"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
James D. Nicoll
I love this quote. It's the sig on one of my email addresses.
ReplyDeleteOh, and may I recommend the Stories of English? It's about the English that we do not speak.
ReplyDeleteI love time travel stories where people go back to medieval times where everyone speaks perfect modern English with contemporary vocabulary and such.
ReplyDeleteDoctor Who doesn't count, because they explain that.
Hooray, the quote even has a correct attribution! I've seen it attributed to others or not attributed at all.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great quote.