Metathesis, & Latin Words and Phrases in English Lessons XXIV-XXV Linguistics 1010 April 4, 2005

Metathesis (Lesson XXIV) Definition. Transposition of two sounds in a word (as in the development of crud from curd or the pronunciation \'pur-tE\ for pretty). English examples: ask [aks], spaghetti [basketti], foliage [foilage], mischeivous [mischevious], breakfast [breakstif], Sly [Sylvester] Distinct from Spoonerism: Let me sew you to your sheet, our queer old dean.

Metathesis in Word Histories

Latin Words and Phrases in English (Lesson XXV) Some words and phrases have entered Latin while retaining their original forms. ad hoc, per se, per diem, de facto, vice versaSome of these words are found in fixed phrases, e.g., ad hoc, per se, per diem, de facto, vice versa. Some of these words are nouns which carry Latin singular and plural inflections.

Noun Sense The proper plural form of many Latin nouns is a subject of controversy. Do the following nouns even have a plural form? datadata (Her data was interesting.) mediamedia(The media gives only one side.) Lesson 25, II (p. 138)

Noun Sense Sometimes the ‘proper’ form seems silly: –alumna –index –focus –stadium –genus –octopus –appendix sic, qua, pro, viaSometimes the word looks like an abbreviation but isn’t: sic, qua, pro, via

Latin Phrases Sometimes the abbreviation of a phrase is more familiar that the phrase itself. What do the following abbreviations mean? –e.g. –i.e. –cf. –A.D. –AM –NB –et al. –etc. –ca.

Latin Phrases What do the following phrases mean? –in camera –habeas corpus –de facto –ad hominem –ex officio –ex post facto –per capita –per diem –per se

Latin Phrases What do the following phrases mean? –persona non grata –sine qua non –quid pro quo –prima facie –a fortiori –status quo –reductio ad absurdum –ad hoc –pro tem

Latin Abbreviations in Medicine LatinAbbreviationMeaning ante cibumacbefore meals bis in diebidtwice a day guttagtdrop hora somnihsat bedtime oculus dexterodright eye quaque dieqdevery day nihil per osnponothing by mouth pro re nataprnas needed

New Bases Lesson XXIV: AUDAUD CARNCARN NUNCI (NOUNCE)NUNCI (NOUNCE) PRESSPRESS PROPRIPROPRI SAT(IS)SAT(IS) No new forms in Lesson XXV!