Comments on: Why do the British refer to their eggplant as an ‘aubergine’? http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/eggplant-and-aubergine Global English and language change Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:07:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Chris Bailey http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/eggplant-and-aubergine/comment-page-1#comment-35807 Chris Bailey Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:39:49 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=45#comment-35807 1. Tomato by definition is a FRUIT, it grows on a plant above ground. 2.Tomato in England is pronounced as it always has been in the English language, in america they changed the pronunciation as part of their act of independence. 3. In England we didn't have your so called eggplants, so we went by the Anglo-french spelling. 1. Tomato by definition is a FRUIT, it grows on a plant above ground. 2.Tomato in England is pronounced as it always has been in the English language, in america they changed the pronunciation as part of their act of independence. 3. In England we didn’t have your so called eggplants, so we went by the Anglo-french spelling.

]]> By: Ian http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/eggplant-and-aubergine/comment-page-1#comment-3710 Ian Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:24:17 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=45#comment-3710 The initial question is VERY simple. English is a COMPOSITE language, and hence the most powerful, as recognised as the international language of literature. The language has been born out of Celtic, Scandanavian, German, Latin, Spanish, Dutch etc etc. The more appropriate question would be why are the French so isolationist when language is concerned and deny themselves a more colourful and expansive potential for expression. Also, the Canadian "English" is a bastardised version of English & Americana, hence mis-spelling colour as color, which was born from lack of education in the colonies and using phonetics rather than the correct, historic spellings. If you wonder why things like through and threw are different it is because they used to be PRONOUNCED differently. Linguistics is an evolutionary process, both nationally and regionally (hence local accents and coloquialisms). Applying the terms "WRONG" to English from a descendent? LMAO The initial question is VERY simple. English is a COMPOSITE language, and hence the most powerful, as recognised as the international language of literature. The language has been born out of Celtic, Scandanavian, German, Latin, Spanish, Dutch etc etc. The more appropriate question would be why are the French so isolationist when language is concerned and deny themselves a more colourful and expansive potential for expression. Also, the Canadian “English” is a bastardised version of English & Americana, hence mis-spelling colour as color, which was born from lack of education in the colonies and using phonetics rather than the correct, historic spellings.

If you wonder why things like through and threw are different it is because they used to be PRONOUNCED differently. Linguistics is an evolutionary process, both nationally and regionally (hence local accents and coloquialisms). Applying the terms “WRONG” to English from a descendent? LMAO

]]> By: vereumb http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/eggplant-and-aubergine/comment-page-1#comment-2510 vereumb Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:32:48 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=45#comment-2510 I was surfing when I passed by your website. I must admit that I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors… Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post here! I was surfing when I passed by your website. I must admit that I really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors… Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post here!

]]> By: Bob http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/eggplant-and-aubergine/comment-page-1#comment-512 Bob Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:38:04 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=45#comment-512 Courgettes aren't native to Britain nor are aubergines, since the Normans came over and invaded Britain they must've brought their courgettes and aubergines with them. The English, not having ever seen either of these vegetables before, must've heard the Normans/French refer to these vegetables as courgettes and aubergines and not having their own word for them decided to call them the same thing. Alternatively the English could've gone over there seen these vegetables, tasted them and liked them but didn't know what to call them so they decided to ask. I think you can work it out. Courgettes aren’t native to Britain nor are aubergines, since the Normans came over and invaded Britain they must’ve brought their courgettes and aubergines with them. The English, not having ever seen either of these vegetables before, must’ve heard the Normans/French refer to these vegetables as courgettes and aubergines and not having their own word for them decided to call them the same thing.

Alternatively the English could’ve gone over there seen these vegetables, tasted them and liked them but didn’t know what to call them so they decided to ask. I think you can work it out.

]]> By: Twitted by shane_r http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/eggplant-and-aubergine/comment-page-1#comment-511 Twitted by shane_r Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:21:33 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=45#comment-511 [...] This post was Twitted by shane_r [...] [...] This post was Twitted by shane_r [...]

]]> By: Kati Sule http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/eggplant-and-aubergine/comment-page-1#comment-510 Kati Sule Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:27:26 +0000 http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/?p=45#comment-510 If you would like a more detailed answer to the post's first question, you can find it <a href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-egg1.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a>. If you would like a more detailed answer to the post’s first question, you can find it here.

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