Ooops!

[JohnD]

Exceptions that prove the rule, another of his favourites.

I'm sure he knew the origins of the word "prove,"

 

[fixitflav]

I'm sure he knew the origins of the word "prove,"

So am I

 

[morqthana]

Exceptions that prove the rule, another of his favourites.

Then he was clearly someone who had no idea what "the exception proves the rule" actually means.

 

[fixitflav]

Then he was clearly someone who had no idea what "the exception proves the rule" actually means.

What does it mean then, in your opinion?

 

[JBR]

Ok then - why did such an odd thing happen?

I've often wondered about this. I can only assume that way back in history everything was regarded as male, female or neither.
As I've mentioned, I shouldn't be surprised if, as things generally tend to become simplified, the concept of gender (other than in humans and animals) may well disappear.

 

[morqthana]

What does it mean then, in your opinion?

Exception that proves the rule - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

If your classics teacher had said "Most languages weren't made, they just happened"....

 

[morqthana]

As I've mentioned, I shouldn't be surprised if, as things generally tend to become simplified, the concept of gender (other than in humans and animals) may well disappear.

That isn't what you said.

After all, with all this 'gender fluidity' going on these days, there are many males who pretend to be females, and vice versa (and who knows how many 'neuters'), that one day it will be illegal to even specify which one you are!

 

[morqthana]

I imagine the correct version becomes that word. In other words, you're not learning the 'extra' bit but, the thing as a whole. And to say anything other would just not make sense.

Don't look for sense.

In German the the grammatical gender of Mädchen (girl) is neuter.

 

[FrodoOne]

I've often wondered about this. I can only assume that way back in history everything was regarded as male, female or neither.
As I've mentioned, I shouldn't be surprised if, as things generally tend to become simplified, the concept of gender (other than in humans and animals) may well disappear.

It is unlikely that speakers of languages such as German or French will "simplify" the genders of their nouns, unless confronted with a situation similar to that which existed in "England" during the Middle Ages - where "speakers" of closely related languages were forced - by circumstance, not authority - to simplify their speech, in order to communicate.

After 1066, the "imposition" of the French (of the day) eventually proved to be a "Blessing in Disguise".
It made "English Speakers" willing (even eager) to accept words from any other language, if the word was more appropriate than any existing "English" word.

There is direct opposition to this practice by "those in charge" of the French and German languages
Also, combining words from Latin and Greek into "English" words became common practice.
"Official" German words try to avoid this and utilize combined German words to form new words.
(c.f. fernsprecher (Far-Speak) with Telephone,
fernsehen (Far-See) with Television)

Just imagine if English termed a Telephone a "Farvoice", a Television a "Farsee" and a Telegraph a Farwrite
(The latter could be confused, in speech, with Far Right!)
However,
those are (roughly) the English meanings of the words which we are using - from Greek and Latin.

 

[ebee]

Exceptions that prove the rule, another of his favourites.

My take on that saying is - if something is a law it is universally true.if someting is usually/often true then it is a rule, if there are exceptions it is a rule not a law.

Anyway that is my tenpennorth

Whether my take on that is in itself merely a rule or if it is actually a law , i leave others to decide on that

It is way above my head is that one, just in the same way as that bloody cat of Shroedinger's

 

[Why Not Indeed]

That's the point, nobody knows for sure, can only speculate. Languages evolved, like life forms.

It must be useful given that it has happened independently in multiple locations on multiple occasions.

 

[morqthana]

After 1066, the "imposition" of the French (of the day) eventually proved to be a "Blessing in Disguise".
It made "English Speakers" willing (even eager) to accept words from any other language, if the word was more appropriate than any existing "English" word.

It was quite class-based, which is why the words for the meat consumed (by the aristos) are based on French, but those for the animals (looked after by the peasants) remained Germanic.

Also, I think I read once that by the 14th/15th century French was being taught in England as a foreign language.