Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[Uncle Robin]

I'm currently halfway through Babel-17 by Samuel Delany. It's the first of StoryGraph's "Find a Book" recs that I'm trying. It was probably recommended because of my fondness for books about or featuring linguistics, like Cherryh's [I]Foreigner[I] series, A Memory Called Empire, Embassytown and the popsci works of Nicholas ostler, Guy Deutscher, David Crystal etc.

Language really IS central to Babel-17, but I'm already seriously thinking of dropping it because of this howler:
" No way to say warm in French. There was only hot and tepid. If there’s no word for it, how do you think about it? "

Of course , there's a way to say "warm" in French, putain! The idea that "no (1) word for" equals "no way to say" is one of my biggest turnoffs in matters linguistic, bringing up memories of all those STUPID "untranslateable" word lists on the internet which then proceed to translate said words.

[bizzybody]

Does French do like German when confronted with something there's no word for? Describe the thing, run all those words together = new word for the new thing?

[Uncle Robin]

From Babel-17: "Babel-17 is more or less like Onoff, Algol, Fortran" - In the immortal words of Mr. Loaf, "two outta three ain't bad", and while I've not seen Algol or Fortran since high school, I suspect this book would have been more fun and more comprehensible had it been completely written in either.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by bizzybody

Does French do like German when confronted with something there's no word for? Describe the thing, run all those words together = new word for the new thing?

There's no word for 'custard' in French. They call it ' crème anglaise' most concisely.

[bizzybody]

Originally Posted by Luffy

There's no word for 'custard' in French. They call it ' crème anglaise' most concisely.

The custodians of the French language did invent a new word for CD-ROM. Cédérom. But an audio CD is a disque compact. Sony Walkman just wouldn't do. It had to be a Sony Baladeur.

[Luffy]

Originally Posted by bizzybody

The custodians of the French language did invent a new word for CD-ROM. Cédérom. But an audio CD is a disque compact. Sony Walkman just wouldn't do. It had to be a Sony Baladeur.

Thanks. The French have been reluctant to borrow from the English language. The inverse was not true, historically speaking.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: A recent freebie, The White Magic Five and Dime by Steve Hockensmith and Lisa Falco.

A most enjoyable mystery. I shall be putting this author's other stuff on my wish list. (His cowboy holmes mysteries are already on it.)

Next up: Lecture Demonstration by Hal Clement. A short story set on the world of Mission of Gravity. Excellent.

Next up: another random pick, A Short History of England by Simon Jenkins. I picked this up on special offer in February 2016. I'm not sure why, but perhaps it's time for some non-fiction.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by Luffy

Thanks. The French have been reluctant to borrow from the English language. The inverse was not true, historically speaking.

English has never been averse to borrowing from ANY language, as the famous quote from James D Nicoll reminds us: "English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." That's why it's a Germanic language in (~40%) French clothing

[pdurrant]

I prefer the full sentence, although the first couple of words needs changing from the original to make it stand-alone:

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

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I prefer the full sentence, although the first couple of words needs changing from the original to make it stand-alone:

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

If you prefer the FULL quote, why not post it?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

If you prefer the FULL quote, why not post it?

I posted my preferred version. The full quote, spoilered for those of a sensitive disposition:

Spoiler:

“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.”

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I posted my preferred version. The full quote, spoilered for those of a sensitive disposition:

In your initial reply you specifically said

I prefer the full sentence

(e.a.) yet you did not post it.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

In your initial reply you specifically said (e.a.) yet you did not post it.

The quotation is two sentences.

[Camellia]

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Camellia

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

That’s on my library hold list, but it’ll be a while. Do you like it?