Comments on: In the Defense of English http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/ Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:29:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Th. http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/#comment-11 Th. Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:04:21 +0000 http://www.arrantpedantry.com/?p=8#comment-11 . Derek's right: Anglo words have more punch. And the fact that they are the "less lofty" words isn't to knock them--I think we should be happy that the local guys are the more friendly and proletarian in our vocabulary. .

Derek’s right: Anglo words have more punch. And the fact that they are the “less lofty” words isn’t to knock them–I think we should be happy that the local guys are the more friendly and proletarian in our vocabulary.

]]> By: Derek http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/#comment-10 Derek Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:04:51 +0000 http://www.arrantpedantry.com/?p=8#comment-10 This discussion reminds me of Winston Churchill's famous speech before the Commons in 1940. The climax of the speech: "We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender and even if, which I do not for the moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, will carry on the struggle until in God's good time the New World with all its power and might, sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the Old." There are only a few French/Latin root words in there, liberation, surrender, subjugate, maybe a couple others I can't pick out not being an English major. But Churchill understood that the old Anglo-Saxon words have direct and powerful force that the more scholarly-sounding French/Latin words do not. This discussion reminds me of Winston Churchill’s famous speech before the Commons in 1940. The climax of the speech:

“We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender and even if, which I do not for the moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, will carry on the struggle until in God’s good time the New World with all its power and might, sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the Old.”

There are only a few French/Latin root words in there, liberation, surrender, subjugate, maybe a couple others I can’t pick out not being an English major. But Churchill understood that the old Anglo-Saxon words have direct and powerful force that the more scholarly-sounding French/Latin words do not.

]]> By: Jon Boy http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/#comment-9 Jon Boy Sun, 12 Feb 2006 13:02:41 +0000 http://www.arrantpedantry.com/?p=8#comment-9 I'm not saying that Latin isn't pretty or aesthetic. I just don't think it's prettier or more aesthetic than Germanic languages. I think it's simply a different flavor of beauty. I’m not saying that Latin isn’t pretty or aesthetic. I just don’t think it’s prettier or more aesthetic than Germanic languages. I think it’s simply a different flavor of beauty.

]]> By: Farmgirl http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/#comment-8 Farmgirl Sat, 11 Feb 2006 09:02:01 +0000 http://www.arrantpedantry.com/?p=8#comment-8 Good article. Wish I had learned Latin. I still have my grandma's old schoolbooks around, so I guess I could learn some on my own, but I wouldn't know how to pronounce it right then. Good article. Wish I had learned Latin. I still have my grandma’s old schoolbooks around, so I guess I could learn some on my own, but I wouldn’t know how to pronounce it right then.

]]> By: brozy http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/#comment-7 brozy Sat, 11 Feb 2006 07:02:23 +0000 http://www.arrantpedantry.com/?p=8#comment-7 Will you hate me if I think Latinates are pretty? You know, one of my favorite things about English is that, thanks to the German, French, and Latin, we often have many ways to say something, each with its own connotation giving a slightly different flavor to the idea. For instance, I'm happy to live in a house right now, but in the next life, I'm hoping to abide in a celestial mansion. Will you hate me if I think Latinates are pretty?

You know, one of my favorite things about English is that, thanks to the German, French, and Latin, we often have many ways to say something, each with its own connotation giving a slightly different flavor to the idea. For instance, I’m happy to live in a house right now, but in the next life, I’m hoping to abide in a celestial mansion.

]]> By: rivka http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/#comment-6 rivka Sat, 11 Feb 2006 03:02:19 +0000 http://www.arrantpedantry.com/?p=8#comment-6 I would agree that Latin-root words are not innately better than Germanic-root ones. And I share you dislike of Lowth. But many Latin-root words are simply more aesthetic than their counterparts (when they even exist). *defenestrates Jonathon* :P I would agree that Latin-root words are not innately better than Germanic-root ones. And I share you dislike of Lowth.

But many Latin-root words are simply more aesthetic than their counterparts (when they even exist).

*defenestrates Jonathon* :P

]]> By: pooka http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/#comment-5 pooka Fri, 10 Feb 2006 19:02:37 +0000 http://www.arrantpedantry.com/?p=8#comment-5 Girl, you've really obtained me now. You've obtained my noctural insomnolence. Girl, you’ve really obtained me now. You’ve obtained my noctural insomnolence.

]]> By: Nathan http://www.arrantpedantry.com/2006/02/10/in-the-defense-of-english/#comment-4 Nathan Fri, 10 Feb 2006 14:02:32 +0000 http://www.arrantpedantry.com/?p=8#comment-4 I like English. Most of my favorite television shows are in that language. Besides, you can't go around singing "She's obtained it. Yeah baby, she's obtained it" now, can you? I like English. Most of my favorite television shows are in that language.

Besides, you can’t go around singing “She’s obtained it. Yeah baby, she’s obtained it” now, can you?

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