ned@no-spam (Ned Latham) wrote in message news:<slrnbevjbv.abo.ned@no-spam>...
> Garth Foster wrote in <5ab9ad17.0306150102.45c49d4b@no-spam>:
> > "dechucka" wrote:
> > > "Ferdie" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > No such thing as 'an aboriginal'
> > >
> > > as it is an adjective you are right IMHO the poster meant aborigine,
> > > it is a worry for the Australian Education system that people don't
> > > know the difference between a noun and an adjective
> >
> > You dorks havent got a fu*ken clue have you.
> >
> > I dont know whether readers have noticed any change but Ive started
> > using a spell checker.
>
> The best one is the one in your head. If you understand the language.
> Spell checkers aren't even much good at picking up typoes.
>
> > Also Ive bought a thick dictionary and a copy
> > of "modern english usage" by Fowler and Ive been attending nite
> > classes in Latin.
>
> Good spell checker, Garth. "Ive" and "nite"?
>
> LOL
>
> > I discussed the question of aboriginal/aborigine with my teacher
>
> Your Latin teacher?
>
> > and I can clear up the confusion:
> >
> > The word "aborigines" was coined hundreds of years ago
>
> First documented use: 1667.
>
> > as a plural
> > word meaning "natives". As "aborigines" was derived from Latin roots
>
> Maybe. According to the SOED, that's not certain.
>
> > ("ab" and "origine"), when people wanted a singular they thought they
> > had better regard the word as entirely Latin, and they asked
> > themselves what the Latin singular would be. "Aboriginis" would have
> > been an option, but someone with a little Latin knowledge knew that
> > some singular Latin words ending in "al" form a plural ending in "es",
> > and the singular "aboriginal" was chosen.
>
> Where did who get that touching little story?
<snip>
I see your inclined to scoff at scollaship.
I put it in for my end of semmester project. I got 89%. One of my
teachers reccons Im a unspoilt interlectuel.
Garth Foster wrote in <5ab9ad17.0306270118.6e62cb0c@no-spam>:
> Ned Latham wrote:
----snip----
> > Where did who get that touching little story?
> <snip>
>
> I see your inclined to scoff at scollaship.
If it's misapplied, yes. The stuff you snipped reveals just how badly
Fowler misapplied his erudition.
> I put it in for my end of semmester project. I got 89%. One of my
> teachers reccons Im a unspoilt interlectuel.
Jeez: at makes too of us (I slept froo orl me lessons too).
Ned
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