Words that get on your nerves

And the English word 'ecclesiastical' probably has the same origin.

 

As someone who studied geology one that gets me is epicentre - what's wrong with centre?

Quote from George Orwell:

. “- Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
– Never use a long word where a short one will do.
– If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
– Never use the passive where you can use the active.
– Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
– Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.”

His books were always easy to read.

Wasn't there once a plain English campaign?

 

and Eglos in Cornwall. Celtic?

 

When learning French at school the teachers always tried to make us speak with a French accent and do the rolled "r" etc - which is actually almost impossible if you didn't grow up doing it, like the French really struggle to make the "th" sound.
This just had the effect of making me, and other self-conscious teens, not want to participate in the oral exercises.
Whenever I hear a French person speak English they always have their strong French accent and no-one minds, it's considered charming and/or sexy.

 

I have just finished listening to a book on the origins of the English language, which said that the contribution made by Celtic languages has been long overlooked.

 

I still remember that wonderful line reputed to have been said by Michael Parkinson - or said ABOUT him - in conversation with a northern celebrity living in the south:

"Well, tha might be big in London but tha's b....r all in Barnsla!"

Apologies if the sweary but heavily disguised word in the above quotation is in breach of the updated rules and regs, but nothing else cuts the mustard as an alternative!

 

Welsh, Cornish, and Bretton, are closely related languages, they are called Brethonic, and they have very simmilar and often almost identical words ...
whereas Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic, are called Goedelic. I think the different language groups originated from different branches of Celtic people.

 

My elder SIL was from Barnsley and even after 40 years living near Carnforth kept her strong accent and, despite being an infant teacher, dropped her h's even when writing..

 

A primary school on the Isle of Man @Michael Hewett has Manx as it's first language.

 

That's nice to know, It's good that these old languages are being kept alive.