Spent quite some time reading Wikipedia this weekend. As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before [and I can't even find the post on my own blog!], Wikipedia is very addictive. Whilst I’ve edited some small things, I mainly just use it for reference. However, it’s just so easy getting lost on there.
Something Root mentions on his blog is very true:
“Wikipedia! – you go to look up a CSS term… and you end up reading about Spanish painters and astronaut micrometeorite protection. [...]“
I don’t know how I ended up at Floccinaucinihilipilification, I do remember looking at some latin phrases.. It’s the longest non technical word in the Oxford dictionary and basically means to think of something as worthless. And I’ve yet to be able to pronounce it properly.
That reminded me of Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo which is a grammatically correct sentence using all three meanings of the word Buffalo and means that the Buffalo’s from the place Buffalo that are being bullied by other buffaloes also bully other buffaloes themselves. Sort of along the lines of eat and get eaten.
Language is something amazing and there is just so much more to it the more you read about it which is why I’ve made an early Christmas present to myself which should arrive in the next few days: Mother Tongue: The English Language by Bill Bryson.
A witty, irreverent but very useful account of the peculiarities of the English language. This book is designed to appeal to all lovers of language and history.
Cat
7 Comments
Floccinaucinihilipilification has been one of my favourite words for some time. It’s seen as a facetious construction and so often ignored, but I think it’s the sort of fun word that shouldn’t be floccinaucinihilipilificated! And don’t worry – most dictionaries can’t agree on how it should be pronounced.
That Mother Tongue book is fun and well worth reading, but be warned: you should take everything you read in there with a pinch of salt. Bryson’s a better writer than he is a linguist, so the book contains a number of errors and innaccuracies. That said, it’s still a great book. :)
I had never heard of it, I feel like I’ve been missing out!
I liked some of his other books, it’s his style that mianly appeals to me. I have seen another book in Waterstaones the other week which takes a closer look on how English was created. I might get that after finishing Bryson’s book and the ten other books I’ve still got!
I’ve heard of that word (don’t even think I’m gonna write it down) in some general knowledge book I guess. But I didn’t know about buffalo buffalo buffalo etc etc. Interesting indeed. And you’re so right, Wikipedia is super addictive. I’ve been there to search for my projects and waste my time looking at biographies and other things.
Good luck with the book.
This post is so Floccinaucinihilipilificated! :P
Mother Tongue: The English Language by Bill Bryson.
But but, my mother’s tongue is pink! :P
I think it’s reached a new low for me, I spend some time on Wikipedia everyday. And to be fair I did copy the word and didn’t write it myself!
oooh I loved new words
mother tongue is pretty good but Kingsley Amis’ the King’s English is even bette
I don’t think I’ve heard of that before. I’ll have to have a look out for that. Thanks. :)