4 ms·

This reminds me of Poul Anderson's "Uncleftish Beholding" [1] which is an attempt to explain atomic science without words derived from French, Latin, and Greek.

by kej 2y ago

This reminds me of Poul Anderson's "Uncleftish Beholding" [1] which is an attempt to explain atomic science without words derived from French, Latin, and Greek. [1] https://www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/110/docs/uncleftish-beholding.html https://www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/110/docs/uncleftish-beh...

capitainenemo 2y ago
BTW, as the wikipedia page notes, Poul was unable to completely remove french, since several words he needed had no modern english equivalent derived from the anglo-saxon.
- mistermann 2y ago
  The Experts have something to say about Poul's theory (I would gleefully take his side of the argument though): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity
falcor84 2y ago
Wow, that's even harder to understand than Randall Monroe's Thing Explainer [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thing_Explainer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thing_Explainer
qsort 2y ago
When you write a whole essay like that it's more than a bit ridiculous, but the same idea on a smaller scale can work very well rhetorically. For example, take this section from Churchill's notorious speech: We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. every word except "surrender" has an Anglo-Saxon root.
- spondylosaurus 2y ago
  Have you read Farnsworth's Classical English Style? He talks about Saxon vs. Latinate word choice (and invokes Churchill frequently!), which makes me think you've either read it already or would enjoy it if you haven't yet :)
- navane 2y ago
  It's hilarious that the one french rooted word is surrender. Did he do that on purpose?
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- ttepasse 2y ago
  Earlier in the speech Churchill used the same rhetorical device of in a positive sentence full of words with french/latin roots: A miracle of deliverance, achieved by valor, by perseverance, by perfect discipline, by faultless service, by resource, by skill, by unconquerable fidelity, is manifest to us all. https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-finest-hour/we-shall-fight-on-the-beaches/ https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-fin... (That form of repetition seems to be called anaphora, I just learned.) It’s interesting that people often comment on the Anglo-Saxon/Germanic roots of that famous phrase – but nobody finds it weird to use Germanic words in a (defensive) war against Germany and eschewing French words in support of France in this war. The explanation seems to be the specific English context: there the connotation of Anglo-Saxon as the language of the people seems to override any germanic associations.
082349872349872 2y ago
For the opposite experience, try Europanto: http://www.europanto.be/cabillot1.html http://www.europanto.be/cabillot1.html
- lencastre 2y ago
  OMG if you know a bit of German English Spanish and French you will go very far…
carapace 2y ago
Probably a good time to trot out "Ladle Rat Rotten Hut" again? > Wants pawn term, dare worsted ladle gull hoe lift wetter murder inner ladle cordage, honor itch offer lodge dock florist... https://annex.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/ladle/ https://annex.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/ladle/

by kej 2y ago

capitainenemo 2y ago

BTW, as the wikipedia page notes, Poul was unable to completely remove french, since several words he needed had no modern english equivalent derived from the anglo-saxon.

mistermann 2y ago
The Experts have something to say about Poul's theory (I would gleefully take his side of the argument though): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity

falcor84 2y ago

Wow, that's even harder to understand than Randall Monroe's Thing Explainer [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thing_Explainer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thing_Explainer

qsort 2y ago

When you write a whole essay like that it's more than a bit ridiculous, but the same idea on a smaller scale can work very well rhetorically. For example, take this section from Churchill's notorious speech: We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender. every word except "surrender" has an Anglo-Saxon root.

spondylosaurus 2y ago
Have you read Farnsworth's Classical English Style? He talks about Saxon vs. Latinate word choice (and invokes Churchill frequently!), which makes me think you've either read it already or would enjoy it if you haven't yet :)
navane 2y ago
It's hilarious that the one french rooted word is surrender. Did he do that on purpose?
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
ttepasse 2y ago
Earlier in the speech Churchill used the same rhetorical device of in a positive sentence full of words with french/latin roots: A miracle of deliverance, achieved by valor, by perseverance, by perfect discipline, by faultless service, by resource, by skill, by unconquerable fidelity, is manifest to us all. https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-finest-hour/we-shall-fight-on-the-beaches/ https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-fin... (That form of repetition seems to be called anaphora, I just learned.) It’s interesting that people often comment on the Anglo-Saxon/Germanic roots of that famous phrase – but nobody finds it weird to use Germanic words in a (defensive) war against Germany and eschewing French words in support of France in this war. The explanation seems to be the specific English context: there the connotation of Anglo-Saxon as the language of the people seems to override any germanic associations.

082349872349872 2y ago

For the opposite experience, try Europanto: http://www.europanto.be/cabillot1.html http://www.europanto.be/cabillot1.html

lencastre 2y ago
OMG if you know a bit of German English Spanish and French you will go very far…

carapace 2y ago

Probably a good time to trot out "Ladle Rat Rotten Hut" again? > Wants pawn term, dare worsted ladle gull hoe lift wetter murder inner ladle cordage, honor itch offer lodge dock florist... https://annex.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/ladle/ https://annex.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/ladle/