4 ms·
I have a friend who says using the word “octopi” displays ignorance of three languages at once - English, Latin, and (ancient) Greek.
by thelibrarian 5y ago
I have a friend who says using the word “octopi” displays ignorance of three languages at once - English, Latin, and (ancient) Greek.
- kortex 5y agoI realize they are being cheeky but the ironic thing is "ignorance of N languages" is one of the primary drivers of linguistic cross-pollenation and drift. Taking loanwords, shoehorning them into your phonology, writing, and grammar is just how these things work.
- Igelau 5y agoEric Weinstein says some crazy stuff, but I remember hearing him once say that the best debate strategy for Republicans would be to mention the "noo-kyoo-lar" family, and let them correct you to "nuclear". Then you win because the other side looks like pedants and elitists. This "octopi" is definitely such a word.
- sfgweilr4f 5y agoSide note: all this off-topic pedantry about octopi vs octopuses is an old discussion already resolved. It is clouding discussion about what the full implications of what it actually means to treat octopus (ha!) as sentient.
- jjeaff 5y agoI don't think the Democrats have cornered the market on pedantry just yet.
- rat87 5y agohttps://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-many-plurals-of-octopus-octopi-octopuses-octopodes https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-many-plura...