|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
|
OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706 |
I was writing the word theatre, the other day and thought, 'why do some people spell it 'theater', which is correct and why the two ways of spelling it? It happens with other '-er' and '-re' words too, like centre and sabre.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963 |
This is strictly from my (often faulty) memory, but I believe that the -er and -or (instead of -our) are from the spelling reforms of Noah Webster, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, in his attempt to regularize (!) and Americanize spelling. The standard American spelling is theater, but it is very common for a building or an organization to use theatre, based, I think, on the notion that it is more arty. The small town that I live in actually has two theaters that use the -re spelling.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
The standard American spelling is theater, but it is very common for a building or an organization to use theatre, based, I think, on the notion that it is more arty. The small town that I live in actually has two theaters that use the -re spelling. Arty isn't the half of it. (Well, actually, it's artsy that isn't the half of if.) Why we didn't also correct the solecistic spelling of words ending in -le is beyond me.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677
addict
|
addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677 |
Ahah! I know the answer to this one...something about the dictionary writers...will try to find the book and will report back...it was something about the english dictionary writer publishing his dictionary, the american man didn't like the english man so published his own 'american' dictionary...like I said I will search for the book and tell you in a more concise and literate way!
----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,922 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,922 Likes: 3 |
The standard American spelling is theater, but it is very common for a building or an organization to use theatre, based, I think, on the notion that it is more arty. The small town that I live in actually has two theaters that use the -re spelling. Arty isn't the half of it. (Well, actually, it's artsy that isn't the half of if.) Why we didn't also correct the solecistic spelling of words ending in -le is beyond me. Giving angels more angles?
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,922 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,922 Likes: 3 |
Ahah! I know the answer to this one...something about the dictionary writers...will try to find the book and will report back...it was something about the english dictionary writer publishing his dictionary, the american man didn't like the english man so published his own 'american' dictionary...like I said I will search for the book and tell you in a more concise and literate way! Anyone who says you don't have too much time on your hands does not know you.
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Giving angels more angles?
Non Angli, sed Angeli
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,922 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,922 Likes: 3 |
Ah, Latin. Beautiful phrase, actually rolls off the tongue. (Augustine, correct?)
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963 |
In my neighborhood, Augustine's a volcano.
Peter
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
|
OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706 |
......The standard American spelling is theater, but it is very common for a building or an organization to use theatre, based, I think, on the notion that it is more arty..... My query was in relation to Operating Theatre. I know that they are called theatre's because once they were semi-circular amphitheatres that aloud public viewing of operations as entertainment then learning. So I guess it fits the 'arty' theme some what...... I await your findings..Bex.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,423
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
793
guests, and
3
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|