We need Latin in schools/ or why I am a grammar Nazi

[jfish1936]

As medical students (at Sheffield Uni., where else?) we acquired a new lecturer, from Oxford.

He pointed out to us the problem with being at a "redbrick" university; we had not had to pass an examination in Greek or Latin before being allowed entrance, and much medical terminology came from Greek or Latin.

"For instance, you, on the back row, what is the meaning of 'acromegaly'?"

The student opened his eyes, and replied "Acron, sir, a promontary or hill, as the Acropolis, the town on the hill; Megalos, big, as in the megalithic monuments at Stonehenge, therefore enlargement of the extremities of the body, such as chin and fingers". (BTW, this lad ended up a Professor Emeritus)

 

So it went round the class, 16 students answering him in more detail than he'd wanted. He gave up -- and walked out!

The other 45 students who hadn't known the answers breathed again with relief -- he had only hit the ones who had studied the classics!

 

We felt the class had won a great victory

[Strix]

I wooded have posted 'cannot' in that thing.

 

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I make a distinction between posting on a forum and anything more formal. I frequently use the non-word 'coz' when posting on here

[Jessica23]

I used to be a grammar snob until I read this and discussed it with some linguists.

[LeMaquis]

....only the Germans speak German as their 1st language...

 

That will come as a surprise to most people in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxemburg.

[townblade]

That will come as a surprise to most people in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxemburg.

 

And some parts of Poland, Italy, France and Russia.

[Halibut]

I used to be a grammar snob until I read this and discussed it with some linguists.

 

I've just read that piece - very thought provoking and should be required as a condition of membership.

[Leah-Lacie]

Quote:

 

Originally Posted by Strix

 

The majority of posters on this forum these days can't grasp English, let alone a foreign language. They revel in their own ignorance sneering and sniping at anybody who knows which 'they're/there' to use

 

One of the reasons Ash is one of my favourite forumers here is that he embraced sharing the forum with people whose standard of English was more finely tuned, and welcomed the opportunity to learn in such an informal environment. I love reading his posts, knowing how he posted in the past. Why don't more members take that opportunity? Is learning unsuitable for plebs or something?

 

I wooded have posted 'cannot' in that thing.

 

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I think you mean "would OF" mate

 

 

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[Halibut]

I think you mean "would OF" mate

 

 

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'Would of' is incorrect. It should be 'would have'.