Search found 61 matches

by richard1631978
Fri Sep 16, 2011 2:45 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: random etymology question: ta
Replies: 13
Views: 3270

Re: random etymology question: ta

It's been a while since I've heard ta used in everyday speech.

Danelaw was roughly the north & east of England, the border with the Saxons being Watling Street, the London - Chester Road, today's A5.
by richard1631978
Fri Sep 02, 2011 2:30 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Accents
Replies: 76
Views: 11039

Re: Accents

I've heard a few Dutch & Scandinavians speak English in a North Americanish accent, which can be confusing. When in Portugal 2 years ago me & my Girlfriend went on a guided coach trip. The guide in an accent similar to the one mentioned above, making us think he was Dutch, but was actually Portugese.
by richard1631978
Fri Aug 12, 2011 3:25 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Colours as surnames
Replies: 56
Views: 8970

Re: Colours as surnames

My Dad used to work with someone with the surname Pink, which was mildly amusing when I was young.

A few gemstone names can also be colours & surnames, ie Ruby, pearl.

Same with flowers, Lavender, violet etc.
by richard1631978
Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:48 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Sound Change Tendacies and Historical Sound Changes
Replies: 3
Views: 1317

Re: Sound Change Tendacies and Historical Sound Changes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ox ... e-14393143

This is interesting, from the spellings used the map was made in the South East of England.
by richard1631978
Fri Jul 15, 2011 2:46 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Unusual capitalisations
Replies: 54
Views: 9550

Re: Unusual capitalisations

There aren't that many English acronyms I've noticed with a small letter (the scientific dB & pH come to mind), but some languages seem to use them a more, for example the German GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) & Gaelic TnaG. Addresses normally start with a capital for each element, in ...
by richard1631978
Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:00 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Unusual capitalisations
Replies: 54
Views: 9550

Re: Unusual capitalisations

Doesn't German capitalise nouns? as does Frisian spoken in Germany.
by richard1631978
Sat Jul 02, 2011 4:09 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: The Most Batshit Natlang Competition!
Replies: 203
Views: 50646

Re: The Most Batshit Natlang Competition!

I've often heard that Finnish is very hard to learn, with living in Finland being a must to fully master it. Not sure how true that is. I presume Estonians & Hungarians would find it easier to master. Gaelic has a similar reputation for being tricky, but I don't know how much that is compaired to ot...
by richard1631978
Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:50 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Most & Least Changed Languages
Replies: 30
Views: 5736

Re: Most & Least Changed Languages

Supposedly early medeival Icelandic sagas can be read by modern Icelandic readers without much effort. Read, yes. But could a 10th century Icelander and a modern Icelander (with no training in Old Norse that is) understand each other? Nope. The sound changes have been quite extensive. A good exampl...
by richard1631978
Fri Jul 01, 2011 5:50 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Most & Least Changed Languages
Replies: 30
Views: 5736

Most & Least Changed Languages

I was wondering which languages in current use have changed the most & least over the years. I've heard that Armenian & Albanian have very small percentages of 'native' words. Supposedly early medeival Icelandic sagas can be read by modern Icelandic readers without much effort. I'm not sure if the a...
by richard1631978
Fri May 27, 2011 2:58 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Words that are their own opposites
Replies: 107
Views: 14263

Re: Words that are their own opposites

Fast can mean to move quickly or not able to move at all (ie stuck fast).

Nice has changed meaning a few times over the years, so it didn't always mean pleasent.
by richard1631978
Fri May 27, 2011 2:51 pm
Forum: Languages & Linguistics
Topic: Substituting Diacritics
Replies: 30
Views: 5252

Re: Substituting Diacritics

In Romanian they're usually left out completely in informal writing. However, you can usually spot some "tz"s and "sh"s to differentiate between words, e.g. " fată - faţă " girl - face ; " mâţă - mată - mata " cat - mat/opaque - you , and such like. It can usually lead to ambiguous phrases and word...