the English language

Thanks to geekchick for the following quote from this discussion; too funny!

Among the reasons it can be difficult to be a grammar-whore, grammar-nazi, grammar-temple-concubine or what have you, is the fact that English does not merely borrow words from other languages. English chases other languages into dark alleys, clubs them over the head and turns out their pockets looking for loose vocabulary.

This process is, to put it gently, not pretty.

edited to add this source: Booker T. Washington

We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.

and, while discussing free speech...

I knew that Germany had some odd ideas about it, but this chap getting a fine and/or jail time for publishing the words to is really beyond what I would have expected.

book meme

borrowed from wickedknight( Read more... )