Search found 232 matches
- Thu Jan 18, 2024 8:14 pm
- Forum: Languages of the World
- Topic: Got Your Number
- Replies: 0
- Views: 2083
Got Your Number
I don’t know if this belongs here, or on this forum at all. Howsomeverwise . . . . I’ve seen our Western Arabic numerals used with all kinds (possibly literally ) of writing systems, Arabic, Chinese, other Asian, and lots of others. (Notices from Kaiser include contact information in lots of differe...
- Wed Jan 17, 2024 7:36 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: Word Search
- Replies: 6
- Views: 8940
Re: Word Search
It's not exact, but spoonerism comes to mind. The original wasn't intentional, but nearly anything you see nowadays called one, is. I’m remembering the very clever Two Ronnies , from BBC television. Wordplay-based humor I always found so much funnier than Monty Python , and way better than Rowan At...
- Wed Jan 17, 2024 3:50 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: More Trivia
- Replies: 9
- Views: 23465
Re: More Trivia
“Pronunciation: slu (US), slaw (UK)”
Interesting. ‘Slaw’ would a fifth way to pronounce.
Unfortunately, this is not supported by the OED.
Maybe - and I think anyone is susceptible to this - it’s a regional variation so familiar it’s thought of without question as standard.
Interesting. ‘Slaw’ would a fifth way to pronounce.
Unfortunately, this is not supported by the OED.
Maybe - and I think anyone is susceptible to this - it’s a regional variation so familiar it’s thought of without question as standard.
- Tue Jan 16, 2024 11:35 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: More Trivia
- Replies: 9
- Views: 23465
Re: More Trivia
Hi. Did you mean though ? Because through is one of the two most obvious ones. Matter of fact, it’s the usual pronunciation of your second slough . ‘Slough’ was an alternate spelling of ‘slow’ in Middle English, and ‘slow’ is given as a secondary pronunciation of ‘slough’-cum-‘morass’ in U.S. Englis...
- Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:47 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: More Trivia
- Replies: 9
- Views: 23465
Re: More Trivia
Enfin! Well, all both of you waiting . . . (I’ve always been an optimist, and apologies to Louis Jordan, by the by) . . . counting British English, (or Old or Middle English, if you’re doing a reading), there are four ways to pronounce s-l-o-u-g-h . To wit, depending on meaning, of course, it can r...
- Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:45 pm
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Kvetch
- Replies: 3
- Views: 12634
Re: Kvetch
I’ve heard that usage and you’re perfectly right. Should have noted that. Supported by both sources mentioned. Thanks.
- Sat Jan 13, 2024 5:09 pm
- Forum: Good Word Suggestions
- Topic: Kvetch
- Replies: 3
- Views: 12634
Re: Kvetch
According to Leo Rosten’s The Joys of Yiddish - and HRH, the OED - the word derives from the German ‘quetschen’, ‘squeeze’ or ‘press’. Although Rosten cites several meanings, I think it’s safe to say that these days its near-exclusive use is yours, ‘complain’. Practitioners of the ancient art are (m...
- Mon Jan 08, 2024 3:58 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: More Trivia
- Replies: 9
- Views: 23465
Re: More Trivia
Still homonyms. Heteronyms are - independently - tear, lead, bow, and the ever-popular cetera.
- Sun Jan 07, 2024 6:03 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: More Trivia
- Replies: 9
- Views: 23465
Re: More Trivia
Sorry, old son. Abbreviations need not apply. Anyway, those are homo nyms. Perusing my effluvia, though, I do see a few quad homonyms, although a couple exhibit scant respect for my strict principles on word games. Actually, I didn’t know ‘heteronym’, and discovered it searching the OED for words en...
- Sun Jan 07, 2024 3:56 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: More Trivia
- Replies: 9
- Views: 23465
More Trivia
Through assiduous shiftlessness, I have found a quadruple heteronym!
And it doesn’t involve Scottish English.
It will be revealed in a week or so. (I may need reminding.)
And it doesn’t involve Scottish English.
It will be revealed in a week or so. (I may need reminding.)
- Wed Jan 03, 2024 2:11 am
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: Word Search
- Replies: 6
- Views: 8940
Re: Word Search
That is quite interesting, but we’re still missing its vocal cousin. Closer, but no cigars yet. I’ve just found this ‘obsolete’ word in the OED: missounding, ‘Erroneous or uneuphonious sounding (of music, words, etc.),’ which could include intentional application.
- Sun Dec 31, 2023 2:28 pm
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: Word Search
- Replies: 6
- Views: 8940
Word Search
Anyone know a word - I haven’t had any luck with reverse dictionaries - for ‘deliberate mispronunciation,’ - as for comedic or emotive effect? (Or ‘deliberate use of incorrect grammar,’ either.) I’m thinking of some very effective examples. I think such rhetorical devices may go back a long way, and...
- Tue Dec 05, 2023 1:11 am
- Forum: Res Diversae
- Topic: Alternative Christmas hymns
- Replies: 36
- Views: 60728
Re: Alternative Christmas hymns
Tom Lehrer on Christmas: Christmas time is here, by golly, Disapproval would be folly. Deck the halls with hunks of holly, Fill the cup and don't say when. Kill the turkeys, ducks and chickens, Mix the punch, drag out the Dickens. Even though the prospect sickens, Brother, here we go again. On Chris...
- Sat Dec 02, 2023 3:13 pm
- Forum: Spelling
- Topic: Dot’s de One!
- Replies: 2
- Views: 6269
Re: Dot’s de One!
I assumed the name adaptation came from the Spaniards,
and it was pronounced ‘we-HEE-hee.’
and it was pronounced ‘we-HEE-hee.’
- Fri Dec 01, 2023 3:42 pm
- Forum: Spelling
- Topic: Dot’s de One!
- Replies: 2
- Views: 6269