Where have all the accents gone?

[The Good Michael]

Well, "dah-ta" (or "darter", if you like), is at least faithful to the word's Latin roots. What gets me is the use of "data" in the singular - "this data" - when the singular is datum. I know that common usage has made "this data" acceptable, but it still rankles with me.

But data is almost always plural, right? I think of data as computer bits and bytes.

Mike

[Sam Flynn]

It drove me mad yesterday to hear an American on TV pronounce data (which I pronounce as dater) as dada.

Well, "dah-ta" (or "darter", if you like), is at least faithful to the word's Latin roots. What gets me is the use of "data" in the singular - "this data" - when the singular is datum. I know that common usage has made "this data" acceptable, but it still rankles with me.

[Celesta]

Lyn,

I fixed us a big mess of bald peanuts a few weeks ago. They were great!

Osters is funny. Wait till you hear a Cajun or Gulf Coast person say it. Oy-stuhs or owy-stuhs is about as close as I can get because I can't get the accent down on the page. It's the same sound as New Awh-lins, like they say for New Orleans. I like to hear the people from that region speak. Did you ever read A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole? Great book!

Julie,

You say dater and I say dat-uh, you say puhtater and I say potatuh...

[Limehouse]

It drove me mad yesterday to hear an American on TV pronounce data (which I pronounce as dater) as dada. I can't say why it made me wince but it did!

[Lyn]

Some people here say earl for oil.

And osters, as in oster stew, Cel. And bald peanuts too =)

[KatBradshaw]

If you also have Mariella Frostrup's looks, figure and general demeanour, would you please PM your phone-number to me?

Thank you.

Graham

If only Graham, of only.
I am afraid I am in no way as gorgeous as the fair Mariella.

[Celesta]

In that case, Lyn, Davidos will be a reason facsimile. :-) Crunchy crust, just the right amount of salt to lemon juice and oil ratio and just the right amount of pepper. Bleu cheese and Greek salad on the side.

Some people here say earl for oil.

[Lyn]

I'd kill for lemon pepper wings right now, Cel. Blazers in Hull does the best, and I mean the BEST =)

[Celesta]

Blimey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you admit to 'er pulling pork??????

Suzi! I knew that might be the reaction.

It refers to roasted, or barbequed pork roast. It's cooked on a grill. After it's done, you pull it off the bone or you shred it and, it's called pulled pork. Then you serve it with barbeque sauce, either as is or on toasted bread. Barbeque is one of the national dishes of the southern USA. It's not that other---ahem---you know...

Lyn, It's lemon pepper wings for us tonight. There's a little place nearby that does excellent pizzas, Philly Cheesesteaks, and the best lemon pepper & buffalo wings in town. Tom was actually invited to be in one of their commercials!

[Lyn]

Yes, Suzi was once commissioned to paint a muriel on Shep Wooley's daughter's wall. Thank goodness they understood each other =)

Cel, now you've got me hankerin after hot wings..

(Admitting to pulling pork in Pompey isn't quite the same as it means in Georgia, but I love pulled pork over here on occasion.)

[Suzi]

Blimey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you admit to 'er pulling pork??????

[Celesta]

Lyn,

It's best we don't tell them, here, about pulled pork!! We'll stick to BBQ'ed ribs, then.

[Suzi]

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Good old Shep!! I've known him for years!!!

hehe
Scummer Suz x

[Lyn]

Or a 90p cucumber, Cel =)

[Celesta]

Better than half a lettuce, Lyn!