Have you noticed that today’s youth are suddenly speaking what seems like an entirely new language. While Connie Eble, an English professor at the University of North Carolina says that teen slang is just a part of growing up, I wonder what has become of the English language as we know it. I thought I would take part in Thursday Thirteen this week. For my Thursday Thirteen post I bring to you thirteen interesting facts about the English language.
- Shakespeare coined 1700 words.
- The most common noun in the English language is “time.”
- Kentucky Fried Chicken’s slogan, ”Finger lickin’ good,” once came out as ”eat your fingers off” in Chinese.
- “Goodbye” came from “God bye,” which came from “God be with you.”
- The first documented use of the word Nerd was in the 1950 Dr. Seuss story, If I Ran the Zoo.
- The shortest complete sentence in the English language is “Go.”
- The dot above the letter “i” is called a tittle.
- “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses all the letters of the alphabet.
- In England, in the 1880’s, “Pants” was considered a dirty word.
- There are more than 2700 major languages spoken throughout the world.
- According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the commonest word written in English is the word “the.”
- “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” was the first words spoken on the moon.
- “The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick” is said to be the toughest tongue twister in English.
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23 responses so far ↓
Wrote: Nov 14, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Wow even if i dont learn anything exciting at school i can always count on you to teach me something new!
Wrote: Nov 14, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Very interesting list, and you just know we all are going to try that tongue twister!:shock:
Happy T13!
Wrote: Nov 14, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Wow! What an interesting 13! I never knew that about “Goodbye” and I can barely say #13 slowly let alone quickly like a tongue twister should be said!
Thanks for stopping by! Happy TT!
Wrote: Nov 14, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Information about the origins of words and phrases has always fascinated me. Many of these I didn’t know, such as the actual name of the dot above the “i”.
Wrote: Nov 14, 2007 at 11:55 pm
What cool fun facts:) Thanks for sharing….I really liked the goodbye one…:grin:
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 12:45 am
That is a very interesting list. I think in fact old Shakespeare coined even more words than that total.
Welcome back to TT!
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 12:48 am
#4 is lovely. I’d heard the word god is related to good, and the word evil is related to the word devil.
I have also heard larger word counts for Shakespeare too…I gues ssit depends on whether you count different tenses or usages.
Very interesting list. I rarely use the word “pants” because it was taught to improper usage…and instead of dirt, use the word mud. Those are kind fo British perspectives.
Great TT and thanks for stopping by my blog.
I left you a response in my comments about the bridge in Banff. For some reason…the text on my “links” is not obvious color that they are links.
Candy
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 12:59 am
#13 is hard. I had a tough time reciting that in front of the class some 20 years ago.
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 1:30 am
I always wondered about that “quick brown fox” that’s always popping up everywhere….
Must admit I got stuck on “eat your fingers off.” someone else today published a list of badly translated slogans—that has to be one of the worst…!
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 1:42 am
never knew pants was a dirty word. count on dr. seuss to use nerd for the first time ever.
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 5:03 am
This week, I was reading somewhere, probably the Wall Street Journal, that about 40% of existing languages are likely to disappear in the next generation because, as people move to the big city, they take on the language of the majority.
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 5:27 am
Thanks a lot. I have more to share with my students about this Language.^^
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 5:55 am
OMgoodness!! This is ONE terrific 13 this week. The best I’ve read so far [well, only because I love languages, and this is right 'up my alley']
I never knew the origin of the word good-bye, now I know!!
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 6:03 am
“Kentucky Fried Chicken’s slogan, ”Finger lickin’ good,” once came out as ”eat your fingers off” in Chinese.”
lol – classic!!!!
A very entertaining article, thankyou
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 9:11 am
I think I should say Thank You to Dr. Seuss. That is the most used ‘nickname’ that I use for my hubby
Well………………he IS!!:lol:
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 10:37 am
Hi! I love this kind of stuff. I am surprised there are so many different languages, I was thinking there were around 200 or so. Sheesh, was I ever off the mark…
Cindy
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 11:01 am
Um, I don’t even want to attempt that tongue twister. Thanks.
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 11:35 am
Rose, I’m a published poet too!
Loved your post and the info on the English language which I love!!
Thanks for visiting my TT post!
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 2:21 pm
thanks,Rosie, for your expert help in my placing a counter on my blog. I had a bit of trouble at first finding the “page settings” but did succeed, and now have my counter working.
You have a fascinating Blog or 3, which I have only begun to get acquainted with. Thanks for your personal help, and your generous public offerings.
–Bob F.
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Ok, I cannot even say #13 when reading it in my mind, I’m not gonna try to say it out loud!!
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I remember typing #8 in my typing class in high school!!
Thanks for visiting my TT.
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I’ve a friend who often swears by saying pants but most people don’t realise just how rude he’s been to them…
Great list
Wrote: Nov 15, 2007 at 9:13 pm
That tongue twister is hard – I couldn’t say it. Those are all cool facts – most I’d never heard before. Thanks – see ya.