Current Events

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

nameless — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:52:49 GMT

Obviously the British should revert back to the old Anglo-Saxon language, because then everyone would understand equally!

...Or would they?! D:

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

Fephisto — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:43:51 GMT

Alright Jon, gigs up, give us the link to the Onion page from whence this derives. (also, I should go ahead and make the obligatory 1984 reference to Newspeak while I'm at it)

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

majevska — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:43:37 GMT

What's next? French words? Colloquialisms? Semicolons? Some of those might be confusing to either immigrants or dimwits.

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

MatthewWilliam — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:39:58 GMT

The thing that irks me about this is that its extremely dismissive of immigrants and the poor alike.

First the British government doesn't provide adequate education for its citizens - so now councils have to accomodate them.

Second of all, why wouldn't foreigners understand latin phrases? They are used all over the world.

The dumbing down of Britain continues.

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

liberty student — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:13:38 GMT

I'm all for space exploration with taxpayer money. Then we can put all of these cadets on a rocket ship and launch it at the sun.

There should be outrage over this. It's sad that it is going through, speaks volumes about how our so-called intellectual elites won't stand up and fight for anything. Makes me sick.

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

Jon Irenicus — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:03:15 GMT

It amuses me that impromptu is offered as a possible translation for ad lib.

-Jon

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

earlgrey — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:50:39 GMT

The word "per" is on that list; it's suggested replacement is "each". Are they also going to change "percent" to "each hundred"?

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

ricarpe — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:25:48 GMT

liberty student:
That's what happens when you let the lowest common denominator define the discussion.

Wholeheartedly agreed.

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

JonBostwick — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:27:27 GMT

They might mistake eg for egg

Oh boy, I don't think I have to mention just how embarrassing that was.

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

liberty student — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:29:25 GMT

That's what happens when you let the lowest common denominator define the discussion.

Thanks for the link Jon, it will come in handy.

Re: The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

Rubén — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:10:51 GMT

That is a shame, in my opinion. Latin should not even be considered a dead language. Anyone who is fluent in various European languages recognizes the importance of precision of Latin and its rich grammatical structure that was lost in the Romance languages (and in English by extension)

The councils who ban Latin words because they are 'elitist and discriminatory' and confuse immigrants

Jon Irenicus — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:32:31 GMT

Classics scholars have accused councils of 'ethnic cleansing' after they banned staff from using Latin words.

The local authorities claim the terms are elitist and discriminatory, and have ordered employees to use often-wordier alternatives in documents or when speaking to the public.

Bournemouth Council, which has the Latin motto Pulchritudo et Salubritas - beauty and health - has listed 19 terms it no longer considers acceptable for use.

They include ad hoc, bona fide, status quo, vice versa and even via.

Its list of alternatives includes 'for this special purpose', in place of ad hoc and 'existing condition' or 'state of things', instead of status quo.

Mary Beard, a Cambridge professor of classics, said: 'This is absolutely bonkers and the linguistic equivalent of ethnic cleansing.

'English is and always has been a language full of foreign words. It has never been an ethnically pure language.'

Dr Peter Jones, co-founder of the charity Friends of Classics, said: 'This sort of thing sends out the message that language is about nothing more than the communication of very basic information in the manner of a railway timetable.

'But it is about much more than that. The great strength of English is that it has a massive infusion of Latin.

'We have a very rich lexicon with almost two sets of words for everything. To try to wipe out the richness does a great disservice to the language. It demeans it.

'I am all for immigrants raising their sights not lowering them. Plain English and Latin phrasing are not diametrically opposed concepts.'

Harry Mount, author of the best-selling book Amo, Amos, Amat and All That, a light-hearted guide to the language, said: 'Latin words and phrases can often sum up thoughts and ideas more often than the alternatives which are put forward.

'They are tremendously useful, quicker and nicer sounding. They are also English words. You will find etc or et cetera in an English dictionary.'

However, the Plain English Campaign congratulated the councils for introducing the bans.

Marie Clair, its spokesman, said: 'If you look at the diversity of all our communities you have got people for whom English is a second language.

'They might mistake eg for egg and little things like that can confuse people.

'At the same time it is important to remember that the national literacy level is about 12 years old and the vast majority of people hardly ever use these terms. It is far better to use words people understand.'

Of other local authorities to prohibit the use of Latin, Salisbury has asked staff to avoid the phrases ad hoc, ergo and QED (quod erat demonstrandum), while Fife has banned ad hoc as well as ex officio.

Source.

As if Britain were not enough of an idiocracy as it is.

-Jon