Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4
#126032 03/26/04 02:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
J
veteran
Offline
veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
I said you were free to go off on your own course in these matters, and you have. Bon voyage.


#126033 03/26/04 02:50 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
I said you were free to go off on your own course in these matters, and you have. Bon voyage.

Are you trying to wriggle out of a good argument, jheem.

It seems a shame, you were so close to winning me over.

Convincing IsIsIs that her thesis is "faux" is something else altogether.

In any event, thanks for the PIE in my eye.

#126034 03/26/04 10:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
It was the twisting and turning part that I believe were "fauz". The PIE-based relationship isn't even an issue ...


#126035 03/26/04 10:47 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
The PIE-based relationship isn't even an issue

I'm really wrestling to understand the basis of your "faux" judgment, Capfka.

Returning to your original statement:

Almost all of the English words which begin with "wr" are direct descendants of Old English word roots and therefore have a long history in our current language.

OK, I'm sure you are right. But how does that cast doubt on IsIsIs' proposition?

All she is saying is that there is some very compelling circumstantial evidence that the meaning of many "wr" words arose in sympathy with the sound they produced.

In other words, IsIsIs is postulating an onomatopoeic relationship.

That sounds like a very plausible thesis to me, and her list of examples is impressive.

Also, I think her argument is intuitively sound. [That's not a pun by the way. On second thought, yes it is.]

I think IsIsIs has made a prima facie case and she is entitled to a fair hearing, all the more so because she is a "Stranger" and she may not understand all this PIE in the sky and "Old English word root" business [wherever you are digging up those "roots"].

I don't understand why the case IsIsIs has made has been dismissed so presumptuously, and I've been around a lot longer than IsIsIs has.

Still I'm willing to learn, and I'm sure IsIsIs is as well.

It would be very nice if you [or someone] would take the time to explain your argument in terms which ordinary people [like myself] can comprehend.

Thank u in advance for your generous attention.

#126036 03/26/04 10:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
J
veteran
Offline
veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
OK, I see.


#126037 03/26/04 11:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
the twisting and turning part that I believe were "fauz"

Being the PIE root of many of lslslsls's words meant to turn, bend


#126038 03/26/04 11:15 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
Being the PIE root of many of lslslsls's words meant to turn, bend…

"It would be very nice if you [or someone] would take the time to explain your argument in terms which ordinary people [like myself] can comprehend.

Thank u in advance for your generous attention."




#126039 03/26/04 11:22 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
I'm not disputing that, Faldo. What I am disputing is the linkage between that and the use of "wr" as being a causal relationship. The assumption would be, were it true, that all words beginning with "wr" would have some sense of twisting. You can only establish that by some very judicious glossing of the meaning of the words.


#126040 03/26/04 11:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
J
veteran
Offline
veteran
J
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
Yes, I've never given much credence to sound symbolism. The arbitrary nature of the linguistic sign is good enough for me.


#126041 03/26/04 11:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
G
addict
Offline
addict
G
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 619
The assumption would be, were it true, that all words beginning with "wr" would have some sense of twisting.

Why is "all", or even "most" a necessary condition, Capfka?

You would only expect to see such a dominant pattern if the pattern was systematically imposed from above, rather than intermittently, but persistently, from below.

I truly don't know where you are digging up your "Old English roots", Capfka, but I suspect there was no rule book around when those roots were planted.

I can understand why you guys would want to pull all this square root of PIE business on me, but is it fair to pull it on IsIsIs?


Page 2 of 4 1 2 3 4

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 332 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,713
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,931
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5