as the word comes from eastern abenaki, which is spoken around quebec. The word in the language is mos, and the plural is mosak, thus we english speakers should really be writing moosek or something if we want to be correct. I don't know about abenaki, but nevermind what happens in saami when the word is the object, or you're on the tundras. So yeah, lets just say tundras, octopuses, and moose/meese ;) English would be a different beast if we all freaked out and tried to treat words as their original languages do. Even linguists couldn't keep up.
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Free mix tape."
Mix tapes are so romantic. Being able to download one online is a guarantee that someone loves you, even though they don't know you.
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Uncut - OHH!"
Hah. And here I thought speaking finnish would taint my perception of this, but no! This is hilarious.
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Jail for 'Robin Hoods' who cost Microsoft millions"
So, its sad when people who steal software sit in front of their computers for their whole lives, and yet people who work for software companies who they steal from are not seen as sad when they sit in front of computers all day? Certainly, I realize that these software authors are doing something productive, but... heh. I just couldnt help but see this.
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Do you speak American?"
I haven't heard much of what linguists have to say about Bush but my linguistic gut tells me that, while there is socio-economic variation in who says nuclear, and who says nucular, it is up to the speaker to choose to say whichever in order to affect the right sound. Bush is most definately aware of this (at least, if he pays attention to criticism), and may well be doing it to speak to a particular crowd. He may well realize that people do have judgements on this dialectical variation, and may yet still be chosing to speak this way. On the other hand, I kind of dislike how he sounds like he's shouting a lot of the time, particularly during the debates. The intonation he uses sometimes sets me on edge.
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "This"
I don't know about you all, but I want to live with Christophine. I think it might be good to have someone who you can count on being weird. :D
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Naked Man Shot and Killed"
Well, what's funny is they couldn't confirm that they were scissors.
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Dog Condoms"
"We are planning a roll-out for fall 2005" Did anyone else see this pun? :x
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Camion cartoons"
Gives an interesting snapshot of some fun language usage :)
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Write a caption for this pic!"
"My head won't come off!"
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "American Scientist wonder, 'Where are the aliens?' "
Didn't someone claim that the asteroid belt was once a planet, from which all redheads of our planet originated? Whoops, I have red hair. Liek omg i can liek move things with my hands omg lol
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Outsourcing"
Does this win an award for disturbing news of the day?
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "Curious George: Protesting the Inauguration"
I have to agree with drjimmy. We could have learned something from the Ukraïne, anyway. Plus doesn't protesting still imply you're buying into the innauguration crap?
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
In "First picture from Titan's surface."
Rolypoly, I'm sure its because they were worried because killThisKid did such a bang up job with that contrast. ;)
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
Johnny: Thats what I thought. And that big dark splotch at the bottom? Hmm... I wonder if anyone around here has the know-how to enhance some of these in the right way. I mean, I'd tweak them in photoshop, but since they're so small can't say it'd be of any use. Damn you NASA and making us wait for a week! :P
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
Nostril: More like, it has rocks in that area. Looked like they had some pictures from the descent showing some areas that looked a lot darker and yadda yadda.
posted by alcarilinque 19 years ago
(limited to the most recent 20 comments)