Comments on: The Vicissitudes of the Latin Plural in English http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:29:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: P.J. http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-310035 P.J. Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:33:43 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=471#comment-310035 1. Are either of your brothers married? 2. Acceptable-her can follow the "to be" verb. 3. He might arrive on time. (Sounds better anyway.) 4. Acceptable depending on context. 5. She did as she was told. 6. I arrived yesterday. 7. Acceptable depending on your brother's status. A student goes to school. A volunteer goes to the school. 8. What is the price of this pen? 1. Are either of your brothers married?
2. Acceptable-her can follow the “to be” verb.
3. He might arrive on time. (Sounds better anyway.)
4. Acceptable depending on context.
5. She did as she was told.
6. I arrived yesterday.
7. Acceptable depending on your brother’s status. A student goes to school. A volunteer goes to the school.
8. What is the price of this pen?

]]> By: Fiona Hanington http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-vicissitudes-of-the-latin-plural-in-english/comment-page-1/#comment-290918 Fiona Hanington Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:38:10 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=471#comment-290918 "Octopodes"! This is new to me. “Octopodes”! This is new to me.

]]> 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….

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