i am such a huge fan of my nerdiness
Just like Scout smiles at the tv when she's watching something she likes, I think I'm smiling as I read "Word Origins and How We Know Them: Etymology for Everyone," by Anatoly Liberman.
"We are left wondering...why people needed jump if they already had hop and spring. (The sixteenth century seems to have been prime time for jumpers: the verbs bound and gambol emerged at about the same time.)"
"Quite a few words in the languages of the world begin with gr- and refer to things threatening or discordant...The epic hero Beowulf fought Grendel, an almost invincible monster. Whatever the origin of the name, it must have been frightening even to pronounce it."
"It is interesting to study the history of language but depressing to be part of it."
"We are left wondering...why people needed jump if they already had hop and spring. (The sixteenth century seems to have been prime time for jumpers: the verbs bound and gambol emerged at about the same time.)"
"Quite a few words in the languages of the world begin with gr- and refer to things threatening or discordant...The epic hero Beowulf fought Grendel, an almost invincible monster. Whatever the origin of the name, it must have been frightening even to pronounce it."
"It is interesting to study the history of language but depressing to be part of it."
posted by melilotnfosco | 10:07 PM
5 Comments:
honormommy - word of advice - don't name the baby something that starts with Gr-. mr. liberman has so many examples of negative words that start that way: gruesome, gross, grief, grudge, grouch, grimace, groan, gruel, grim, and the list goes on.
and yes, i did tell this to our nurse greg. :)
What about grapes? I like them. But not the green ones. Or the grey ones. Yikes.
That book sounds fun to read.
jump is similar in meaning to hop and spring, but it is not the same.
and i love how scout smiles when she watches tv
oh I need to read that book! It sounds wonderful!
chelle - how do you not like green grapes? they're the only good kind!
hobsis - her smiling is so stinkin' cute :)
kimberly - it is
Post a Comment
<< Home