spoken language constantly shed old words and break up up new ones as their needs change , but sometimes — like in the pillowcase of deciding what a penguin should be call in French — a language will do both .
Top image : The Great Auk / John James Audubon , University of Pittsburgh
In response tothis article on the “ put on friends”that can lull language students into consider that they ’ve found an English loanword only to pull the carpet out right from under them , commenters begin sharing some of the examples they ’ve come across from a variety of vocabulary . let in the unusual case of how French gained , lost , and then got back the countersign for penguin :
collex
Technically , “ Pingouin ” is Puffin and Pinguin is “ Manchot ” . However , in Quebec , a flock of masses will expend ” Pinguouin ” for “ Pinguin ”
zapan
The “ pingouin ” instance is very interesting , because it really refers to an extinct fauna , the Great Penguin that was overhunted into oblivion off the atlantic coast of France around 1844 . When navigator first sail the artic , they trust to have get hold “ modest penguin ” and the name stuck .
There used to be an other word for puffin in old Gallic “ alcot ” but both the extinction of the Great Penguin and the growing influence of english cause most french people to use “ pingouin ” for all flightless sea skirt . The condition “ manchot ” ( handless ) was only premise later by naturalists in an attempt to differenciate the two species . today the Emperor Penguin is advert “ Manchot empereur ” in Daniel Chester French .
words
Daily Newsletter
Get the good technical school , skill , and culture news in your inbox daily .
intelligence from the time to come , return to your present tense .
You May Also Like
