It was an early attempt, while we were at WX, to pluralize Buffista, but because of the Spanish derivation of "ista", it was decided that the "ae" plural would be the second and less-correct usage in dictionary term-age. As it were.
Really? I totally don't remember that. (Which doesn't mean it didn't happen; if that were true, I'd start dis-remembering things out of existence. Like the Bush administration.) Although I remember Rebecca Lizard saying she liked "Buffistae," but her brain wouldn't let her use the incorrect Latin ending.
Was there an actual discussion about it? With sides taken, and arguments bandied about? And a pronouncement that This Is Not Right?
Wait. I'm talking about the Buffistas/ae. Of *course* there was.
Maybe a new, more etymologically offensive plural? Buffistaopolis? Buffistasplosion? Buffistaplural?
Just so long as it's not Buffista's.
I wasn't thinking of the "ista". I was thinking of Dr. Richard Fagerlund, I guess. I just like to add "ae" to stuff sometimes.
I just like to add "ae" to stuff sometimes.
yeah, me too. I'm not sure if I saw it in print first but I have been writing "buffistae". It doesn't bug me, much as I'm not overly annoyed by the greek/latin hybrid "polyamory". To me it flows better than polyphilia (which sounds like a perversion) or multiamory (which sounds like the goal is proliferation).
Aren't there other hybrid words in common usage? Why isn't it OK for us to combine root languages to make new words? If this discussion doesn't belong in Goodbye & Good Riddance I'd love to continue it elsewhere.
Aren't there other hybrid words in common usage?
"Television" is a greek/latin hybrid.
As is "automobile." And both "heterosexual" and "homosexual."
yay! I'm so glad. I love mixing un-mixy things.
I don't recall if there was a big discussion. I seem to recall that we consensed, and it may have been because r_liz felt so adamantly about it. I just know I have a kneejerk "wrong!" now, when I see it used, which speaks, I'm sure, more to my suggestibility than to any correctness or incorrectness. I.E. I got no dog in this hunt. I merely recall and report.
After due diligence and cogitation, I can categorically state that I'm unable to discuss 2008, and further, I may never be. Suffice it to say, it's history. I'm looking forward.
Um, was that unduly harsh? I meant it as funny-stuffy. Like, you know, Wesley on Buffy, before he was cool on Angel. Sorry.
