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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Why do we use the prefixes we do?
HI
I teach an American English basic education class. One student, last evening, was pondering over our prefix usage. Ie., why do we use one prefix with a certain word. Eg., why is "discovery" but not "uncovery" Yet, we have "dissassemble" and "unassemble." My guess is that certain prefixes were chosen by the speakers of the langusage and those usages became standardized with their inclusions into the dictionary. However, that is not very satisfactory.
If you can shed some light, or direct me to some sites that may shed some light (yes, I have been looking), please do so.
Much thanks, Di
I teach an American English basic education class. One student, last evening, was pondering over our prefix usage. Ie., why do we use one prefix with a certain word. Eg., why is "discovery" but not "uncovery" Yet, we have "dissassemble" and "unassemble." My guess is that certain prefixes were chosen by the speakers of the langusage and those usages became standardized with their inclusions into the dictionary. However, that is not very satisfactory.
If you can shed some light, or direct me to some sites that may shed some light (yes, I have been looking), please do so.
Much thanks, Di
Top answer
[nq:1]I teach an American English basic education class. One student, last evening, was pondering over our prefix usage. , why ...
- [nq:1]I teach an American English basic education class.
- One student, last evening, was pondering over our prefix usage.
- , why ...
- of the langusage and those usages became standardized with their inclusions into the dictionary.
- [/nq] What else did you expect?
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31 Answers
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[nq:1]I teach an American English basic education class. One student, last evening, was pondering over our prefix usage. Ie., why ... of the langusage and those usages became standardized with their inclusions into the dictionary. However, that is not very satisfactory.[/nq]
What else did you expect?
You know something about how English came
into existence, not long before printing but
What else did you expect?
You know something about how English came
into existence, not long before printing but
00
[nq:1]and has no English Academy or "language police" to regulate usage.[/nq]
Oh Yes, the great democracy of the English speaking world. In english speaking countries, people do what they are told to do by the media, and they think they are free.
Let's see, I'm am forced to read poetry by Langston Hughes, a black homosexual, who was a communist and a child molester, and you don't have "lan
Oh Yes, the great democracy of the English speaking world. In english speaking countries, people do what they are told to do by the media, and they think they are free.
Let's see, I'm am forced to read poetry by Langston Hughes, a black homosexual, who was a communist and a child molester, and you don't have "lan
00
Knoppix User had it:
[nq:2]and has no English Academy or "language police" to regulate usage.[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh Yes, the great democracy of the English speaking world. In english speaking countries, people do what they are told ... mind of young student. I guess you think you don't, because you consider hollywood to be the regulator of English.[/nq]
Forced? Is he standing over you with a b
[nq:2]and has no English Academy or "language police" to regulate usage.[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh Yes, the great democracy of the English speaking world. In english speaking countries, people do what they are told ... mind of young student. I guess you think you don't, because you consider hollywood to be the regulator of English.[/nq]
Forced? Is he standing over you with a b
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[nq:2]and has no English Academy or "language police" to regulate usage.[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh Yes, the great democracy of the English speaking world. In english speaking countries, people do what they are told ... I'm am forced to read poetry by Langston Hughes, a black homosexual, who was a communist and a child molester,[/nq]
Whoa Nellie. I am not the most educated Italian in African American l
[nq:1]Oh Yes, the great democracy of the English speaking world. In english speaking countries, people do what they are told ... I'm am forced to read poetry by Langston Hughes, a black homosexual, who was a communist and a child molester,[/nq]
Whoa Nellie. I am not the most educated Italian in African American l
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diagravial schrieb:
[nq:1]I teach an American English basic education class. One student, last evening, was pondering over our prefix usage. Ie., why do we use one prefix with a certain word. Eg., why is "discovery" but not "uncovery"[/nq]
Because the brought "decouvrir" and not "uncovrir" into the language?
[nq:1]I teach an American English basic education class. One student, last evening, was pondering over our prefix usage. Ie., why do we use one prefix with a certain word. Eg., why is "discovery" but not "uncovery"[/nq]
Because the brought "decouvrir" and not "uncovrir" into the language?
00
[nq:1]HI I teach an American English basic education class. One student, last evening, was pondering over our prefix usage. Ie., why do we use one prefix with a certain word. Eg., why is "discovery" but not "uncovery"[/nq]
Sadly for the theory the word "uncovery" is in use. Cites in OED:
" 1963 Listener 12 Sept. 377/2 When we indulge in+deduction+the theorem contains the discovery (or
Sadly for the theory the word "uncovery" is in use. Cites in OED:
" 1963 Listener 12 Sept. 377/2 When we indulge in+deduction+the theorem contains the discovery (or
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[nq:1]You can argue all the[/nq]
You don't need "the" here
[nq:1]day until[/nq]
Here is where you need "the"
[nq:1]cows come home, but we European[/nq]
You need an "s" here
[nq:1]are convalescent.[/nq]
I didn't even know you were sick.
Liebs
You don't need "the" here
[nq:1]day until[/nq]
Here is where you need "the"
[nq:1]cows come home, but we European[/nq]
You need an "s" here
[nq:1]are convalescent.[/nq]
I didn't even know you were sick.
Liebs
00
[nq:2]HI I teach an American English basic education class. One ... with a certain word. Eg., why is "discovery" but not"uncovery"[/nq]
[nq:1]Sadly for the theory the word "uncovery" is in use. Cites in OED: " 1963 Listener 12 Sept. 377/2 When ... right to be apprehensive about the price. This advice is not intended in a reprehensive manner. John Dean Oxford[/nq]
An even more interesting c
[nq:1]Sadly for the theory the word "uncovery" is in use. Cites in OED: " 1963 Listener 12 Sept. 377/2 When ... right to be apprehensive about the price. This advice is not intended in a reprehensive manner. John Dean Oxford[/nq]
An even more interesting c
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"Raymond S. Wise" schrieb:
[nq:1]An even more interesting case, in my opinion, is that of "inhabitable," meaning "suitable for habitation" and "inhabitable," meaning "not ... English, but is now obsolete. It is, however, currently used in French, making "uninhabitable" the translation of the French "inhabitable."[/nq]
Yes:
inhabit-able: able to be inhabited (= lived in)
in-habitabl
[nq:1]An even more interesting case, in my opinion, is that of "inhabitable," meaning "suitable for habitation" and "inhabitable," meaning "not ... English, but is now obsolete. It is, however, currently used in French, making "uninhabitable" the translation of the French "inhabitable."[/nq]
Yes:
inhabit-able: able to be inhabited (= lived in)
in-habitabl
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[nq:1]diagravial schrieb:[/nq]
[nq:2]Yet, we have "dissassemble" and "unassemble."[/nq]
[nq:1]We do? The reason is that "d" stands for "dump", so a word with "u" is needed to have a memorable keystroke for reverse code assembly. "Normal" people don't have "unassemble".[/nq]
I agree, but we do have "disassembled" and "unassembled".
Bill
Swap first and last parts of username
[nq:2]Yet, we have "dissassemble" and "unassemble."[/nq]
[nq:1]We do? The reason is that "d" stands for "dump", so a word with "u" is needed to have a memorable keystroke for reverse code assembly. "Normal" people don't have "unassemble".[/nq]
I agree, but we do have "disassembled" and "unassembled".
Bill
Swap first and last parts of username
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