"grow" as a transitive verb

You are not logged in. [Log In] Wordsmith.org » Forums » General Topics » Q&A about words » "grow" as a transitive verb

Page 2 of 4

Topic Options

#7364 - 10/11/00 11:06 AM Re: Québec v.s. Canada English
jmh Pooh-Bah Registered: 03/22/00 Posts: 1981	>A check is what you pay your bills with We pay our bills with cheques too. As a check is what you expect in a check up and a bill is found on a duck we never ever pay checks with bills, so there is a little remaining British influence at work there, I expect. >A second example is the word AUTOROUTE I think Autoroute is the main term used in France and is well understood throughout Europe. In Britain we never say highway, instead we say motorway. I think all main roads are technically highways as it is sometimes the Highways department who repair them and there was always Dick Turpin.
Top

#7365 - 10/11/00 11:17 AM Re: Québec v.s. Canada English
RhubarbCommando Pooh-Bah Registered: 08/23/00 Posts: 2204	In England and Wales, and possibly Scotland, ALL roads - even footpaths - are technically highways; the Queen's Highway, no less. This usually includes the pavement (sidewalk) or verge at the edge. Mind you, only a local government official or a pompous ass (the terms are not really synonimous) would use the term "highway" for a footpath.
Top

#7366 - 10/11/00 12:20 PM Re: Québec v.s. Canada English
maverick Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/15/00 Posts: 4757	ALL roads - even footpaths - are technically highways At the risk of being a LGO or PA, I'm not sure this is strictly accurate: the lane passing my house is classified as a Bridleway, which gives no-one a right to pass with a wheeled vehicle. As my lawyer recently insisted I sign a statutory declaration to the effect that it had been so used for at least 60 years, I know this to my cost!
Top

#7367 - 10/11/00 02:12 PM Re: Québec v.s. Canada English
belMarduk Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/28/00 Posts: 2888	classified as a Bridleway... ...and you didn't 'bridle' at having to pay?
Top

#7368 - 10/11/00 05:08 PM Re: Highways and Byways
jmh Pooh-Bah Registered: 03/22/00 Posts: 1981	I was trying to compare the use of highway for major roads but I agree that roads are technically highways. Given the term "highways and byways", Maverick must live off a byway, by the way, a bit like this board, meandering off the beaten track, you never know where you'll end up. In this case, in the Welsh mud, I understand!
Top

#7369 - 10/11/00 10:04 PM Re: Québec v.s. Canada English
belMarduk Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/28/00 Posts: 2888	You're right Jo, there is a lot of British influence in Canadian English. For example, we would never think of writing colour or honour without the U. These extra letters are edited out of any book published in the U.S.A. There are several more examples of these that do not spring to mind at the moment (maybe it's age) but I'll try to think about it in case this subject comes up again.
Top

#7370 - 10/11/00 10:11 PM Re: Québec v.s. Canada English
Max Quordlepleen Carpal Tunnel Registered: 08/12/00 Posts: 3409	There are several more examples of these that do not spring to mind at the moment (maybe it's age) but I'll try to think about it in case this subject comes up again. Don't forget that Canadian English uses the "proper" name for the last letter of the alphabet, as immortalised in the beer commercial. As a child the "zee" was the most grating part of Sesame Street for my Anglican ears.
Top

#7371 - 10/11/00 10:29 PM Re: Québec v.s. Canada English
belMarduk Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/28/00 Posts: 2888	Thank-you Max!! Zed, Zed. Seems pretty basic to me. That commercial is straight on. I have never ever in my life said aboot (except when out shopping for something to cover my feet in the winter). I just love it. Gin.
Top

#7372 - 10/12/00 01:27 AM Re: Québec v.s. Canada English
Bingley Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/09/00 Posts: 3065 Loc: Jakarta	Zed is the letter name in Indonesian as well, but for public announcements in English, at airports for example, they use the American zee. Bizarre. Indonesians also tie themselves up in knots trying to use the American system of writing dates (month day year) rather than their own one which they share with English (day month year). Bingley _________________________ Bingley
Top

#7373 - 10/12/00 01:55 AM Re: dates
jmh Pooh-Bah Registered: 03/22/00 Posts: 1981	>American system of writing dates (month day year) rather than their own one which they share with English (day month year) I've taken to writing dates in full wherever possible - 12th March 2010 to avoid at least some confusion. I always do a double take when I see a date like 12/15/99, wondering how anyone managed to squeeze in a few extra months into the year. I wonder how transatlantic airlines cope?
Top

Page 2 of 4

Moderator: Jackie

Forum Stats

8453 Members
16 Forums
13692 Topics
210094 Posts

Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM

Newest Members


	Wordsmith Talk		About Us \| What's New \| Search \| Site Map \| Contact Us

Wordsmith Talk