the English language

[winterbadger]

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.

Comments

hah!

[mazzie.livejournal.com]

welcome to my life!
this is fabulous - thanks for passing it along!

(also - hi there!)

Re: hah!

[winterbadger]

Hey, sweetie! Hope you're feeling better. *hugs*

Re: hah!

[mazzie.livejournal.com]

feeling so much better ... got ten luscious hours of sleep last night; that'll do wonders for a girl.

I've put this quote on my whiteboard at work, by the way. Thanks, again, for sharing. My fellow editor thanks you, too!

[fortryll.livejournal.com]

Yep. English is an egomaniacal, drug-addicted thug with no morals and a penchant for taking other people's stuff in order to continually feed it's own need for control.

Maybe that's where this country gets its attitude from?

[blackperson.livejournal.com]

This needs to be a t-shirt.

Because seriously. I snorted when I read it.

[winterbadger]

Apparently someone's put it on one; one of the other people in the conversation has seen one (or a version of it).

http://www.livejournal.com/community/grammar_whores/2434683.html

Bless Mr. Washington for giving us a wonderful quote to go along with all his work race and education...

[selki.livejournal.com]

Any foreign tongue
Should flee marauding English:
Gleeful scavenger!