Queenlessness is a great word. As a biologist, I’ve come across it — but not often. You could say that a hive in a state of queenlessness is in need of some queenliness.
What you’ve written about core English and its peripheral, more specialised sublanguages reminds me of James Murray’s description of the structure of English vocabulary: “the circle of the English language has a well-defined centre but no discernible circumference”; I posted a lengthy excerpt here.
P.S. I’m looking forward to the wild rumpus!
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Contexts and situations – what a great way of looking at language (and what we need to teach.) Terrific idea!
This kind of detail of English is really interesting. Mainly for non native speakers. Nice thing in that is how easy is assume it’s meaning.
Queenlessness… I would never thing this word would be used to say something about a beehive. Firstly I would try something like a monarchy in mourning. Best wishes from Brazil!
[…] MacMillan Dictionary blog on the whole regional English thingy […]
[…] MacMillan Dictionary blog on the whole regional English thingy. […]
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Queenlessness is a great word. As a biologist, I’ve come across it — but not often. You could say that a hive in a state of queenlessness is in need of some queenliness.
What you’ve written about core English and its peripheral, more specialised sublanguages reminds me of James Murray’s description of the structure of English vocabulary: “the circle of the English language has a well-defined centre but no discernible circumference”; I posted a lengthy excerpt here.
P.S. I’m looking forward to the wild rumpus!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Onestopenglish, Macmillan Dictionary. Macmillan Dictionary said: 500th post just up: 2011 campaign of What's your English? kicks off: http://bit.ly/etYxFa […]
Contexts and situations – what a great way of looking at language (and what we need to teach.) Terrific idea!
This kind of detail of English is really interesting. Mainly for non native speakers. Nice thing in that is how easy is assume it’s meaning.
Queenlessness… I would never thing this word would be used to say something about a beehive. Firstly I would try something like a monarchy in mourning. Best wishes from Brazil!
[…] MacMillan Dictionary blog on the whole regional English thingy […]
[…] MacMillan Dictionary blog on the whole regional English thingy. […]