Comments on: The Vicissitudes of the Latin Plural in English http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/ Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:55:04 -0600 hourly 1 By: Christopher Burd http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-245916 Christopher Burd Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:19:45 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=471#comment-245916 A funny thing about alumnus/alumni, alumna/alumnae is the pronunciation. Traditionally, in English, alumni was alum-NYE and alumnae was alum-NEE. Nowadays, a lot of people try to say something closer to what the ancient Romans would have said (as if they care!): alum-NEE and alum-NYE - the very opposite. A funny thing about alumnus/alumni, alumna/alumnae is the pronunciation. Traditionally, in English, alumni was alum-NYE and alumnae was alum-NEE. Nowadays, a lot of people try to say something closer to what the ancient Romans would have said (as if they care!): alum-NEE and alum-NYE – the very opposite.

]]> By: Christopher Burd http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-245909 Christopher Burd Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:01:32 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=471#comment-245909 "Each of us loves his or her home." This is so awkward, it makes me want to go back to "Each of us loves his home", which is pretty much what you would say in most European languages. BTW, other than the supposed sexism, what is the difference between "Each of us loves his home" and "All of us love our homes"? There's a subtle difference, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It's something to do with seeing people as collectives or as individuals. Think of Lord Nelson's order at the battle of Trafalgar: "England expects every man to do his duty" versus the alternative: "England expects all men to do their duties" To me, it seems obvious that the original was better for Nelson's purposes. That's because it addresses each man as an individual, while the alternative version addresses the men collectively, as a mass. The style (and therefore intensity) of engagement is different. Great blog, BTW; I'll put it on my list. “Each of us loves his or her home.”

This is so awkward, it makes me want to go back to “Each of us loves his home”, which is pretty much what you would say in most European languages.

BTW, other than the supposed sexism, what is the difference between

“Each of us loves his home”

and

“All of us love our homes”?

There’s a subtle difference, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s something to do with seeing people as collectives or as individuals.

Think of Lord Nelson’s order at the battle of Trafalgar:

“England expects every man to do his duty”

versus the alternative:

“England expects all men to do their duties”

To me, it seems obvious that the original was better for Nelson’s purposes. That’s because it addresses each man as an individual, while the alternative version addresses the men collectively, as a mass. The style (and therefore intensity) of engagement is different.

Great blog, BTW; I’ll put it on my list.

]]> By: Svvimmer http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-229534 Svvimmer Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:13:37 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=471#comment-229534 How about "Campus"? The plural is "Campi". But everybody says "Campuses". Horror! Why? it must be horroris causam.... How about “Campus”? The plural is “Campi”. But everybody says “Campuses”. Horror! Why? it must be horroris causam….

]]> By: Paul B. Gallagher http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-80705 Paul B. Gallagher Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:24:21 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=471#comment-80705 Correction on item 4: This sentence is fine as is if we share a home: - Each of us loves our (common) home. It would not be OK to say - Each of us loves our (various) homes unless we all love each others' homes. Even so, it would be more natural in this case to say - All of us love our (various) homes. On item 8, the sentence is fine but not typical of how English speakers actually talk. It would be much more natural to ask - How much does this pen cost? Item 3 appears to mean that he could come eventually. If the intent is to say that he could come at the appointed time, then it should be revised to read - He could come on time. It's still a bit unusual to use the hesitant "could." Correction on item 4:
This sentence is fine as is if we share a home:
- Each of us loves our (common) home.

It would not be OK to say
- Each of us loves our (various) homes
unless we all love each others’ homes. Even so, it would be more natural in this case to say
- All of us love our (various) homes.

On item 8, the sentence is fine but not typical of how English speakers actually talk. It would be much more natural to ask
- How much does this pen cost?

Item 3 appears to mean that he could come eventually. If the intent is to say that he could come at the appointed time, then it should be revised to read
- He could come on time.
It’s still a bit unusual to use the hesitant “could.”

]]> By: PreciseEdit http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-65011 PreciseEdit Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:13:23 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=471#comment-65011 This is really off topic (and late), but because I enjoy language, I'll take a crack at the corrections. (Also because Stuckman is so far off, which, I hope, is a joke.) 1.Is either of your brothers married ? --correct as is 2. I am taller than her. --I am taller than she. [As in "I am taller than she is."] 3. He could come in time. --odd, but correct as is 4. Each of us loves our home. --Each of us loves his or her home. --We all love our homes. 5 She did like she was told. --She did as she was told . 6. I have arrived yesterday. --I arrived yesterday. 7. My brother goes to the school everyday --My brother goes to the school every day. 8.What is the cost of this pen ? --Correct as is, but why are you still using a pen? This is really off topic (and late), but because I enjoy language, I’ll take a crack at the corrections. (Also because Stuckman is so far off, which, I hope, is a joke.)

1.Is either of your brothers married ?
–correct as is

2. I am taller than her.
–I am taller than she. [As in "I am taller than she is."]

3. He could come in time.
–odd, but correct as is

4. Each of us loves our home.
–Each of us loves his or her home.
–We all love our homes.

5 She did like she was told.
–She did as she was told .

6. I have arrived yesterday.
–I arrived yesterday.

7. My brother goes to the school everyday
–My brother goes to the school every day.

8.What is the cost of this pen ?
–Correct as is, but why are you still using a pen?

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