h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Kat has left, as has Joe C (as far as I'm aware), and they were the two who kept it going. emr is still around, but she's not a linguist, but a pupil.

I'm still around there too, but only in the Spanish thread and only as a pupil

Holà Hombre, ¿como estás? ¿ Has visto mío telegrama?

Erm... si!

That looks as if you don't have a clue what I'm talking about

Hello, how are you? Have you seen my telegram?

Wow, so you did understand what I said, but weren't prepared to comment, eh?

So, how are you anyway?

Oh, I can speak and read Spanish well enough to survive, and can understand it when spoken well enough. I just can't write sentences in it, all the verbs get confused...

I did Spanish up to AS level and hated having to learn verbs!

I did some Spanish classes with the VHS - it's a bit like your OU, but less expensiv, and you don't pass exams or ghet degrees, it's more for fun, really.

Edward the Bonobo is the expert on linguistics - or one of them. They abound in the British English Thread. There have been several discussions on the use of genders in languages which are not English. Although the discussion I particularly remember took place well before Edward joined hootoo, he will no doubt be happy to point you to some helpful information.

The word "Tisch" is related to "desk" rather than "table". I'm trying hard to remember the root they come from.

B'Elana's list of the feminine versions of "tavola" : table/tabla/tavola/Tafel (f)in French, Latin, German and Italian



AFter checking an etymological dictionary, I have discovered that "Tisch" comes from "discus". It is present in all the old English, German and Nordic languages The Swedish word "disk" today means "Plate" or "Shop counter". So where does the small round "disc" or "dish" develop into a large rectangular board which we put the dishes on?

Apparently back in ancient German days, the custom - according to Tacitus - was for everyone to have their own large round dish or plate which their food was served on to. This was their equivalent of a table - presumably they sat on the floor, but I'm not sure about that.

Yes, I was quite positive that Tisch had a different origin than Tafel. Did you know, that people not only had their own dish, but they usually had a wooden spon with them? No spoon, no meal.

Oooh, serious topic drift:I've just heard that it was TC's birthday this week, so a belated

Happy Birthday, TC,