Re: substratums

From: Ash
Message: 14614
Date: 2002-08-27

Hmm, don't we give precedence to functional simplicity over personal taste? Besides, my point was not just with this one word, but any Latin word whose inflection is kept track of in English (via the plural.) Remember, English doesn't have inflections, not Latin inflections at least, so isn't it stupid to plural Latin words (that too inconsistently) as it was pluraled in Latin?

Isn't this an anomaly:

radius -> radii, while virus -> viruses
how about ignoramus?

Looks like people my point didn't seem to interest people here (except good old Piotr of course.) Wonder if am quibbling; is it that irrelevant to this list..?

Ash



Subject: Re: substratums

> I find "-ums" clumsy, which is entirely a matter of personal taste. But then I prefer the handier term "substrate", pl. "substrates".

> Piotr


----- Original Message -----
From: Ash

> Or better, you could just say 'substratums.' Logically speaking, there is no reason why Latin plurals need to be used in English too, when the latter has a simple, regular device, the good old -s.
At least, distinguished linguists as I see here could take that stand.

Ash