Re: [tied] Re: Got to thinkin' about word order

At 4:35:52 AM on Monday, May 12, 2003, Peter P wrote:

>> The normal English idiom is 'on Nokia's payroll'. You can
>> also say 'in Nokia's pay', though this sounds a little
>> old-fashioned.

> A Finn might say `olen Nokialla töissä' or 'olen töissä
> Nokialla'. This would translate into, 'I am in the works
> at Nokia'. In English (Western Canada) we would probably
> express this same idea as, `I work for Nokia', or;

> I am employed at Nokia
> I am employed by Nokia
> I am under contract to Nokia
> I am on staff at Nokia
> I am in the employ of Nokia
> I have employment at Nokia
> The bucks come from Nokia
> I am in the pay of Nokia
> I am on the payroll at Nokia
> I am in Nokia's payroll
> Nokia employs me… etc.

> It would seem that we have some choice in prepositions.

Indeed we have, and I'd accept all but two of these as
perfectly fine. I'd have to star 'I am in Nokia's payroll',
and 'I have employment at Nokia' sounds very odd. 'On
staff' has a slightly Rightpondian flavor, a bit like 'in
hospital'.

Brian