AUTHORS' ANNEXE (English Language Discussions)

[keithgood838]

Hi Lori
When I set up this topic my intention was to try to add yet another
dimension to the already impressive diversity that informs this
wide-ranging website. And to provide some guidance to students
and others keen to strengthen their grip on the language.
I also hoped, by definition, to provoke debate and capture the attention
of casual readers. Your kind comments justify the whole enterprise,
on which I'm sure Matt puts his seal of approval.
Keith

PS Between you and me, I have also learned from this thread.

[mariana44]

Today, I heard something on the TV that sounded really strange---someone was saying--"I thunk, and I thunk and I thunk"---using the word "thunk" to be the past tense of "Think".

I know that it is perfectly acceptable to have drink /drunk----
fling/flung---sling/slung----but is think/thunk really correct?

[Marian]

It should surely be 'thought' Marian.

One used by Americans that we rarely use is 'dove' for 'dived'. I can never get used to that one.

[mariana44]

I agree Marian, most people would use "thought"-I just wondered if "thunk" was also acceptable--weird as it sounds and looks !

[Marian]

English is such a confusing language isn't it? You can dunk a biscuit, but you can't thunk a thought!

[keithgood838]

The Americans are responsible for introducing 'snuck'
as the past tense of the verb 'sneak'. The standard English
past tense of 'sneak' is 'sneaked'. However, the informal 'snuck'
has now gained sufficient respectability to warrant inclusion
in some dictionaries. Which goes to show that language
is a living, evolving entity.
Keith

PS Marian, English is an amalgam of almost every other language,
which may account for its occasional capriciousness. It is, though,
among the less complex of languages paradoxically. Latin, for example,
has a far greater variety of verb forms.

[Marian]

Any word ending with 'uck' doesn't sound quite right to me Keith, apart from 'duck ' of course.
Marian

[keithgood838]

Marian, I hadn't thought of that variation, which is very pertinent
and posted before I had completed my post. You are a technological
marvel.
Keith

[Marian]

Thank you for your kind words Keith. I suppose puck and muck are just about acceptable too. and of course......luck, as long as it's good.
Marian

[keithgood838]

I do not mean to suck up to you, Marian;
however I cannot help being struck by the way
you chuck 'uck' words around without coming unstuck.

Marian(a)

LIQUORED LINGUISTICS

Whoever used 'thunk'
as the past tense of 'think'
was very much mistaken;
they may not have been drunk
but I'm sure they had one drink
or possibly more than that taken.

Keith

[ROBERT M.]

Don't forget Rugby players have a "ruck" during games

[Marian]

Then they go home to the day job and drive a TRUCK... and when they were at school they loved their TUCK!
Any more 'uck' words? Oh, YUCK! just give us a BUCK. :lol:not forgetting hens CLUCK!
Marian

[mariana44]

I am still confused--is it Ok to say "I thunk"---or not.

[ROBERT M.]

I should "thunk" so, Marian

[Marian]

I heard 'thunk' used again on tv this morning. It was used by a Canadian singer, Dave Carroll, who was being interviewed about a song of complaint he had put on You tube after handlers at United Airlines badly damaged his guitar.
Apparently this is now his best known song, and he said "Who'd have thunk it"!!
Marian