Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Tingle
"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. 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." -- James D. Nicoll
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That's very apt, although not very aped, as in not gibbous but gibbinous. Precisely.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moejoe
You were the Queen's Granny? 
And talking about language variants and meanings. Where I come from it's quite regular for Grandparents to take on the names "Mother" and "Father" instead of Granddad, Grandmother. Get's confusing at X-Mas though |
Again with my sister-in-law. Her elderly half-indian mother in Arizona came back here to live with my SIL a few years ago. She was wheelchair bound, had long white yair that hung in her lap in 2 tight braids. Anytime she was in proximity to a Native American, like at Walmart or wherever, the person would be very respectful to her and wish her, "Good day to you, mother." She would be furious! She was ashamed of being injun and would shout, "I'm Swedish!" at them!
