Octopuke
- Radius Solis
- Smeric
- Posts: 1248
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 5:40 pm
- Location: Si'ahl
- Contact:
Octopuke
Oh, is Welf one of those principled anti-octopi-ists who refuse to "mix" "latin and greek" while speaking English, as if source languages were relevant to doing so? Such a shame. As one of our only three words with a correct -i plural, "octopi" is cultural treasure and must be preserved, defended, and encouraged at all costs.
And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.
And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
whatchoo mean only three man there's loads of words with a plural in -i
<Anaxandridas> How many artists do you know get paid?
<Anaxandridas> Seriously, name five.
<Anaxandridas> Seriously, name five.
- Hallow XIII
- Avisaru
- Posts: 846
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2012 3:40 pm
- Location: Under Heaven
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Well given the previous U CAN'T GREEK BELEND I took it to be him beating the same horse.
Also, even if it isn't, you can take it as such and it becomes funny.
Also, even if it isn't, you can take it as such and it becomes funny.
陳第 wrote:蓋時有古今,地有南北;字有更革,音有轉移,亦勢所必至。
Read all about my excellent conlangsR.Rusanov wrote:seks istiyorum
sex want-PRS-1sg
Basic Conlanging Advice
- Drydic
- Smeric
- Posts: 1652
- Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:23 pm
- Location: I am a prisoner in my own mind.
- Contact:
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
May they forever expand.Radius Solis wrote:And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.
- Radius Solis
- Smeric
- Posts: 1248
- Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 5:40 pm
- Location: Si'ahl
- Contact:
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Ones that are unambiguously correct and dominant in Standard English? Cacti, octopi, and fungi are the only three I could think of. If you know more, please say!Kereb wrote:whatchoo mean only three man there's loads of words with a plural in -i
edit: and aren't technical/jargon words only people in specific fields can be expected to be familiar with.
edit edit: nucleus - nuclei has been pointed out to me. That one is an acceptable entry. Okay, there's FOUR now.
- Salmoneus
- Sanno
- Posts: 3197
- Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:00 pm
- Location: One of the dark places of the world
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
ALIMI, 'octopi' is only arguably correct, and nowhere near 'dominant'. (don't blame me, I'm fine with it)
Here's one I used yesterday: gladiolus/gladioli. I'm sure there are a bunch of other flower names that work like this (though not all - never heard 'hibisci', for instance). Animal names too - 'hippopotami' and 'rhinoceri' certainly. Alumni. Termini. Stimuli. Sarcophagi. Foci. Syllabi? Rhombi and tumuli, though you might call those technical. Succubi, though. Probably others.
Spare a thought for the poor -us/-era plurals. Off-hand can only think of two (and a third that I think is 'right' but probably have never encounted in the wild).
Here's one I used yesterday: gladiolus/gladioli. I'm sure there are a bunch of other flower names that work like this (though not all - never heard 'hibisci', for instance). Animal names too - 'hippopotami' and 'rhinoceri' certainly. Alumni. Termini. Stimuli. Sarcophagi. Foci. Syllabi? Rhombi and tumuli, though you might call those technical. Succubi, though. Probably others.
Spare a thought for the poor -us/-era plurals. Off-hand can only think of two (and a third that I think is 'right' but probably have never encounted in the wild).
Blog: [url]http://vacuouswastrel.wordpress.com/[/url]
But the river tripped on her by and by, lapping
as though her heart was brook: Why, why, why! Weh, O weh
I'se so silly to be flowing but I no canna stay!
But the river tripped on her by and by, lapping
as though her heart was brook: Why, why, why! Weh, O weh
I'se so silly to be flowing but I no canna stay!
- Hallow XIII
- Avisaru
- Posts: 846
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2012 3:40 pm
- Location: Under Heaven
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Sal, the Graecolatinate plural is rhinocerotes. I might have been inclined to forgive you for rhinoceroi, which I gather is also a popular pseudograecolatinate form, because the derivation of rhinoceros is opaque and ο and ω cannot be differentiated in an English borrowing - but not noticing the difference between u and o is surely a more heinous crime.
Also everybody says rhinoceroses.
Also everybody says rhinoceroses.
陳第 wrote:蓋時有古今,地有南北;字有更革,音有轉移,亦勢所必至。
Read all about my excellent conlangsR.Rusanov wrote:seks istiyorum
sex want-PRS-1sg
Basic Conlanging Advice
- WeepingElf
- Smeric
- Posts: 1630
- Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:00 pm
- Location: Braunschweig, Germany
- Contact:
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Actually, I have seen worse pseudo-Latin plurals. The "best" one was penii, which was meant to be the plural of penis
...brought to you by the Weeping Elf
Tha cvastam émi cvastam santham amal phelsa. -- Friedrich Schiller
ESTAR-3SG:P human-OBJ only human-OBJ true-OBJ REL-LOC play-3SG:A
Tha cvastam émi cvastam santham amal phelsa. -- Friedrich Schiller
ESTAR-3SG:P human-OBJ only human-OBJ true-OBJ REL-LOC play-3SG:A
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Octopi is the only ʊs->aɪ plural in English, and for that alone deserves to be protected. Same goes for people,our only suppletive plural.
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
"Rhinos" and "hippos".... like, nobody even says the long form anyway and when they do it takes a refular plural.
- KathTheDragon
- Smeric
- Posts: 2139
- Joined: Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:48 am
- Location: Brittania
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Have you asked every person in the world if they use the long form and what the plural is for them?finlay wrote:"Rhinos" and "hippos".... like, nobody even says the long form anyway and when they do it takes a refular plural.
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
There's no way anybody exists that prefers saying rhinoceros to rhino.
- Drydic
- Smeric
- Posts: 1652
- Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:23 pm
- Location: I am a prisoner in my own mind.
- Contact:
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Quit being a smart-ass.KathAveara wrote:Have you asked every person in the world if they use the long form and what the plural is for them?finlay wrote:"Rhinos" and "hippos".... like, nobody even says the long form anyway and when they do it takes a refular plural.
- Nesescosac
- Avisaru
- Posts: 314
- Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:01 pm
- Location: ʃɪkagoʊ, ɪlənoj, ju ɛs eɪ, ə˞θ
- Contact:
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Any of y'all ever seen "foetera" for "fetus"? Very, very bad Latin, but apparently a thing in English.
I did have a bizarrely similar (to the original poster's) accident about four years ago, in which I slipped over a cookie and somehow twisted my ankle so far that it broke
Aeetlrcreejl > Kicgan Vekei > me /ne.ses.tso.sats/What kind of cookie?
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
I cringe when I see words like karyoferins or symporter.Radius Solis wrote:Oh, is Welf one of those principled anti-octopi-ists who refuse to "mix" "latin and greek" while speaking English, as if source languages were relevant to doing so? Such a shame. As one of our only three words with a correct -i plural, "octopi" is cultural treasure and must be preserved, defended, and encouraged at all costs.
And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.
- Drydic
- Smeric
- Posts: 1652
- Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:23 pm
- Location: I am a prisoner in my own mind.
- Contact:
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
What the hell are those supposed to be?Thry wrote:I cringe when I see words like karyoferins or symporter.Radius Solis wrote:Oh, is Welf one of those principled anti-octopi-ists who refuse to "mix" "latin and greek" while speaking English, as if source languages were relevant to doing so? Such a shame. As one of our only three words with a correct -i plural, "octopi" is cultural treasure and must be preserved, defended, and encouraged at all costs.
And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Technical (cell biology) terms with both Greek and Latin roots.
If it was me who had made the words, they'd be karyophorins and coporters or sth.
If it was me who had made the words, they'd be karyophorins and coporters or sth.
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
I just found out karyopherin is indeed all-Greek (phew, good to learn); I was confused by the fact that in Spanish (carioferina) "-fer-" is indistinguishable from Latin -fer, as in aquifer. But this -pher- is just an allomorph of -phor-, both from verb pherw, to carry, as in phosphorus, galactophorous, oophorus.... so I'm good with that one.
Still, loads of real Frankenstein Greek-Latin words.
Still, loads of real Frankenstein Greek-Latin words.
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
homosexuality
television
television
- Drydic
- Smeric
- Posts: 1652
- Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:23 pm
- Location: I am a prisoner in my own mind.
- Contact:
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
*pherōThry wrote:pherw, to carry
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Gráfw ópws 8élw!
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
Stop being effete Latins and be strong Germanic samekind!finlay wrote:homosexuality
A New Yorker wrote:Isn't it sort of a relief to talk about the English Premier League instead of the sad state of publishing?
Shtåså, Empotle7á, Neire WippwoAbi wrote:At this point it seems pretty apparent that PIE was simply an ancient esperanto gone awry.
- Hallow XIII
- Avisaru
- Posts: 846
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2012 3:40 pm
- Location: Under Heaven
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
my eyesThry wrote:Gráfw ópws 8élw!
they bleed
陳第 wrote:蓋時有古今,地有南北;字有更革,音有轉移,亦勢所必至。
Read all about my excellent conlangsR.Rusanov wrote:seks istiyorum
sex want-PRS-1sg
Basic Conlanging Advice
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
It's octopodes. The Latin word is 3rd declension, and the Greek word actually had -us, which in this specific case makes the plural -odes (compare English foot). Also, octo- is native to both Greek and latin.Radius Solis wrote:Oh, is Welf one of those principled anti-octopi-ists who refuse to "mix" "latin and greek" while speaking English, as if source languages were relevant to doing so? Such a shame. As one of our only three words with a correct -i plural, "octopi" is cultural treasure and must be preserved, defended, and encouraged at all costs.
And don't even think about trying to disapprove of my remaining strong verbs.
Hey there.
- Hallow XIII
- Avisaru
- Posts: 846
- Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2012 3:40 pm
- Location: Under Heaven
Re: The Official ZBB Quote Thread
zontas it did not have -us that's how they spelt a long [o:]. You know, compensatory lengthening from the deletion of a d.
Also this has already been said and I really don't see why you feel the need to revive a stupid months-old discussion on English plurals especially if you have nothing to add.
Also this has already been said and I really don't see why you feel the need to revive a stupid months-old discussion on English plurals especially if you have nothing to add.
陳第 wrote:蓋時有古今,地有南北;字有更革,音有轉移,亦勢所必至。
Read all about my excellent conlangsR.Rusanov wrote:seks istiyorum
sex want-PRS-1sg
Basic Conlanging Advice