One aurochs, two aurochs, red aurochs, blue aurochs

[Valkorus]

I hate to be a knob about spelling and grammar, especially when it pertains to something the devs said, but this was really bugging me on the wiki:

"Quoting Loftar:

The singular is obviously "aurochs", seeing how it is cognate with English "ox". Accordingly, the only reasonable plural form is, of course, "aurochsen", seeing how "ox" still uses the Saxon plural form "oxen" even in Modern English. "

This is all kinds of bad English (please do not point out the irony of this turn of phrase, it was intended). As with 90% of singular words ending in "s" in the English language, the word aurochs remains unchanged when pluralized. Therefore, one would say, "A herd of aurochs", not "A herd of aurochsen".

Ref.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/aurochs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurochs

[loftar]

Sure, if you want to use your modern, republican, rootless, liberal, logically reduced English, I can't really stop you anyway. Conversely, you can't really blame some of us for trying to keep our history and ancestral values in mind, either. :)

By the way, from the Wikipedia article you cite:

The use in English of the plural form "aurochsen" is not acknowledged by AHD4 or MWU, but is mentioned in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. It is directly parallel to the German plural and analogous (and cognate) to English "ox" (singular), "oxen" (plural).

Wiktionary also acknowledges it.

[Valkorus]

Sure, if you want to use your modern, republican, rootless, liberal, logically reduced English, I can't really stop you anyway. Conversely, you can't really blame some of us for trying to keep our history and ancestral values in mind, either.

If you're advocating the use of Ye Olde English for in-game communication, I fully support you. Certainly I don't blame you for advising players to speak in a way that makes gameplay more immersive, or for doing it yourself. However, in the context of the wiki quote (which - I realize - is not your responsibility), it doesn't read that way. The quote comes across as an personal opinion on the modern English language, stated as fact.

By the way, from the Wikipedia article you cite:

The use in English of the plural form "aurochsen" is not acknowledged by AHD4 or MWU, but is mentioned in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. It is directly parallel to the German plural and analogous (and cognate) to English "ox" (singular), "oxen" (plural).

Wiktionary also acknowledges it.

I saw that. In fact, it was the crux of my argument. The American Heritage DIctionary and Webster's are the mainstays of the English language in North America, and the fact that they don't acknowledge the word suggests, at the very least, that its use is extremely rare. More likely it is never used outside of the occasional scholarly debate, and then only as a reference.

Ultimately, in the context of the gameplay of H&H, I don't believe one word is more valid than the other. Just please don't start saying "octopusen" and "penisen".

EDIT: Oh, and, uh, death to Wiktionary. Anyone with the internet should understand why spelling and grammar should NOT be left to the general public.

[MagicManICT]

EDIT: Oh, and, uh, death to Wiktionary. Anyone with the internet should understand why spelling and grammar should NOT be left to the general public.

Could also be said about things like... oh, I don't know... collected bodies of knowledge that anyone can edit?

[loftar]

Just please don't start saying "octopusen" and "penisen". :)

But... that would be completely ridiculous? Why would I inflect Greek and Latin words with Saxon plural forms? In their case, I would, at the very least, use "octopodes" and "penes".

The quote comes across as an personal opinion on the modern English language, stated as fact.

I have no problem with this. :)

The American Heritage DIctionary and Webster's are the mainstays of the English language in North America, and the fact that they don't acknowledge the word suggests, at the very least, that its use is extremely rare.

The fact that the American dictionaries do not mention it while a British dictionary does, would if anything serve as an encouragement to me. It would be a fine indication that the form is a more conservative one, thrown overboard en route to the New World along with the rest of the proverbial baby. ;)

Oh, and, uh, death to Wiktionary. Anyone with the internet should understand why spelling and grammar should NOT be left to the general public.

But spelling and grammar are left to the general public whether you want it or not.

[Valkorus]

Could also be said about things like... oh, I don't know... collected bodies of knowledge that anyone can edit?

You may notice that Wikipedia was one of two citations I used. I now give you a third, the Oxford Dictionary (http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/aurochs):

aurochs(aur|ochs)
Pronunciation:/ˈɔːrɒks, ˈaʊ-/noun (plural same)A large wild Eurasian ox that was the ancestor of domestic cattle. It was probably exterminated in Britain in the Bronze Age, and the last one was killed in Poland in 1627. Also called urus.

Oxford is the most widely accepted English language resource in the world... and it's British, so... yeah... If you think the Websters, AHD, and Oxford dictionaries ALL got it wrong, I think you better take it up with them.

[sabinati]

"octopodes" and "penes".

[Tonkyhonk]

The American Heritage DIctionary and Webster's are the mainstays of the English language in North America, and the fact that they don't acknowledge the word suggests, at the very least, that its use is extremely rare. More likely it is never used outside of the occasional scholarly debate, and then only as a reference.

i always love this talk some americans make. i hadnt heard this for a while but i guess this still exists.

Le mot impossible n'est pas français. ～Napoléon Bonaparte

[screwbag]

But swedes have the best sayings...like.. Literal translation follows...

Oh, now you've crapped in the blue locker!

Its been funny at times learning stuff here...lol

[Krantzesque]

In their case, I would, at the very least, use "octopodes" and "penes".

This is incredible and I love it.

But swedes have the best sayings...like.. Literal translation follows...

Oh, now you've crapped in the blue locker!

Its been funny at times learning stuff here...lol

What exactly is that little turn of phrase even supposed to mean? lol