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I did not think I would start a discussion on such an obscure subject but yes, Geoffrey, you are right.
As I think I said, if there was a line to hold, I for one don’t even hold it myself any more. There never will be consistency in English and that is the nature of language which always changes.
Some Latin plurals are still alive and well. Criterion/ criteria, medium/media, crisis/crises.
Some Latin plurals are gradually disappearing. Appendix/appendices (mostly appendixes is what I hear). Encyclopaedia/encycyclopaediae (Mostly encyclopaedias). cactus/cacti (mostly cactuses), formula/fomulae etc
Some Latin plurals have disappeared completely. Census/censi, forum/fora, campus/campi .
Greek plurals have 99% gone - near extinct like the platypodes who inadvertently started this conversation. So also trauma/traumata, enigma/enigmata (which survives in the adjective enigmatic). Unlike the platypodes, they will not come back from extinction!
Language linguists say is a living thing and a word is genuine if that’s what most people say. Like it or lump it, we have to accept the majority language. We can’t turn back the clock even if we would like to. In the last 5 years versus (against) has
become a verb (We are versing England in the Cricket). I will never use it but I bet it is in the latest dictionary. People vote with their feet or in this case with their mouths!
John
On 25 Oct 2013, at 3:37 pm, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:
Entirely in sympathy, John. However, one wonders whether it is worth holding the line. Before our eyes (and ears) we see/hear ‘phenomena’ becoming a usual singular,
going the way of agenda - as well as ‘a criteria’ (perpetrated by Ross Solly a few mornings ago). The process involves standard references declaring such usages to be incorrect, then ‘sometimes used’, then alternatives, then ‘more usual’.
From: John Harris
Sent: Friday, 25 October 2013 3:23 PM
To: Martin Butterfield
Cc: sandra henderson; Mark Clayton; Barbara Allan;
Subject: [canberrabirds] Platypi???
Sorry guys but can’t help being boring and pompous. Please feel free to stop reading here.
Platypus does NOT have a Latin ending like radius, radii.
The word is from the Greek, platy = flat, pus = foot.
The correct Greek plural of pus is PODES for males and PODA for females.
So if you want to be a stuffy pedantic, the plurals should be PLATYPODES for a mob of boy platypuses and PLATYPODA for a mob of girls!
However even a conservative linguist like me has to admit reality. Platypus is now an English word and the correct English plural should now be PLATYPUSES. Same for octopuses.
Most reasonable academic linguists agree these days that even Latin plurals are a bit outdated. I have started using English plurals - radiuses, formulas, curriculums etc etc - although a few will stick around like agenda which everybody now thinks is singular
(agendum) when it’s not.
Yes I know….boring, boring
On 25 Oct 2013, at 2:41 pm, Martin Butterfield <> wrote:
Possibly they had to check that there were no more hitch-hiking platypi?
If anyone gets to Oaks Estate or the Qbn poo-pits there are some yellow box opposite the substation on the road off Canberra Ave (past Beard) which are heavily in flower. Might be interesting to check for honeyeaters,
On 25 October 2013 11:41, sandra henderson <> wrote:
ACT government put out announcement on 22 Oct that Angle Crossing is now OPEN
Sandra h
On Friday, October 25, 2013, Mark Clayton wrote:
Barbara,
Any idea why Angle Crossing is closed? I saw the sign out there about a month ago and went down Smiths Road from the Monaro Hwy to check and there was nothing obvious stopping traffic. Indeed a lot of local traffic came
through the crossing and on to the Namadgi Road.
Mark
From: Barbara Allan
Sent: Friday, 25 October 2013 11:13 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] COG's bird blitz 26-27 October - final update
One more sleep until the blitz. The weather looks reasonably settled, but of course do take care if you’re venturing into challenging spots. And do take a camera if you can to record any “unusuals”. For the last-minute or undecided blitzers, a few odd vaguely
central spots remain unclaimed: the ANU; Mt Mugga Mugga; Harman; Oaks Estate; Haig Park. Otherwise head to one of your favourite spots. There are a few road closures in place: Corin Rd at Woods Reserve; and Angle Crossing. So happy blitzing everyone – and
don’t lose your datasheets. Return them to me either at home or at the November meeting or mail them to COG, PO Box 301 , Civic Square 2608. Or contact me to make other arrangements. b
--
Martin Butterfield
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