Category Archives: language

a little Latin and less Greek

Today I started a course in medical terminology (aiming to make myself more marketable). I have to restrain myself from speaking up too often, as I know more Greek and Latin (and which is which) than the teacher does. Evidently … Continue reading

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all about alphabets

Omniglot – a guide to writing systems. I have seen nothing like this on the Web. It even shows some scripts missing from my various books on the field.

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pseudo erudition only annoys us true erudites

A comment to Vodkapundit says “Lileks . . . must be the only writer in America to know and use the plural hiatii.” Lileks is of course free to invent words if he likes, in which case he’s naturally the only one … Continue reading

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A Wellmeaning Oaf

The List of Possible Bandnames, for those who have musical talent or a knack for names, but not both.

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a limitation

One thing I haven’t managed to find with Google is the source of a cliché.

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suspended in mid-concept

“Planes collide in midair” — raising the question: what are the boundaries of midair anyway? Is it midair if they’re one foot off the ground? One hundred? If there are mountains nearby, do they make a difference? When does a … Continue reading

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33 1/3 turns of phrase

I was prompted by a post to alt.peeves to seek confirmation of my brilliant originality by websearching for phrases that I had jotted down as clever. In light of this research, the name of my band will be “A Wellmeaning … Continue reading

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