If you have any respect for me, don't read this thread.

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Discussion Overview

The thread explores various topics related to language, travel experiences, and playful banter among participants. It includes discussions on linguistic history, particularly the use of plural forms in English, as well as humorous anecdotes about airplane travel and personal interactions. The conversation is informal and light-hearted, with participants sharing interesting facts and engaging in wordplay.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention interesting linguistic facts, such as the historical use of the -en suffix in English plurals, with a specific reference to oxen.
  • Others share personal travel experiences, noting the types of people encountered on flights, including humorous characterizations of fellow passengers.
  • There are playful exchanges about respect and the nature of the thread, with participants joking about their intentions to read or not read the thread.
  • Questions arise regarding the relationship of certain words with the -en suffix, such as "golden" and "betwixt," prompting further exploration of etymology.
  • Some participants engage in light-hearted banter about food and personal habits, including humorous references to candy and dental care.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features a mix of agreement on the humor and light-heartedness of the thread, but also showcases differing opinions on linguistic topics and personal anecdotes. No consensus is reached on the linguistic questions posed, and playful disagreements about respect and thread engagement persist.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the historical usage of certain words and their etymological connections, indicating that further research may be needed to clarify these points. The playful nature of the conversation may lead to ambiguity in understanding the seriousness of the linguistic claims.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in linguistics, language evolution, and informal discussions about travel experiences may find this thread engaging. Additionally, those who enjoy playful banter and community interactions in online forums may appreciate the light-hearted exchanges.

honestrosewater
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Hey, what are you doing here? Gee, thanks. Anywho, I didn't do anything for New Year's Eve and the Bucs won the NFC South (Woo!), so I've been celebrating today... since noon. I'm lonesome now, so does anyone want to talk about something? I'll start.

Did you know that according to Otto Jerspersen, Danish linguist and, some say, the expert on English, in 1924 oxen was the only form left in English that uses the -en suffix to form plurals? shoes, foes, eyes used to be shoen, fone, eyen. Hah. I think we shoud let -en rest in peace. Oxes, people, call them oxes! Every chance you get!

Did you know that hussy was originally (modernized) housewife? Hah. And now we've made the word housewife all over again. Husband and hustings were also originally compounds involving house, though it was pronounced differently back then.

Did you know that long -- length; deep -- depth; wide -- width; broad -- breadth; whole -- health were all once formed by the same process too? Bet you've never noticed the rule though (didn't notice whole and health, did you?). I wonder how it is that we notice some patterns and not others. How does that happen?

Hm. Anyone still there? :frown:

Tell me something that you find interesting.

It doesn't even need to be true. :biggrin:
 
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Hi HRW! You'll get no respect from me, you sassy lass! Especially now that I see you weren't doing anything last night and you could have been hanging out with us.

I find airplane travel interesting. Particularly because there are always 3 types of people you will sit with on the journey: 1) crazy person 2) sick person 3) screaming toddler.

On my trip down to Texas, I got stuck between 1 and 2. On my trip back I got stuck between 2 and 3.

Travel much?

Maybe I should just shut up. You sound melancholy for some reason. I don't know why.
 
HRW, I give you my solemn word that I will not click the link to this thread.
 
Oops, my finger slipped.
 
I'll still respect you in the morning I swear!
 
Sorry, Sis! I can't respect people who I like very much. :blushing:
 
Math Is Hard said:
Hi HRW! You'll get no respect from me, you sassy lass! Especially now that I see you weren't doing anything last night and you could have been hanging out with us.
I find airplane travel interesting. Particularly because there are always 3 types of people you will sit with on the journey: 1) crazy person 2) sick person 3) screaming toddler.
On my trip down to Texas, I got stuck between 1 and 2. On my trip back I got stuck between 2 and 3.
Travel much?
:biggrin: Nope. What did you do in Texas?
Maybe I should just shut up. You sound melancholy for some reason. I don't know why.
I'm actually quite happy. :buggrin: It must be the celebrating.
 
Tom Mattson said:
HRW, I give you my solemn word that I will not click the link to this thread.
Aw, that's why I'll always have a special place in my heart for the men of Troy... and oxygen-rich blood.
 
SpaceTiger said:
Oops, my finger slipped.
Yeh, so did your place in line.

(Me: Brain, that doesn't reflect poorly on me, does it?
Brain: No.
Me: Good.)

Hah, silly tiger.
 
  • #10
TheStatutoryApe said:
I'll still respect you in the morning I swear!
Not if I have anything to say about it.
 
  • #11
Lisa! said:
Sorry, Sis! I can't respect people who I like very much. :blushing:
Think anyone will notice?[/color]
 
  • #12
Okay, I'm even annoying myself now.
 
  • #13
Have you made a PF movie?

Edit: like those awful tribdog movies. Although I love the 1 about thread killer!:-p Ok trib, I'm sure you've alreadyread this thread. But just want to make you admit it!
 
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  • #14
honestrosewater said:
Hah, silly tiger.

Trix are not just for kids! I'm an omnivorous feline.
 
  • #15
Lisa! said:
Have you made a PF movie?
There's another PF movie? Didn't they learn the first time?
 
  • #16
SpaceTiger said:
Trix are not just for kids! I'm an omnivorous feline.
Psh, I eat omnivorous felines like you for breakfast. You have to pay like everyone else.
 
  • #17
honestrosewater said:
:biggrin: Nope. What did you do in Texas?
It was quite fun. I spent some time hanging out with cows. And also sea lions and penguins (down in Galveston at the aquarium). The weather was warm so we were out and about quite a bit. But now I'm sick from the airplane trip, so I am trying to recover. *ack*
 
  • #18
honestrosewater said:
Psh, I eat omnivorous felines like you for breakfast.

And I eat Trix. Try and stop me.
 
  • #19
Math Is Hard said:
It was quite fun. I spent some time hanging out with cows. And also sea lions and penguins (down in Galveston at the aquarium). The weather was warm so we were out and about quite a bit. But now I'm sick from the airplane trip, so I am trying to recover. *ack*
Cows, sea lions, and penguins, oh my. Hope you feel better soon. :smile:
 
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  • #20
SpaceTiger said:
And I eat Trix. Try and stop me.
Fine. You have two choices: you can go eat Trix or you can *whispers something naughty into Frank Stallone's ear*
 
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  • #21
honestrosewater said:
Fine. You have two choices: you can go eat Trix or you can *whispers something naughty into Frank Stallone's ear*

Curse you, Frank Stallone! I'll get you if it's the last thing my hired goon does!
 
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  • #22
SpaceTiger said:
Curse you, Frank Stallone! I'll get you if it's the last thing my hire goon does!
I thought I was your hire goon.

Oh, no, I'm a hired goon, that's right... Loser.[/color]
 
  • #23
honestrosewater said:
Did you know that according to Otto Jerspersen, Danish linguist and, some say, the expert on English, in 1924 oxen was the only form left in English that uses the -en suffix to form plurals? shoes, foes, eyes used to be shoen, fone, eyen. Hah. I think we shoud let -en rest in peace. Oxes, people, call them oxes! Every chance you get!
Is the usage "golden," "olden" or "earthen" related to "oxen"? How about "tween" (as in "between")?
 
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  • #24
EnumaElish said:
Is the usage "golden," "olden" or "earthen" related to "oxen"?
I don't know; I'll see what I can find. This -en affixes to nouns to make them plural. Their meaning might have changed, but from their current use, I'd say no since they aren't usually nouns.
How about "tween" (as in "between")?
In what way?
 
  • #25
Hm, so here's one down: http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=-en&book=Dictionary

And this might be the verb -en then: "Golden replaced M.E. gilden, from O.E. gyldan." - http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=gold

Remember not to go only (or even primarily) by spelling though.
 
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  • #26
The time it takes to read this sentance is similar to the time it takes to finish half this sentance twice.
 
  • #27
moose said:
The time it takes to read this sentance is similar to the time it takes to finish half this sentance twice.
Pullease, that's just an old wives' tale. http://www.snopes.com/info/random/random.asp .
 
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  • #28
why do we say "betwixt and between" when betwixt and between mean the same thing?
 
  • #29
Math Is Hard said:
why do we say "betwixt and between" when betwixt and between mean the same thing?
Yeah, good question. Seems similar to above and beyond and far and away. I'm not actually studying the history of English, but from the quick check I did, it looks like the word at the time for two is the root of both between and betwixt. They were formed with the same prefix but with different endings that aren't used in English anymore. So -- just a wild guess -- when betwixt and between caught on (started behaving as a fixed unit), there may have been a slight difference between the words similar to the slight differences between above and beyond and such, and this difference has since disappeared (along with betwixt). Or maybe it's just a stupid saying. :-p
 
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  • #30
I had always thought of betwixt as meaning stuck between for some reason.