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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
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Thumbs - just curious
From my experience, many English-speaking people insist a thumb is not a finger, or at least seem to be familiar with the idea. Now, I am very curious about its origin, so my question is: where/when do you natives hear it? As children? Is it something your mum tells you? Is there any nursery rhyme, or something? Or maybe at school? Do your teachers say: hello class, lo, I will tell you a mystery? Or are there any historic reasons? Is there any popular story/quote/joke that involves - and so reinforces - the idea?
Dorota Guttfeld,
Poland
Dorota Guttfeld,
Poland
Top answer
[nq:1]Subject: Thumbs - just curious From: Dorota Guttfeld From my experience, many English-speaking people insist a thumb is not a ... the idea. [/nq] Us natives hear it everywhere.
- [nq:1]Subject: Thumbs - just curious From: Dorota Guttfeld From my experience, many English-speaking people insist a thumb is not a ...
- the idea.
- [/nq] Us natives hear it everywhere.
- Of course, one would be foolish to insist that a thumb isn't a finger, because it obviously is; but surely the reason it has a special name is that it has a special function.
- I'd be surprised if you didn't have a name for it in Polish.
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124 Answers
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[nq:1]Subject: Thumbs - just curious From: Dorota Guttfeld From my experience, many English-speaking people insist a thumb is not a ... the idea. Now, I am very curious about its origin, so my question is: where/when do you natives hear it?[/nq]
Us natives hear it everywhere. Of course, one would be foolish to insist that a thumb isn't a finger, because it obviously is; but surely the reason i
Us natives hear it everywhere. Of course, one would be foolish to insist that a thumb isn't a finger, because it obviously is; but surely the reason i
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Qp10qp filted:
[nq:2]Subject: Thumbs - just curious From: Dorota Guttfeld From my ... so my question is: where/when do you natives hear it?[/nq]
[nq:1]Us natives hear it everywhere. Of course, one would be foolish to insist that a thumb isn't a finger, because ... is that it has a special function. I'd be surprised if you didn't have a name for it in Polish.[/nq]
When playing Spanish g
[nq:2]Subject: Thumbs - just curious From: Dorota Guttfeld From my ... so my question is: where/when do you natives hear it?[/nq]
[nq:1]Us natives hear it everywhere. Of course, one would be foolish to insist that a thumb isn't a finger, because ... is that it has a special function. I'd be surprised if you didn't have a name for it in Polish.[/nq]
When playing Spanish g
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[nq:2]Subject: Thumbs - just curious From: Dorota Guttfeld From my ... so my question is: where/when do you natives hear it?[/nq]
[nq:1]Us natives hear it everywhere. Of course, one would be foolish to insist that a thumb isn't a finger, because it obviously is;[/nq]
However, some people do insist just that, that the word "finger" applies to any of the four fingers but not to the thumb. Se
[nq:1]Us natives hear it everywhere. Of course, one would be foolish to insist that a thumb isn't a finger, because it obviously is;[/nq]
However, some people do insist just that, that the word "finger" applies to any of the four fingers but not to the thumb. Se
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[nq:1]When playing Spanish guitar, the left thumb is not a finger; the right one is..r[/nq]
Yes, but its symbol is +, whereas the other fingers are named ./../.../.. which shows quite a differentiation. Piano players treat thumbs equally and call them '1' (which is the left index finger for guitar players).
Best regards
Steffen
Yes, but its symbol is +, whereas the other fingers are named ./../.../.. which shows quite a differentiation. Piano players treat thumbs equally and call them '1' (which is the left index finger for guitar players).
Best regards
Steffen
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Perhaps because the word "thumb" enjoys a special treatment. I don't know of any other language that treats "thumb" as a verb.
[nq:1]Now, I am very curious about its origin, so my question is: where/when do you natives hear it? As children? ... Or are there any historic reasons? Is there any popular story/quote/joke that involves - and so reinforces - the idea?[/nq]
There are plenty of idi
[nq:1]Now, I am very curious about its origin, so my question is: where/when do you natives hear it? As children? ... Or are there any historic reasons? Is there any popular story/quote/joke that involves - and so reinforces - the idea?[/nq]
There are plenty of idi
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[nq:1]From my experience, many English-speaking people insist a thumb is not a finger, or at least seem to be familiar ... Or are there any historic reasons? Is there any popular story/quote/joke that involves - and so reinforces - the idea?[/nq]
Technically, we even sometimes use a separate word which covers both: 'digit'. Certainly, if an English-speaker says "I've cut my finger" you'll know
Technically, we even sometimes use a separate word which covers both: 'digit'. Certainly, if an English-speaker says "I've cut my finger" you'll know
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[nq:2]Us natives hear it everywhere. Of course, one would be foolish to insist that a thumb isn't a finger, because it obviously is;[/nq]
[nq:1]However, some people do insist just that, that the word "finger" applies to any of the four fingers but not ... subset (the four fingers) as well as the larger set (the four fingers plus thumb). These cause endless circular arguments.[/nq]
If you e
[nq:1]However, some people do insist just that, that the word "finger" applies to any of the four fingers but not ... subset (the four fingers) as well as the larger set (the four fingers plus thumb). These cause endless circular arguments.[/nq]
If you e
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[nq:1]However, some people do insist just that, that the word "finger" applies to any of the four fingers but not ... of them. Dorota has a valid question, as to how this came about, to the extent that it ever did.[/nq]
I'm particularly interested in how the difference is perceived. Is it something that people will notice once they start learning anatomy, or is it something you're supposed to
I'm particularly interested in how the difference is perceived. Is it something that people will notice once they start learning anatomy, or is it something you're supposed to
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[nq:2]When playing Spanish guitar, the left thumb is not a finger; the right one is..r[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, but its symbol is +, whereas the other fingers are named ./../.../.. which shows quite a differentiation. Piano players treat thumbs equally and call them '1' (which is the left index finger for guitar players).[/nq]
To be fair to guitarists, the thumb of both hands has a very different r
[nq:1]Yes, but its symbol is +, whereas the other fingers are named ./../.../.. which shows quite a differentiation. Piano players treat thumbs equally and call them '1' (which is the left index finger for guitar players).[/nq]
To be fair to guitarists, the thumb of both hands has a very different r
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[nq:1]Technically, we even sometimes use a separate word which covers both: 'digit'. Certainly, if an English-speaker says "I've cut my ... do?" Very satisfying. I don't see why you imagine we might have to have special thumb-differentiation classes for our children![/nq]
Well, the activity you've just described *is* such a thumb-differentiation class
Well, the activity you've just described *is* such a thumb-differentiation class
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