Very interesting, well written and nicely cited. I especially like the "disworship of Scots" from the Book of Hawking, Hunting and Heraldry. As a teacher I would also have to add a "posse of students".
I used to work at a hunting magazine (not by choice, I got transferred from cooking) and the groupspeak was truly unhinged. What fascinated me the most about the whole thing was that the majority of subscribers hunted once every two years or less, yet spent over $2000pa on hunting supplies. It truly was part of their identity and not about the actual hunting at all.
This is so interesting! These collective noun forms always reminded me of the measure words in Chinese — although they work a bit differently: you can never refer to just a pen or a pair of pants; every noun has to be preceded by a “measure word” that usually captures something about its nature, and so seemingly unlike things get grouped together — eg a river and pants have the same measure word because they’re both long and wiggly! I’ve always wondered if Borges’ famous passage (cited in Foucault) about the taxonomy of animals in a (supposedly fictional) old Chinese encyclopedia was inspired by these measure words.
This is awesome. I've always "collected" collectives. My wife bought me the wonderful book "An Exaltation of Larks" which lists an incredible number of these collectives.
I downloaded the PDF and it is so great. A “city” of badgers!
It did not include my favorite, though, an “ostentation” of peacocks.
I’ve never heard that one— that’s awesome!
Super interesting read! English really is such a cool language :)
Thank you! Yup, it has a pretty interesting history :)
Very interesting, well written and nicely cited. I especially like the "disworship of Scots" from the Book of Hawking, Hunting and Heraldry. As a teacher I would also have to add a "posse of students".
thank you dad!! :) Glad you liked it, and maybe a "tutelage of teachers" ?
I like that.
These articles are all so interesting! Do you mind if I print some of your articles out for a school history department? (Of course with credit)
of course, go ahead!
I used to work at a hunting magazine (not by choice, I got transferred from cooking) and the groupspeak was truly unhinged. What fascinated me the most about the whole thing was that the majority of subscribers hunted once every two years or less, yet spent over $2000pa on hunting supplies. It truly was part of their identity and not about the actual hunting at all.
This is so interesting! These collective noun forms always reminded me of the measure words in Chinese — although they work a bit differently: you can never refer to just a pen or a pair of pants; every noun has to be preceded by a “measure word” that usually captures something about its nature, and so seemingly unlike things get grouped together — eg a river and pants have the same measure word because they’re both long and wiggly! I’ve always wondered if Borges’ famous passage (cited in Foucault) about the taxonomy of animals in a (supposedly fictional) old Chinese encyclopedia was inspired by these measure words.
“An impatience of wives” is being downloaded into my vocabulary as we speak.
Excellent article you guys!
Absolutely fabulous! I’m so pleased to have come across your work.
downloaded. Now I have go thru. how long is this thing? fyck. determined to smell the posies -- metagrabolize! ---- danka again.
This is awesome. I've always "collected" collectives. My wife bought me the wonderful book "An Exaltation of Larks" which lists an incredible number of these collectives.
There's also *An Exaltation of Larks* by James Lipton
This was my favorite thing I’ve read in a long time!! Thank you for writing it
gonna steal from this, THANKS
Fun times
A couch of psychiatrists
Hmm, this administration is a "court of coots". How's that? 🤔