Fun w/ Etymology: The thread for having fun w/ etymology

[oxcoug]

"Verdict" is from the Latin "verum dicere" - "speaking the truth" (is that the correct tense, O Solon?)

[wuapinmon]

for the record, "a nickname" was "an ekename." No, I didn't have to go look that up, either.

[falafel]

for the record, "a nickname" was "an ekename." No, I didn't have to go look that up, either.

Are you trying to one up me, or did you just not read my earlier post?

I'm betting you're trying to one up me. Dick.

[falafel]

Also, the concept of the Great Vowel Shift is one that really interests me. Language was much more fluid before the printing press.

An example of how vowel pronunciations shifted over a period of a few hundred years:

Around 1400 the word "bite" was pronounced more like "bee-tuh" (bi:tə).
By 1500, the vowels had shifted and it was pronounced more lie "bate" (bəit - I think, if I'm reading the IPA symbols correctly - its been a while).
A few hundred years more and it found its current pronunciation (baIt).

[Topper]

Also, the concept of the Great Vowel Shift is one that really interests me. Language was much more fluid before the printing press.

An example of how vowel pronunciations shifted over a period of a few hundred years:

Around 1400 the word "bite" was pronounced more like "bee-tuh" (bi:tə).
By 1500, the vowels had shifted and it was pronounced more lie "bate" (bəit - I think, if I'm reading the IPA symbols correctly - its been a while).
A few hundred years more and it found its current pronunciation (baIt).

Which language, which vowel shift?

Is it not the theory of many linguistic groups that each group experienced multiple vowel and consonantal shifts?

[falafel]

Which language, which vowel shift?

Is it not the theory of many linguistic groups that each group experienced multiple vowel and consonantal shifts?

I am a student only of the history of the english language. Regardless, any vowel shift that can be considered "great" is interesting to me.

[wuapinmon]

Are you trying to one up me, or did you just not read my earlier post?

I'm betting you're trying to one up me. Dick.

That's me on the right. You're on the left.

[falafel]

That's me on the right. You're on the left.

Edit: I do look happy, though.

[Topper]

I am a student only of the history of the english language. Regardless, any vowel shift that can be considered "great" is interesting to me.

Topper is a student of nothing, but did not realize falafel meant the fourteenth to sixteenth century English event. Thanks to falafel for clarifying.

[falafel]

I like back formations - a form of folk etymology. Most probably know this, but it is where one word is created because it is assumed that it is the root of an already existing word.

For example, the word "edit" is likely a result of a back formation. The word "editor" existed before edit. It was assumed that "edit" was the action that an editor performed, and wallah! A new word.

When the Iraq war first started, I noticed something similar (though perhaps not quite a back formation). Reporters that were "embedded" with combat units were being called "embeds." "John Roberts, and embed with the 171st Airborne..."

I can't know for sure, but I don't think that "embed" was used as a noun before that. I still don't see a noun form for "embed" in the free dictionaries online. Perhaps wuap or someone else with access to the OED can check the entry?

[mtnbiker]

Great thread ox! At least, I like it.

I haven't kept up my etymology like I should, but one of my favorite words is walrus. There are several alternate theories, but my favorite the combination of the old english/ old norse words for whale (whal) and horse (hros). Hey everybody, its a whale horse, er, walrus!

I like back formations - a form of folk etymology. Most probably know this, but it is where one word is created because it is assumed that it is the root of an already existing word.

For example, the word "edit" is likely a result of a back formation. The word "editor" existed before edit. It was assumed that "edit" was the action that an editor performed, and wallah! A new word.

So I take it 'wallah' is some derivative of 'walrus'? Or is it more closely related to 'moran' that keeps showing up around here?

[HauteCoug]

What would you do with a masters in linguistics?

Not mocking, just curious.

Going to do a dual with creative nonfiction. Understanding language as a writer isn't the worst thing.

That said, I'll probably still make more money at my current job than if I ever tried writing as a career.

I loved what I studied at BYU, but let's face it, it was completely impractical.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Going to do a dual with creative nonfiction. Understanding language as a writer isn't the worst thing.

That said, I'll probably still make more money at my current job than if I ever tried writing as a career.

I loved what I studied at BYU, but let's face it, it was completely impractical.

Pardon my ignorance again, but what is "creative nonfiction"? You going to get a job writing for Fox News? (rim shot)

[TripletDaddy]

it's a sting.

[HauteCoug]

Pardon my ignorance again, but what is "creative nonfiction"? You going to get a job writing for Fox News? (rim shot)

Essays - Pat Madden at BYU is a rising star in the world of creative nonfiction. The New Yorker is creative nonfiction. David Sedaris is a really famous one who works within the genre.

Faux News will never give me any money. I'd rather be homeless.