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This week’s guest wordsmith Janet Rizvi (janetrizvi at gmail.com) writes:
Anu is fond of tosspot words, also words made of combining forms. But I don’t think he’s featured a week of what I’d call double-noun words. Perhaps it would be fun to consider what happens when two nouns run together to make a new concept.
In his theme of words relating to space, Anu used light-year and moon shot. I would probably have written “light year” and “moonshot”. Is either of us wrong, or right?
German is unapologetic about stringing words together without hyphens to express a complex idea; either snappy two-item numbers like Zeitgeist and Schadenfreude, or stretching to the horizon like Vierwaldstätterseedampfschiffgesellschaft (Lake Lucerne Steamship Company), spotted by my mother 90 years ago and never forgotten.
English, by contrast, rarely amalgamates more than two words. And there doesn’t seem to be any rule for hyphenating or not hyphenating compound words, or leaving them separate. Seems a bit arbitrary, depending on the mindset (mind-set?) of the writer. Even The Chicago Manual of Style, the writer’s bible, doesn’t give clear guidance.
You could theorize that when a combination of two nouns becomes common currency, initially the words are simply juxtaposed (master class, income tax), gradually a hyphen insinuates itself (light-year, water-closet), and as the compound word becomes more and more familiar the hyphen is dropped (steamship, masthead).
Finally, the two words bond so closely that it’s an effort to recall that they were ever separate (shepherd, rainbow). You could also theorize that longer words tend to remain separate. “Class distinction” has been around for a long time without the words joining together; and conversely, “witchcraft” contradicts the possible theory that an unwieldy cluster of consonants might be an obstacle to words welding together.
Still, I can discern no hard and fast rule; and I’ve noticed that double-noun words coined to meet the needs of the digital age tend to skip straight to the last stage of the process I’ve theorized, with no separation and no hyphen (photoshop, website).
These are all double nouns used as nouns, as “you need to work on your anger management”. But I think when you use them as adjectives, the separated ones do need a hyphen: I for one would certainly go for an anger-management course, or complete my income-tax return. So for this week, I offer five double-noun words, with or without hyphens, run together or separate, as I would present them. See if you agree or not.
Janet Rizvi, brought up in Scotland, has spent most of her adult life in India. Historian, freelance researcher, and author, she has always been interested in words. She tends to the old-fashioned, deploring for instance, the recent fad for “multiple” instead of the perfectly serviceable “many”; and mourning the near-demise of “whom”. At the same time, she understands that language does, and must, change and evolve, even if it does so faster than her sensibilities can keep up.
She is the author of Ladakh, Crossroads of High Asia (Oxford University Press), Trans-Himalayan Caravans: Merchant Princes & Peasant Traders in Ladakh (Oxford University Press), and Pashmina: The Kashmir Shawl & Beyond (Marg Publications).
Today's word is merchant prince, alluding to someone who has acquired great wealth and behaves like a prince. From merchant, from Latin mercari (to trade), from merx (goods) and prince, from primus (prime) + capere (to seize). Earliest documented use: 1760.
Learn more at: wordsmith.org/words/merchant_prince.html
Today's word is ursiform, from Latin ursus (bear). Ultimately from the Indo-European root rtko- (bear), which also gave us arctic (literally, of the bear), the name Ursula (diminutive of Latin ursa: bear), and arctophile (one who is very fond of teddy bears). Earliest documented use: 1791.
Learn more about today's word at: wordsmith.org/words/ursiform.html
We say goodbye to the students who's leaving the school on Fridays. The students gather together to clap and cheer their fellow classmates/friends.
The leavers receive their certificate and they have a chance to say goodbye to everyone.
Find us on: www.shaneglobal.com
ULearn English School
ulearnschool.com
facebook.com/ULearnDublinEnglishSchool
youtube.com/user/ULearnDublin
vimeo.com/ulearnenglishschool
Shane Global Language Centre - Hastings.
Upper Intermediate Class
Sept. 2010
Find us on: www.shaneglobal.com
Room D is a double room, which can be used by a couple travelling together or a single student who likes a little more space. The room is fitted out with a double bed, bedside table, lamp and built-in wardrobe.
TimeBank, 1 of 6 winners of the English Language Competition announced in December 2013. learnenglish-communities.tumblr.com/post/66778639224/comp...
Shane Global Language Centre - Hastings.
Pre Intermediate Class
Sept. 2010
Find us on: www.shaneglobal.com
Shane Global Language Centre - Hastings.
Upper Intermediate Class
Sept. 2010
Find us on: www.shaneglobal.com
Shane Global Language Centre - Hastings.
Upper Intermediate Class
Sept. 2010
Find us on: www.shaneglobal.com
VIRTLANTIS is a free resource and open community of practice for language learners and teachers in the virtual world of Second Life®. We offer free informal language learning activities for a growing number of languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, etc. All of our activities are offered free of charge by volunteer language teachers and/or native speakers.
Everyone is welcome to offer a language activity at VIRTLANTIS. We provide free resources and ongoing support. We also collaborate with and promote other language communities in Second Life.
In addition to our main island and the various social meeting points at Knowingly, we have additional locations which can be used when needed.
If you are interested in participating in any of our current activities or would like to offer your own language activity, feel free to contact us in-world, on Facebook, on Skype or via e-mail: info@virtlantis.com.
*In order to visit VIRTLANTIS, you will need to join Second Life and install a Second Life viewer.*
Join Second Life here: join.secondlife.com.
Download the default viewer here: secondlife.com/support/downloads.
A list of alternate viewers can be found here: wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Third_Party_Viewer_Directory.
Official VIRTLANTIS Website:
Teleport Link:
slurl.com/secondlife/Knowingly/99/141/21
Free Language Activities Calendar:
www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=virtlantis%40googlemail...
Free Language Learning/Teaching Resources:
www.virtlantis.com/resources.html
Free Event Hosting & Support:
www.virtlantis.com/events.html
Social Meeting Points @ VIRTLANTIS:
www.virtlantis.com/slurls.html
Facebook Community Site:
Contact Info:
Have questions? No problem! Send an e-mail to info@virtlantis.com or contact Kip Yellowjacket or Abraxas McAndrews in-world. Please also feel free to contact us via Skype: ID = VIRTLANTIS
NEW!
In addition to providing our main island as a free resource, we now have a second island which can be used for special language or culture related events such as presentations, workshops, seminars, roundtables, conferences, demos, concerts and parties!
Our new "Paradise Island" can be used free of charge by anyone who needs a private or public space for a large event (maximum 20 avatars). We gladly provide additional support and resources on an as needed basis. We can also modify the look and feel of the island to help create the ideal atmosphere for your event.
*To reserve and make use of Paradise Island, simply send an e-mail to info@virtlantis.com or contact Kip Yellowjacket or Abraxas McAndrews in-world.*
VIRTLANTIS is a non-profit project of the Oxford School for English, a private language school located in Germany and Austria. It is also a collaborative effort which includes language teachers and learners from all over the world.
Oxford School for English:
www.oxfordschool.de | www.oxfordschool.at
Disclaimer: Second Life® and Linden Lab® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Linden Research, Inc. All rights reserved. No infringement is intended.
Shane Global Language Centre - Hastings.
Upper Intermediate Class
Sept. 2010
Find us on: www.shaneglobal.com
Imagine you have a fully constructed Lego project. When you start taking it apart, you misunderstand where one brick ends and another begins and you break a brick into two.
Combining forms are the Legos of word construction. This misinterpreting of boundaries of pieces happens in language sometimes. The word helicopter is constructed with helico- (spiral) + -pter (wings). People broke the word into heli- + -copter and formed new words such as helipad and quadcopter.
This week’s words are also made with building blocks, known as combining forms. If you get curious and decide to explore individual blocks, please do not break them in the wrong place. We even give you the parts we have used in building them, so no excuses:
miso- (hate), poly- (many), audio- (sound), deont- (obligation), silvi- (wood), and -cainea (new), -gyny (woman), -phile (love), -logy (study), -colous (inhabiting).
On second thought, if you did break them in the wrong place, what new words could you make? Share your linguistic inventions below or email us at words@wordsmith.org.
Our apologies to the English language in advance for whatever mishandling you might be subjecting it to with our encouragement.
Today's word is misocainea, from Greek miso- (hate) + -cainea (new). Earliest documented use: 1938.
Learn more about today's word at: wordsmith.org/words/misocainea.html
VIRTLANTIS is a free resource and open community of practice for language learners and teachers in the virtual world of Second Life®. We offer free informal language learning activities for a growing number of languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, etc. All of our activities are offered free of charge by volunteer language teachers and/or native speakers.
Everyone is welcome to offer a language activity at VIRTLANTIS. We provide free resources and ongoing support. We also collaborate with and promote other language communities in Second Life.
In addition to our main island and the various social meeting points at Knowingly, we have additional locations which can be used when needed.
If you are interested in participating in any of our current activities or would like to offer your own language activity, feel free to contact us in-world, on Facebook, on Skype or via e-mail: info@virtlantis.com.
*In order to visit VIRTLANTIS, you will need to join Second Life and install a Second Life viewer.*
Join Second Life here: join.secondlife.com.
Download the default viewer here: secondlife.com/support/downloads.
A list of alternate viewers can be found here: wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Third_Party_Viewer_Directory.
Official VIRTLANTIS Website:
Teleport Link:
slurl.com/secondlife/Knowingly/99/141/21
Free Language Activities Calendar:
www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=virtlantis%40googlemail...
Free Language Learning/Teaching Resources:
www.virtlantis.com/resources.html
Free Event Hosting & Support:
www.virtlantis.com/events.html
Social Meeting Points @ VIRTLANTIS:
www.virtlantis.com/slurls.html
Facebook Community Site:
Contact Info:
Have questions? No problem! Send an e-mail to info@virtlantis.com or contact Kip Yellowjacket or Abraxas McAndrews in-world. Please also feel free to contact us via Skype: ID = VIRTLANTIS
NEW!
In addition to providing our main island as a free resource, we now have a second island which can be used for special language or culture related events such as presentations, workshops, seminars, roundtables, conferences, demos, concerts and parties!
Our new "Paradise Island" can be used free of charge by anyone who needs a private or public space for a large event (maximum 20 avatars). We gladly provide additional support and resources on an as needed basis. We can also modify the look and feel of the island to help create the ideal atmosphere for your event.
*To reserve and make use of Paradise Island, simply send an e-mail to info@virtlantis.com or contact Kip Yellowjacket or Abraxas McAndrews in-world.*
VIRTLANTIS is a non-profit project of the Oxford School for English, a private language school located in Germany and Austria. It is also a collaborative effort which includes language teachers and learners from all over the world.
Oxford School for English:
www.oxfordschool.de | www.oxfordschool.at
Disclaimer: Second Life® and Linden Lab® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Linden Research, Inc. All rights reserved. No infringement is intended.
VIRTLANTIS is a free resource and open community of practice for language learners and teachers in the virtual world of Second Life®. We offer free informal language learning activities for a growing number of languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, etc. All of our activities are offered free of charge by volunteer language teachers and/or native speakers.
Everyone is welcome to offer a language activity at VIRTLANTIS. We provide free resources and ongoing support. We also collaborate with and promote other language communities in Second Life.
In addition to our main island and the various social meeting points at Knowingly, we have additional locations which can be used when needed.
If you are interested in participating in any of our current activities or would like to offer your own language activity, feel free to contact us in-world, on Facebook, on Skype or via e-mail: info@virtlantis.com.
*In order to visit VIRTLANTIS, you will need to join Second Life and install a Second Life viewer.*
Join Second Life here: join.secondlife.com.
Download the default viewer here: secondlife.com/support/downloads.
A list of alternate viewers can be found here: wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Third_Party_Viewer_Directory.
Official VIRTLANTIS Website:
Teleport Link:
slurl.com/secondlife/Knowingly/99/141/21
Free Language Activities Calendar:
www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=virtlantis%40googlemail...
Free Language Learning/Teaching Resources:
www.virtlantis.com/resources.html
Free Event Hosting & Support:
www.virtlantis.com/events.html
Social Meeting Points @ VIRTLANTIS:
www.virtlantis.com/slurls.html
Facebook Community Site:
Contact Info:
Have questions? No problem! Send an e-mail to info@virtlantis.com or contact Kip Yellowjacket or Abraxas McAndrews in-world. Please also feel free to contact us via Skype: ID = VIRTLANTIS
NEW!
In addition to providing our main island as a free resource, we now have a second island which can be used for special language or culture related events such as presentations, workshops, seminars, roundtables, conferences, demos, concerts and parties!
Our new "Paradise Island" can be used free of charge by anyone who needs a private or public space for a large event (maximum 20 avatars). We gladly provide additional support and resources on an as needed basis. We can also modify the look and feel of the island to help create the ideal atmosphere for your event.
*To reserve and make use of Paradise Island, simply send an e-mail to info@virtlantis.com or contact Kip Yellowjacket or Abraxas McAndrews in-world.*
VIRTLANTIS is a non-profit project of the Oxford School for English, a private language school located in Germany and Austria. It is also a collaborative effort which includes language teachers and learners from all over the world.
Oxford School for English:
www.oxfordschool.de | www.oxfordschool.at
Disclaimer: Second Life® and Linden Lab® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Linden Research, Inc. All rights reserved. No infringement is intended.
English Language Summer School at London House School of English. London House is a British Council Accredited Language School. More than quality English Language Teaching. Excellent Warm and Friendly Host Families. Trips to London, Canterbury, Cambridge, Oxford, Dover Castle, Leeds Castle, Windsor and much more. Disco's with quality Dj's, BBQ, Sports: Football, Tennis, Volleyball. Activities: Drama, Dance and British Culture. A Holiday to Remember.
We say goodbye to the students who's leaving the school on Fridays. The students gather together to clap and cheer their fellow classmates/friends.
The leavers receive their certificate and they have a chance to say goodbye to everyone.
Find us on: www.shaneglobal.com
Today's word is promontory, from Latin promontorium, alteration of promunturium, influenced by mons (mountain). Ultimately from the Indo-European root men- (project), which is also the source of menace, mountain, eminent, promenade, demean, amenable, mouth, and minatory. Earliest documented use: 1548.
"No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee."
- John Donne; Devotions upon Emergent Occasions; 1624.
Learn more about today's word at: wordsmith.org/words/promontory.html
Photo of the month in the Learn English forum. Well done everyone who commented:-
learn-english-forum.org/discussion/1020/photo-fun-for-jun...
Tinder Foundation, 1 of 6 winners of the English Language Competition announced in December 2013. learnenglish-communities.tumblr.com/post/66778639224/comp...
Today's word is recreant, which comes from Old French recreant, present participle of recroire (to yield, to surrender allegiance), from Latin recredere (to yield or pledge), from re- + credere (to believe). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kerd-(heart), which also gave us cardiac, cordial, courage, record, concord, discord, credit, credo, and accord. Earliest documented use: 1330.
Learn more, and see the rest of this week's words, at: wordsmith.org/words/recreant.html
Borderline is an adjective and a noun.
As an adjective it can be used to show how something can be divided between two very different conditions, with the possibility of belonging to either one of them.
For example: A borderline case. A borderline candidate.
As a noun borderline shows something that separates two different qualities.
For example:-
The borderline between love and hate is very thin.
This photo shows the borderline between the former GDR and West Germany. Called the Innerdeutsche Grenze or Deutsch-Deutsche Grenze, it was an extensive system of fortifications that ran the entire 1,381-kilometer border.
Draw a line...
___________________________________________________________
.... and step over it.
Tjebbe van Tijen
If you are legless it can mean you have drunk so much (alcohol) that you can't walk.
But this is a photo of a slowworm "Anguis fragilis" (the slow worm, slow-worm, blindworm or blind worm) is not a worm, or a snake, it's a legless lizard.
Due to reasons, mainly connected with their name, they are very easy to photograph, they're so slow even I can manage it. :-)