Words Becoming Strange &/or Obsolete

[MNoBody]

I have to be honest, I've only ever heard native English speakers go on about how hard English allegedly is. Those I've talked to who learned it as a second language tend to say it's not that hard. (And I don't pronounce women as "wimen")

I have heard people who were learning english who mentioned these curiosities..some struggled with the nuances, others figured it out easier.....Based on a fairly broad spectrum of the demographic over decades, so who knows..... language is weird in the first place, some more than others is all.

 

[Milton Platt]

I noticed a Wikipedia entry that used the term, "film", eschewing the term "movie".
But "film" is or has become an obsolete technology.
"Movie" isn't rooted in anything so dated.
Also "film" sounds so pretentious.
It should die.

What have you found?

Potential words that are dead or dying:

carburetor
typewriter
inner tube
penny

 

[Father Heathen]

Potential words that are dead or dying:

carburetor
typewriter
inner tube
penny

Pennies are still a common currency in circulation, and innertubes are a common pool toy.

 

[Milton Platt]

Pennies are still a common currency in circulation, and innertubes are a common pool toy.

Yes, but increasingly not so. Usually the inner tube has been replaced by a floaty shaped like a doughnut or inner tube. Yes, pennies are still around as are carbs, on older vehicles and small engines. My point was that pennies are on the way out because it costs more to mint them than they are actually worth.

 

[Father Heathen]

Yes, but increasingly not so. Usually the inner tube has been replaced by a floaty shaped like a doughnut or inner tube. Yes, pennies are still around as are carbs, on older vehicles and small engines. My point was that pennies are on the way out because it costs more to mint them than they are actually worth.

True. I can see "a penny for your thoughts" living on, though.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

well, at least we don't have groschen to kick around any more

 

[Jedster]

collywobbles , I rarely see used.

Some synonyms:
worry · concern · apprehension · apprehensiveness · consternation · uneasiness · unease · fearfulness · fear · disquiet · disquietude · perturbation · fretfulness ·

 

[Estro Felino]

How about "video". It is a Latin based term. Surely there is an Italian equivalent.

Yes...we use video...when it deals with generic visual things...like short movies...
Like...YouTube video...

 

[Shadow Wolf]

carburetor

Those are still around on many small engines and 2-cycle engines.

inner tube

The inner tubes of bike wheels are going no where, and i don't see the activity of inner tubing being completely lost.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

One I've only heard from one person (@Wu Wei) over the coarse of many years is blatherskite.

 

[Gargovic Malkav]

I noticed a Wikipedia entry that used the term, "film", eschewing the term "movie".
But "film" is or has become an obsolete technology.
"Movie" isn't rooted in anything so dated.
Also "film" sounds so pretentious.
It should die.

What have you found?

In my native language "film" is THE word we use for "movie".
In English I tend to use the two words interchangeably.

 

[Estro Felino]

I have noticed that Americans tend to say bottle instead of jar when it deals with

 

[Estro Felino]

In my native language "film" is THE word we use for "movie".
In English I tend to use the two words interchangeably.

Exactly like in Italian.

 

[Gargovic Malkav]

I have noticed that Anericans tend to say bottle instead of jar when it deals with jars

I've also heard there may be some funny misunderstandings when terms such as "thong" or "fanny pack" are used in Australia while dealing with foreigners who have learned another variety of English.

 

[exchemist]

Exactly.
I go to the pictures in town if I want to watch a film.

Yes me too. The local cinema is the Clapham Picture House, where they speak of showing films. Not a "movie" in sight.

So it's just another of these different usages on either side of the Atlantic.

 

[Secret Chief]

Yes me too. The local cinema is the Clapham Picture House, where they speak of showing films. Not a "movie" in sight.

So it's just another of these different usages on either side of the Atlantic.

To be fair, it's two differing products. Films are aimed at adults whereas movies are aimed at teenagers. ((Hides behind sofa))

 

[Revoltingest]

Potential words that are dead or dying:

carburetor
typewriter
inner tube
penny

"Typewriter" once referred to the person doing the typing, rather than to
the machine itself.
The penny is doomed to go out of existence due to inexorable currency
devaluation (inflation). And the nickel is nervously looking over its shoulder.
(The other coins are jokingly calling it the "modern half pence".

 

[exchemist]

Potential words that are dead or dying:

carburetor
typewriter
inner tube
penny

Inner tube? Shome mishtake, shurely?

I gather sales of those have boomed during the virus countermeasures: Forget bikes: inner tubes were cycling's lock down 'must have' product, with 1800 per cent sales jump in April

They appear to have a bright future, as we become more health-conscious and try to decarbonise the economy.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I have noticed that Americans tend to say bottle instead of jar when it deals with

View attachment 45526

I say "jar". There's a lot of regional dialects in America.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

I have noticed that Americans tend to say bottle instead of jar when it deals with

View attachment 45526

interesting....I'm American and haven't noticed anyone doing that...