Pedants' Paradise

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  • Old Grumpy
    Full Member
    • Jan 2011
    • 3643

    Originally posted by Roehre View Post
    Absolutely sure it wasn't a pronunciation of phenomenon?
    Don't think so, Roehre - 0800 news bulletin - try it!

    OG

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    • LeMartinPecheur
      Full Member
      • Apr 2007
      • 4717

      'Umble apol's if I'm revisiting old ground but

      "off of". A letter yesterday in the 'i' newspaper used this twice, as in "oilfields off of Norway".

      And tonight on In Tune, not for the first time:
      "For your delectation and delight". A perfect tautology. "Delectation" is surely no more than a pretentious synonym for delight, as in a joke MC's presentation: "For your extreme delectation, all the way from Aberystwyth, the sensational Madame xxxx...!" Both words are from the same Latin verb, and AFAIK differ only in register, not meaning.
      I keep hitting the Escape key, but I'm still here!

      Comment

      • jean
        Late member
        • Nov 2010
        • 7100

        Originally posted by LeMartinPecheur View Post
        And tonight on In Tune, not for the first time:
        "For your delectation and delight". A perfect tautology...
        That's a classic introduction to music hall acts, isn't it?

        They made great use of tautology!

        Comment

        • LeMartinPecheur
          Full Member
          • Apr 2007
          • 4717

          Originally posted by Roehre View Post
          Absolutely sure it wasn't a pronunciation of phenomenon?
          I certainly heard this as phenomena, and shuddered...
          I keep hitting the Escape key, but I'm still here!

          Comment

          • Old Grumpy
            Full Member
            • Jan 2011
            • 3643

            Originally posted by LeMartinPecheur View Post
            I certainly heard this as phenomena, and shuddered...
            Yep, definitely phenomana. Being a pedant, I Listened Again

            Comment

            • Don Petter

              Originally posted by Old Grumpy View Post
              Yep, definitely phenomana. Being a pedant, I Listened Again
              You're a glutta for punishment!

              Comment

              • Old Grumpy
                Full Member
                • Jan 2011
                • 3643

                Originally posted by Don Petter View Post
                You're a glutta for punishment!

                Comment

                • Sir Velo
                  Full Member
                  • Oct 2012
                  • 3259

                  Gillian Moore on CD Review while reviewing Zander's Mahler 2: "Connolly's is the best vocal singing on the disc".

                  Comment

                  • Eine Alpensinfonie
                    Host
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 20572

                    Oh, I don't know - I try to make my oboe "sing" too.

                    Comment

                    • ferneyhoughgeliebte
                      Gone fishin'
                      • Sep 2011
                      • 30163

                      Originally posted by jean View Post
                      That's a classic introduction to music hall acts, isn't it?
                      A favourite of Leonard Wotsisname on The Good Old Days.
                      [FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]

                      Comment

                      • Padraig
                        Full Member
                        • Feb 2013
                        • 4250

                        Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
                        A favourite of Leonard Wotsisname on The Good Old Days.
                        Of course!
                        We'll never forget him. He's from Barcelona.

                        Comment

                        • french frank
                          Administrator/Moderator
                          • Feb 2007
                          • 30456

                          Originally posted by Padraig View Post
                          Of course!
                          We'll never forget him. He's from Barcelona.
                          No, that was the son. His father is no relation to him.
                          It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.

                          Comment

                          • Pabmusic
                            Full Member
                            • May 2011
                            • 5537

                            I read this today, from Michael Quinion (so I can't claim any credit):
                            You may be reminded of Dr Samuel Johnson’s famously unhelpful try at defining network in his Dictionary of 1755: “Any thing reticulated or decussated, at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections.” The moral for lexicographers is not to define a word using words that are less familiar than the one you’re defining.

                            The word 'decussated' is just too boring for ... words. It means 'in the shape of a cross'.

                            Comment

                            • Don Petter

                              Originally posted by Pabmusic View Post
                              The word 'decussated' is just too boring for ... words. It means 'in the shape of a cross'.

                              But not for those of us who like crosswords ...

                              Comment

                              • Pabmusic
                                Full Member
                                • May 2011
                                • 5537

                                Originally posted by Don Petter View Post
                                But not for those of us who like crosswords ...
                                Why, are you angry at me?

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