Archives for 2020/02 (Reposts)

• Feb 20, 2020, 9:24 PM -05:00

  Repost of https://twitter.com/susie_dent/status/1230446578323927043?s=19

  

  X (formerly Twitter)

  

  Susie Dent (@susie_dent) on X

  English has an ancient law: in words like 'chit chat', 'zigzag', and 'seesaw', we always put the part with an i (as in 'pit') or e (as in 'be') first. We instinctively know this rule of 'ablaut reduplication'. You can't have a pair of flop flips or jamjims, or play pong ping.

• Feb 20, 2020, 8:12 PM -05:00

  Repost of https://twitter.com/susie_dent/status/1227215536657965058?s=19

  I think this is my new favorite Twitter account

  

  X (formerly Twitter)

  

  Susie Dent (@susie_dent) on X

  Word-discovery of my morning is 'bumfle': Scots for a wrinkle in clothing or an unsightly bulge. Goes well with 'cover-slut', 17th-century English for a garment put on over another in order to hide a tear or stain.