Tagged Questions
2
votes
2answers
175 views
What's the linguistics term for “Schubertiaden” and similar words? [closed]
What's the linguistics term for "Schubertiaden" and similar words (that refers to a group of people based on a person's name)?
"Schubertiaden" refers to the group of people of similar interest and ...
0
votes
0answers
223 views
What defines a unique writing style? [closed]
I'm an amateur writer that happens to be a professional programmer.
I say this because I've recently jumped back into a personal research project in which the goal is to automate the de-anonymization ...
9
votes
4answers
352 views
Why we say “save file” and not “keep/preserve file”
Why do we say save the file/image instead of keep/preserve the file/image? Is it because the original meaning was to save (rescue) the object from being lost?
7
votes
2answers
550 views
Etymology of “binky” — three questions
Definition 2 of binky at
wiktionary is "(rabbit behavior) A high hop that a rabbit may perform when happy." This definition is consistent with that at
rabbitspeak, and not inconsistent with "A kind ...
9
votes
3answers
3k views
Origin of “you lot” and other plural forms of “you”
I've often heard the phrase "you lot" in British programs on PBS, e.g. "Oi! You lot! Shift y'selves" or thereabouts, and have sometimes wondered about its origin and how it gained currency. It seems ...
17
votes
2answers
953 views
What is the origin of the “-th” suffix? What is the linguistic term for the meaning it adds to words?
I was teaching my young nephew some math the other day, and from discussing the typical sort of word problems he's encountering in class, I noticed that the "-th" suffix adds a distinct meaning to ...
4
votes
1answer
135 views
Why is the state of being resident “residence”, but the state of being president “presiden-cy”?
Resident : Residence seems like the normal pairing to me. Residency isn't exactly unknown (see here), but it's far less common.
But with President the derivatives are reversed and then some. ...
10
votes
3answers
191 views
What is the standard of proof in etymology?
In this question the idea I put forward as a possible etymology for "ta" garnered the response that it is a well known false etymology for the word. That got me to wondering - being strictly a dabbler ...
