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big3bc · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 132 Location: Turkey

Being a writer who has studied languages for over three decades, I have always been a bit staggered by both the way we use the English language, and the overuse of words in many instances. If any of you have any ideas about the following, please respond.
1. The word "assassin" always confuses me in the manner it is used. The dictionary defines it as a person who murders a famous person, yet the words "hired assassin" are always used even though he/she has never murdered anyone. What does this make John Hinckley? An attempted assassin? A would-be assassin? By the way, assassin was first used to refer to a group of hashish smokers.
Staying on the subject of assassins, why are the most famous American assassins of the last 140+ years always referred to using their middle names? John Wilkes Booth. Lee Harvey Oswald. Mark David Chapman (scum of the earth). James Earl Ray.
2. Does a statue of a person have to be standing in a village square for it to be said "The statue is standing in the village square." What if the person is sitting?
3. Why do so many words which mean basically the same thing all begin with gl-? glare gleam glisten glimmer glint glow gloss glitter glance
4. Why do we say "predict the future?" "Reminisce about the past?" What does predict mean? Why do we need "the future?" The same with "reminisce."
5. What is the difference between "towards" and "toward?" Wouldn't one suffice? How about golden and gold when used as adjectives?
6. Why do pilots always say, "Wait until the plane comes to a complete stop before......" Isn't there a great deal of finality to the word "stop?" Why is "complete" needed? Is it possible to come to a partial stop? I don't see how.
I have come up with many more of these if anyone is interested.

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:30 am Post subject:

Interesting questions, I feel it underscores just how complex and wide the language is and how we seem to have a different word for every conceivable situation!

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

i like the 'gl-' point----glisten, gleam, glint, glimmer etc.... i would guess they all come from OE or ME--they are certainly not
latin or greek. (typing 1-handed and dont wanna strain to hit caplock
).

howzabout shake, shudder, shimmy, shiver, shimmer, shifty, shuffle, etc? they all depict a back and forth motion.

fishmb · Joined: 08 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Istanbul

1. Assassins only refer to people who have killed people. People plotting or people who failed can be referred to as would-be assassins.

2. The statue does not have to depict anyone standing to be standing in the main square. The usage of that word to refer to a statue probably came since so many did in fact depict people standing, but I'm just guessing.

3. It's not just gl words.

4. We need the future to be specific about being general - it could be the race, the game, what will happen when I'm 20, etc. Ditto for reminisce.

5. Towards is not actually a word, but it's getting in dictionaries because people say it. Like nonplussed means irritated, but many (thank you Mr. Obama) keep using it in speech meaning the opposite irritated, so some dictionaries are starting to include the opposite definition!

6. Because many people are used to driving cars and not coming to a complete stop before proceeding through the intersection.

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

Re no.3:-

Looking at an etymological dictionary shows that the gl- words share a common root, the Old Norse "glija" meaning "to shine".

fishmb · Joined: 08 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Istanbul

Cool!

SAM31 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 18 Location: ISTANBUL

You guys would probably enjoy Bill Bryson's 'Mother Tongue'- very interesting... Smile

fishmb · Joined: 08 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Istanbul

Well I just arrived in Istanbul yesterday. Want to loan me your copy?

SAM31 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 18 Location: ISTANBUL

Would but I borrowed it from someone else! Welcome to the land of baklava and bureaucracy Smile

fishmb · Joined: 08 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Istanbul

Thanks! Happy to be here. Just need to figure out where I'm going to be staying for the next 3 months while I take my CELTA. What I've got set up now is not going to work out...

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

all tongues licked and flicked fromo the same epiglottis about 4 million years ago, didnt they now?

moharem bey · Joined: 15 Apr 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Istanbul

fishmb, what kind of housing are you looking for? How many people?

fishmb · Joined: 08 Jul 2009 Posts: 184 Location: Istanbul

Two - people, studio or 1 bedroom, kitchen, bathroom w/ shower, close to Istiklal Caddesi because that's where our school is, but not on it because we're not party people 15 min walk from it is fine. Some natural light. Not dirty, not mildewy. Furnished. $600-700 a month.