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Discussion Groups / British English / February 2011Dead language.
I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench Detectives" about tracing the WWI dead. It was spoken in all seriousness (as befits the theme) by one of the presenters, who seemed to be an archaeologist. A quick Google tells me that the series has been on terrestrial TV, though only on Channel 5. As a documentary, the episode was actually rather good. I haven't heard the word "skellington" used seriously since I was a child. Anybody else?  SignaturePhil C. >I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was >on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >I haven't heard the word "skellington" used seriously since I was a >child. Anybody else? Not me. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in uk.culture.language.english) >>I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was >>on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Not me. Nor I, except in jest. Is there a word for these widespread juvenile mis-pronunciations? Another one that comes to mind is "chimbley". On Hart Road in Manchester there was - or is - a butcher's shop called "Skelly's". As kids we thought this name so sinister we couldn't believe the police allowed it to stay open. SignatureIan. At 22:14:24 on Wed, 16 Feb 2011, Ian Clifton <cliftons_oxf@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in <8s30htFn8tU1@mid.individual.net>: >Nor I, except in jest. Is there a word for these widespread juvenile >mis-pronunciations? Another one that comes to mind is "chimbley". And Dubya's favourite: nucular. SignatureMolly Mockford Nature loves variety. Unfortunately, society hates it. (Milton Diamond Ph.D.) (My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) > At 22:14:24 on Wed, 16 Feb 2011, Ian Clifton <cliftons_oxf@yahoo.co.uk> > wrote in <8s30htFn8tU1@mid.individual.net>: [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > And Dubya's favourite: nucular. And "pneumonics" instead of "mnemonics". Tony SignatureTony Mountifield Work: tony@softins.co.uk - http://www.softins.co.uk Play: tony@mountifield.org - http://tony.mountifield.org >Is there a word for these widespread juvenile >mis-pronunciations? Another one that comes to mind is "chimbley". I notice that many Americans seem to believe that "anyhow" is "anyhoo". I don't think that they are all joking. SignatureJohn Hall "The covers of this book are too far apart." Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) >> Is there a word for these widespread juvenile >> mis-pronunciations? Another one that comes to mind is "chimbley". > > I notice that many Americans seem to believe that "anyhow" is "anyhoo". > I don't think that they are all joking. I wonder if it's their jocular impression of a Canadian accent. SignaturePhil C. >I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was >on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >I haven't heard the word "skellington" used seriously since I was a >child. Anybody else? I've heard it once or twice in the last decade or two, Phil. Since it was a common usage in my home town dialect, my ears prick up when I hear it. SignatureRobin Bignall (BrE) Herts, England >> I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was >> on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I've heard it once or twice in the last decade or two, Phil. Since it was a > common usage in my home town dialect, my ears prick up when I hear it. Where was that? I'd guess the accent of the speaker in the documentary was "mid southern" - that no-man's-land between East-Anglian-Estuarine and West-Country. But I'm no Professor Higgins. SignaturePhil C. >>> I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was >>> on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >was "mid southern" - that no-man's-land between East-Anglian-Estuarine >and West-Country. But I'm no Professor Higgins. I grew up in Nottingham, me duck. SignatureRobin Bignall (BrE) Herts, England >>>> I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was >>>> on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > I grew up in Nottingham, me duck. There's a Skillington no far away - near Grantham. Said to be the origin of the surname Skellington. Not a surname one would choose. SignaturePhil C. >>>> I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was >>>> on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > I grew up in Nottingham, me duck. In Oxfordshire, that's *my* duck. SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) At 08:46:40 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, LFS <laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote in <8s6pvfFab5U2@mid.individual.net>: >> I grew up in Nottingham, me duck. > >In Oxfordshire, that's *my* duck. And in Scotland, it's hen. How fowl this all is... SignatureMolly Mockford Nature loves variety. Unfortunately, society hates it. (Milton Diamond Ph.D.) (My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) >At 08:46:40 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, LFS ><laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote in [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >And in Scotland, it's hen. How fowl this all is... You're pulling my leg. Pullet again. (OK, I'll put my cape on.) SignatureRobin Bignall (BrE) Herts, England At 22:11:19 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, Robin Bignall <docrobin@ntlworld.com> wrote in <pirtl6lca1homug8qr5h862p31j8tacpvj@4ax.com>: >>At 08:46:40 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, LFS >><laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote in [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >You're pulling my leg. Pullet again. >(OK, I'll put my cape on.) OK, me owd cock (Lancashire, I believe). Although maybe that's a bit of a turkey. SignatureMolly Mockford Nature loves variety. Unfortunately, society hates it. (Milton Diamond Ph.D.) (My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) >At 22:11:19 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, Robin Bignall <docrobin@ntlworld.com> >wrote in <pirtl6lca1homug8qr5h862p31j8tacpvj@4ax.com>: [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >OK, me owd cock (Lancashire, I believe). Although maybe that's a bit of >a turkey. <withdraws to a safe distance> Not quite that far North - Nottingham. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/homepage.htm SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in uk.culture.language.english) > I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It was > on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called "Trench [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I haven't heard the word "skellington" used seriously since I was a > child. Anybody else? Very occasionally but only satirically, I think. I did hear "sustificate" quite seriously the other day, though. (Good to see you, Phil, hope all's well.) SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >> I actually heard the word "skellington" (or "skellin'ton") today. It >> was on a prog on the Military History Channel in a series called [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Very occasionally but only satirically, I think. I did hear > "sustificate" quite seriously the other day, though. I once had a boss who pronounced it like that. > (Good to see you, Phil, hope all's well.) And you. I'm fine thanks. Just older and stupider. My interest in language is like King Arthur. It has long lain dormant only to be awakened in the hour of the English language's peril. Or something. (We used to have some fun in the old days.) SignaturePhil C. "Phil C." <philsusenet@fsmail.net> wrote in message > stupider. A deliberate test for the group? > "Phil C."<philsusenet@fsmail.net> wrote in message >> stupider. > > A deliberate test for the group? Stupider is better style in the context - contrasts with "older and wiser". But "more stupid" is more betterer grammar. "More stupid or "stupider"? Both good but which is better? Only one way to find out... (Oh, finish it yourselves.) SignaturePhil C. I'm fine thanks. Just older and stupider. My interest in > language is like King Arthur. It has long lain dormant only to be > awakened in the hour of the English language's peril. Mind you don't cut yourself on that sharp sword... Or something. (We > used to have some fun in the old days.) Didn't we? And I still have a couple of your posts from 2001 on dots which contained some ideas that have proved remarkably useful in teaching research methods. <waves> Good to see Molly, too. SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) At 08:45:20 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, LFS <laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote in <8s6psvFab5U1@mid.individual.net>: > I'm fine thanks. Just older and stupider. My interest in >> language is like King Arthur. It has long lain dormant only to be [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > ><waves> Good to see Molly, too. <sevaw> And to see you, and so many of the old brigade! I've been hovering around apihna, but even that's gone very quiet indeed. But it's good to know that people are still lurking here, just waiting for a juicy morsel to bite into! SignatureMolly Mockford Nature loves variety. Unfortunately, society hates it. (Milton Diamond Ph.D.) (My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) > At 08:45:20 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, LFS > <laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote in > <8s6psvFab5U1@mid.individual.net>: >> <waves> Good to see Molly, too. > > <sevaw> And to see you, and so many of the old brigade! I've been > hovering around apihna, but even that's gone very quiet indeed. But it's > good to know that people are still lurking here, just waiting for a > juicy morsel to bite into! And so the League of Super Heroes is reformed. We must swear to use our powers only for Good. SignaturePhil C. >> At 08:45:20 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, LFS >> <laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >And so the League of Super Heroes is reformed. We must swear to use our >powers only for Good. Spoilsport. SignatureRobin Bignall (BrE) Herts, England Phil C. wrote: > And so the League of Super Heroes is reformed. We must swear to use our powers only for Good. Lovely to see you all alive and kicking after all this time. Never a prolific contributor, I was an omnivorous consumer of your pearls 10-12 years ago in a previous incarnation. I was thinking just yesterday where to share this little beauty spotted at a Microsoft support site: "please help me because i am desesperated," and dropped in on UCLE on the off chance. I suspect a blend of exasperation and desperation, but there may be other sources. I regularly see "help greatfully appreciated" at that site. SignatureNoel At 22:59:22 on Wed, 23 Feb 2011, Ildhund <jnllb@removemsn.com> wrote in <ik43gn$i1a$1@news.eternal-september.org>: >I was thinking just yesterday where to share this little beauty spotted >at a Microsoft support site: "please help me because i am >desesperated," and dropped in on UCLE on the off chance. I suspect a >blend of exasperation and desperation, but there may be other sources. >I regularly see "help greatfully appreciated" at that site. On a web forum which I frequent, there is a woman with self-admitted mental health problems, who frequently refers to suffering from "dillusions". I think it's the most wonderful portmanteau word! SignatureMolly Mockford Nature loves variety. Unfortunately, society hates it. (Milton Diamond Ph.D.) (My Reply-To address *is* valid, though may not remain so for ever.) Molly Mockford said... > On a web forum which I frequent, there is a woman with self-admitted > mental health problems, who frequently refers to suffering from > "dillusions". I think it's the most wonderful portmanteau word! Aye, one of my neighbours in sheltered housing here; was telling me we would have to watch out for a new resident as she had "senile dimensions". May downstairs told me that a couple of years ago her grandkids took her to an air show and the Red Arrows put on a marvellous display of "aerobics", the government have gone too far with the defence cuts. SignatureKen O'Meara http://www.btinternet.com/~unsteadyken/ >Lovely to see you all alive and kicking after all this time. Never a >prolific contributor, I was an omnivorous consumer of your pearls 10-12 >years ago in a previous incarnation. If you've been consuming pearls, then I hope that you have very strong teeth. Or do you swallow them whole? :) SignatureJohn Hall "The covers of this book are too far apart." Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) John Hall wrote... >> I was an omnivorous consumer of your pearls 10-12 years ago in a previous incarnation. > If you've been consuming pearls, then I hope that you have very strong teeth. Or do you swallow them whole? :) OED online: /consume, v./ 1 [...] 11. /trans./ To read (literature), watch (film or television), etc., esp. avidly or voraciously; to absorb (culture, art, etc.). I just absorb them. SignatureNoel >At 08:45:20 on Fri, 18 Feb 2011, LFS ><laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote in [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >it's good to know that people are still lurking here, just waiting for a >juicy morsel to bite into! <nibble, nibble> SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in uk.culture.language.english) > I'm fine thanks. Just older and stupider. My interest in >> language is like King Arthur. It has long lain dormant only to be [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > which contained some ideas that have proved remarkably useful in > teaching research methods. Blimey. I must have known stuff about stuff in them days. SignaturePhil C. >I haven't heard the word "skellington" used seriously since I was a >child. Anybody else? One that caught my ear earlier this week, and that appears relatively often compared with skellingtons, is 'somethink', occasionally accompanied by 'anythink' or 'nothink'. Again, these were prevalent in my hometown dialect, but to hear them in a Radio 4 interview with an adult is weird, these days. SignatureRobin Bignall (BrE) Herts, England "Robin Bignall" <docrobin@ntlworld.com> wrote in message > One that caught my ear earlier this week, and that appears relatively > often [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > but to hear them in a Radio 4 interview with an adult is weird, these > days. More often 'somefink'. What's strange where I live - 'arlow, is that people drop half the letters in their pronunciation but always pronounce the 't' in often! > "Robin Bignall"<docrobin@ntlworld.com> wrote in message >> One that caught my ear earlier this week, and that appears relatively [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > More often 'somefink'. OTTOMH, I suspect the "k" is an old dialect pronunciation that's been banished from educated English. (I recall that some dialects pronounce the "g" element of "ing".) > What's strange where I live - 'arlow, is that people drop half the letters > in their pronunciation but always pronounce the 't' in often! As an Essex Man, I'm not sure how I pronounce that. I expect it varies. SignaturePhil C. |
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