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Carpal Tunnel
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Interestingly, where both are used the nuances are segregated such that
orient: metaphysical/conceptual
orient***: physical/literalThis explains CK's use of "oriention".   ...I want to make damn sure I know what the original item was - Stop me....just, stop me! BillH: Our dear Jackie once quoted that definition for me when I posted (somewhere in the far distant past) "your n'merican ain'tcha", and although I couldn't find it I now know you guy's (not you specifically) were making that pun before... [evil wringing of hands trying to get Jackie to post emoticon]
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Joined: Jul 2000
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
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orient: metaphysical/conceptual
orient***: physical/literal
Now, I'm a staff member for a Boy Scout leader training camp and we teach a few outdoor skills including map and compass instruction. It's definitely "orient a map" and I would say that it's more physical than metaphysical, unless there are ghosts on the map.
Also, the "sport" which includes walking (a physical activity) is called orienteering, not orientateering.
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orientate/orient ..However, no-one from the British side of the pond has piped up
Wideyed has responded already but I will add my 2 new pennyworth.* I dislike "orientate", and try to use "orient" myself, though I rarely hear it used by others.
I have not noticed the conceptual/literal distinction myself.
Rod
** My pet peeve is the use of the word "P" or "Pee" for penny/pence in UK currency, which jars on my ears. This came about after the decimalisation in 1971(?) when we had Old pennies/pence shown as "d." and New pennies shown as "p." At the time it was necessary to distinguish but I would much prefer people reverted to using pence. I have a one man campaign going but without much success.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Ha! I'd never picked up on the usage of "merkin" as a verbal tic for "American". All right! 
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Nov 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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** My pet peeve is the use of the word "P" or "Pee" for penny/pence in UK currency, which jars on my ears. This came about after the decimalisation in 1971(?) when we had Old pennies/pence shown as "d." and New pennies shown as "p." At the time it was necessary to distinguish but I would much prefer people reverted to using pence. I have a one man campaign going but without much success.Your loneliness is about to be relieved, Rod. I detest the usage of "p" instead of "pence", too. In fact, I'd like to promote the re-use of "denarius", personally, but I somehow think that would be a lost cause before it got off the ground. But using "p" always sounds like the price of spending a penny to me!
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Carpal Tunnel
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maverick has turned his nose up at your baitNo, but. It's Be Especially Lovely To Jackie week. 
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Ha! I'd never picked up on the usage of "merkin" as a verbal tic for "American". All right!
[lowered chin, slitted eyes e] A-HEM...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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A-HEM...That's the sound of Jackie clearing her throat, known as expectoring
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I first encountered the word merkin in one of Tom Sharpe's stories (one of the Wilts) where the hero turns a dying clothing business round by moving into the sex aids business including merkins. I last encountered the word at our most recent Christmas do, where we had all been bought silly presents. One had been lucky enough to receive a (triangular) chest wig and gold medallion. Said chest wig made the rounds in various positions on various sexes, (we have the photos to prove it). Said merkin, for that is what we decided it really was, now regular appears in the office if someone pins up a revealing poster, where it is used to censor the offending portion.
Of course this often looks much worse than the original!
Rod
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