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I happened to use the word rota the other day, only to find that my interlocutor (a USn) had only the vaguest idea of what I meant. I then tried it out on a group of assorted Canadians and Australians to find that although they understood it, it was not the word they would use.
Is its use confined to the UK?
Bingley
Bingley
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happened to use the word rota the other day, only to find that my interlocutor (a USn) had only the
vaguest idea of what I meant
I don't have even that.
Just the title of the tread let me add that the Italian word ruota (rota in some dialects, and in an archaic form) means wheel.
A related meaning was about a rotating device used in convents to connect the inside part with the rest of the world without seeing it, for example to receive food. It was used also to leave there the unwanted children.
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I don't think I have ever heard "roster" in the UK, though I would know what it means if I heard it. "Rota" is a nice word for this meaning, I suppose it is related to the Latin rota, which means "wheel". Is this right?  Edit-in: Manuela, a rota is, for example, a list of people that are taking turns doing something... Three of my neighbours have a rota system going to pick up their children from primary school. Each day, a different one does it, and they have a list of who is doing it when.
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Bingley, are you saying you're an airhead?  I don't think I'd ever heard this word before you used it, but it's easy to guess that it has something to do with rotate. The car-pooling example was helpful, thanks, Marianna. I looked up interlocutor, again to confirm my guess, since this word is also unfamiliar to me, and I like the idea of being the second def.: The performer in a minstrel show who is placed midway between the end men and engages in banter with them. (Atomica) And so, to bring in the other end: Max, I ain't never gwine give up my campaign against ain't! (Oh, I LOVE this place!)
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Carpal Tunnel
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The only way I have ever seen the word;, it was in reference to a special Vatican group that considered divorce cases.
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I think I would understand this word in context but if'n you jus pulls it outta the blue and slaps it on the table it's gone get a big fat HUH? from an USn.
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To Bostonian ears if you say rota, I will think of an automobile part or the Sacred Rota as wwh mentioned, or the thing where you learn by rote (repeating) depending on context.... However, seeeing it written, I'd think of a formal agreement to do something...and where I "learned" the latter I'll never know! So now I know better ... an agreement to alternate performance of a task...Learn something new every day!
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Like others, i might in context pick up the meaning of rota-- but i don't think i have ever heard it. even roster is just a work word -- in terms of a car pool that mothers might set up, i think i would use schedule. i know i wouldn't use roster as a first choise word to describe a the workings of a car pool.
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And if you need to organize a rota, here's the site for you: Duty-Rota.com
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