#81265
09/20/2002 5:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1 |
Why is it that the plural of some fish species (and some mammals) is the same as the singular? For example: trout; salmon; deer.
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#81266
09/20/2002 7:36 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
Well, it's not a hundred percent certain. Both trout and salmon can take an -s in the plural, though deer doesn't. Bass (the fish) can be bass or basses when pluralized.
I personally wouldn't add the -s or -es, but on the other hand you will never ever see me writing about more than one mongoose!
After all this beating around the barn, all I can say is that I don't know the answer, but you certainly have raised a fine question.
Welcome aboard, though if you want to stay in the water that's fine too.
TEd
TEd
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#81267
09/20/2002 9:21 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
HEAVEN
by Rupert Brooke (1887-1915)
Fish (fly-replete, in depth of June,
Dawdling away their wat'ry noon)
Ponder deep wisdom, dark or clear,
Each secret fishy hope or fear.
Fish say, they have their Stream and Pond;
But is there anything Beyond?
This life cannot be All, they swear,
For how unpleasant, if it were!
One may not doubt that, somehow, Good
Shall come of Water and of Mud;
And, sure, the reverent eye must see
A Purpose in Liquidity.
We darkly know, by Faith we cry,
The future is not Wholly Dry.
Mud unto mud! -- - Death eddies near -- -
Not here the appointed End, not here!
But somewhere, beyond Space and Time.
Is wetter water, slimier slime!
And there (they trust) there swimmeth One
Who swam ere rivers were begun,
Immense, of fishy form and mind,
Squamous, omnipotent, and kind;
And under that Almighty Fin,
The littlest fish may enter in.
Oh! never fly conceals a hook,
Fish say, in the Eternal Brook,
But more than mundane weeds are there,
And mud, celestially fair;
Fat caterpillars drift around,
And Paradisal grubs are found;
Unfading moths, immortal flies,
And the worm that never dies.
And in that Heaven of all their wish,
There shall be no more land, say fish.Welcome aboard, troutdog!  Good question! Notice fish used both as the singular and plural in the context of this poem.
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#81268
09/23/2002 11:33 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
For example: trout; salmon; deer. Greetings fishterrier I wonder (idly) is this has anything to do with the creatures concerned being edible. "What did you have for lunch today?" "I had fish/trout/salmon/deer" Same as "I had whitebait/quail/chicken/beef/pork/bread", in that you could have had any number of units (whatever they may be). This is, of course, further complicated by our having different words for meat and its source animal(s).
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#81269
09/24/2002 2:52 AM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 833
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 833 |
Fiske, you make a good point and remind me of something else: My mother HATES it when people talk about having "a tea" or "a sherry" - she thinks the form should be "a cup of tea" or just "tea" (as in, "I'm having tea - would you like some?") and "a glass of sherry" or simply "sherry." And yet, I don't remember her ever objecting to someone saying they were having "a whiskey." Is there any illumination to be had on these distinctions?
Let us go in peace to love and serve the board.
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#81270
09/24/2002 12:43 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
I had ...chicken
We keep seven chicken in the back yard?
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#81271
09/24/2002 1:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
I had chickens for supper. My name is Henry the Eighth.
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#81272
09/24/2002 10:00 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
I had chickens for supper. My name is Henry the Eighth I am I am I'm Henry the Eighth I am I am..
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#81273
09/24/2002 10:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
I am I am..
My wife Catherine wouldn't give me a son,
And that is how me story's begun..
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#81274
09/24/2002 11:51 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,096 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,096 Likes: 2 |
I had chickens for supper. My name is Henry the Eighth
Speaking of chickens, wasn't that "Hennery" the Eighth? (Or was that the whole point of your post, and I'm just being slow this afternoon?)
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#81275
09/25/2002 12:00 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
wasn't that "Hennery" the Eighth? (Or was that the whole point of your post, and I'm just being slow this afternoon?)I don't think so - the Herman's Hermits song was about plain old "Henry". However, "Hennery" is excellent, wofa.
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#81276
09/25/2002 1:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320 |
I'm Henry the eighth I am
Henry the eighth I am, I am
I got married to the widow next door
She's been married seven times before
And every one was an Henry (Henry)
She wouldn't have a Willy or a Sam (no Sam)
I'm her eighth old man, I'm Henry
Henry the eighth I am
Second verse same as the first
Despite the spelling, Herman's Hermits did pronounce it Hennery.
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#81277
09/25/2002 1:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
That Henry wat et chickens wasn't Henry the Eighth.
Me messed up again.
Him was Henry the Et wat et chickens.
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#81278
09/25/2002 1:59 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
Herman's Hermits did pronounce it HenneryIs it possible to pronounce Henry without an "er" in the middle? 
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#81279
09/25/2002 2:04 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
This makes me think of Henny Penny -- I have a cartoon somewhere of an ancient man in a walker starting to keel over. Henny Penny is running away, shouting, "This guy is falling! This guy is falling!"
TEd
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#81280
09/25/2002 2:23 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Despite the spelling, Herman's Hermits did pronounce it Hennery.
Nah, didn't they pronounce it 'Ennery?
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#81281
09/25/2002 2:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320 |
Duh! Of course, trisyllabic, but aitchless.
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#81282
09/25/2002 3:00 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
Nah, didn't they pronounce it 'Ennery?
Duh! Of course, trisyllabic, but aitchless."Second verse, same as the first! Da-daaa, da-da da da!"
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