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MMD > Archives > September 1996 > 1996.09.30 > 13Prev  Next


Re: The Worldwide Queen's English
By Darrell Clarke

G'day evriwun!

   I just HAD to check my dictionary (Penguin, published in England)
about "enquire".  Yes, it is there, but they said it means to inquire!
(drat).  I would only give Robbie a half point score because it comes
from the old English "enquiren" (dangerous ground here because the
original Latin is inquirere!).  I then checked "ensure" and now we are
on safer ground -- "insure" relates to insurance policies but in North
America,  it also means "ensure".  Not to worry, mostly we can
understand each other, no matter which ever side of whatever pond we
live!

   By the way, Dan, I had better not say that Labor voters in Australia
never could spell properly, it might get me into even more deep
manure!  The "or" ending is creeping back in here, from North America I
suspect, but I believe that the "our" ending is not original, having
been adopted from French more recently.  This debate could go on for
ever, so I had better back now out whilst I am ahead! (?)

Oo roo!, (English translation: T' ra!)¶
Darrell

(Message sent Tue, 01 Oct 96 09:56:00 CST , from time zone -0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  English, Queen's, Worldwide

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