Category Archives: language

the uvular fricative is written Z in English

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

My housemate was talking to a physician this morning (didn’t say why) and mentioned my snoring. The physician imitated the sound of sleep apnea, and it sounded (I’m told) exactly like a noise that I make. She suggested I have … Continue reading →

Posted in language, me!me!me! | 1 Comment

nothing new under the sun

Posted on Tuesday, 2002 February 26 by Anton

I thought the “. . . Not!” construction was new when Wayne & Garth used it, but here it is in the mouth of Archie Goodwin: “We know she didn’t kill her husband. Either you thought she had and probably still do, or … Continue reading →

Posted in language, prose | Leave a comment

disclaimer

Posted on Friday, 2002 February 22 by Anton

Last night I mentioned linguists and misguided egalitarians in the same breath, and it occurs to me that some might take that somehow as a swipe at a certain public figure. Let me assure both my readers that I was … Continue reading →

Posted in language, politics | Leave a comment

bhorh nazgu

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 20 by Anton

Lalaith offers: Bhorh nazgu burdatuluk. Bhorh nazgu thrakatul. Bhorh nazgu dupatuluk agh Lúthrongdush-shi krempatul. Five Rings to lure them all. Five Rings to bring them. Five Rings to dope them all and in Salt Lake City deceive them.

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luchismo

Posted on Thursday, 2002 February 14 by Anton

Pseudodictionary has accepted a coinage of mine.

Posted in language | 2 Comments

Emily, Hannah, and Madison?!

Posted on Thursday, 2002 February 14 by Anton

Here is a relatively harmless violation of the Tenth Amendment: the Social Security Administration publishes lists of Americans’ favorite names for babies. Do similar data exist for other countries? Emily, Hannah and Madison lead the pink pack for the second … Continue reading →

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the not so common heritage

Posted on Thursday, 2002 February 14 by Anton

When allusions whoosh by to movies that I never saw, like these, I worry a bit less about homogenization of culture. While I’m up: why do some -ize verbs like baptize have nouns in -ism, while others take -ization (half … Continue reading →

Posted in cartoons, cinema, language | 2 Comments