Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006, Ryan Sims wrote: On 12/12/06, Neil Bothwick [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I like it. What about trackballs? Gremlins? -- Jorge Almeida -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12/13/06, Jorge Almeida [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Tue, 12 Dec 2006, Ryan Sims wrote: On 12/12/06, Neil Bothwick [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I like it. What about trackballs? Gremlins? Tribbles? -- Bira http://compexplicita.blogspot.com http://sinfoniaferida.blogspot.com -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Wed, 13 Dec 2006, Bira wrote: On 12/13/06, Jorge Almeida [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Tue, 12 Dec 2006, Ryan Sims wrote: On 12/12/06, Neil Bothwick [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I like it. What about trackballs? Gremlins? Tribbles? Yes, much better. (Didn't know the critters, had to look in Wikipedia...) -- Jorge Almeida -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:30:55 -0500, Ryan Sims wrote: As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I like it. What about trackballs? A trackball is an oversixed, upside down[1] mouse, so I'd call it a dead rat... except that sounds too much like a Linux distro :) [1] Yes, yes, I know it's the other way round; the mouse was invented as an upside down trackball. -- Neil Bothwick Don't forget that MS-Windows is just a temporary workaround until you can switch to a GNU system. signature.asc Description: PGP signature
[gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
Hi folks, this is for English native speakers (British English, American English and colonial English alike). I was looking up something in my Oxford dictionary. First, I had to make sure how they indicate irregular plurals. The first word that came to mind was mouse. Look what they write there apart from 1. the animal and 2. a timid person: 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor on a VDU screen. I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? Uwe -- Mark Twain: I rather decline two drinks than a German adjective. http://www.SysEx.com.na -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tuesday 12 December 2006 17:38, Uwe Thiem wrote: 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor on a VDU screen. I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? I have always called them mouses since a friend once found the same reference in the Oxford. Mice are two or more furry rodents that eat cheese and make ladies squeal. But I'm considered extremely odd in most things so I wouldn't be surprised if I was just bucking the trend on this as well :-) alan -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:38:07 +0200, Uwe Thiem wrote: I was looking up something in my Oxford dictionary. First, I had to make sure how they indicate irregular plurals. The first word that came to mind was mouse. Look what they write there apart from 1. the animal and 2. a timid person: 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor on a VDU screen. I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? 1) You have waaay too much time on your hands :) 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device (pl also mouses) so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. 3) Bear in mind that a dictionary documents the language as used, not a set of rule for using it, so if both plurals are accepted usage, both should be included (you are not alone Alan :) 4) One of the main cultural references of my youth called them meeces, but the OED doesn't like that one... -- Neil Bothwick Top Oxymorons Number 38: Government organization signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tuesday 12 December 2006 09:38, Uwe Thiem [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote about '[gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses': I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard *anyone* use the word mouses for *anything* and if I had I would have corrected them by telling them mice is the proper plural of mouse, even when talking about a pointing device. I'm a native speaker of Southern English, and fairly fluent in American English -- heavy British English accents can throw me, but only when they are particularly dense w/ British-isms. -- If there's one thing we've established over the years, it's that the vast majority of our users don't have the slightest clue what's best for them in terms of package stability. -- Gentoo Developer Ciaran McCreesh pgpxJyPFPqSIY.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:38:07 +0300, Uwe Thiem [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi folks, this is for English native speakers (British English, American English and colonial English alike). I was looking up something in my Oxford dictionary. First, I had to make sure how they indicate irregular plurals. The first word that came to mind was mouse. Look what they write there apart from 1. the animal and 2. a timid person: 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor on a VDU screen. I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? Uwe Not being a native speaker, I tried mouses in MS Word, and it insisted on mice. However, http://alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxmouses.html insists that MS thinks mouses are correct. Another example of undecided MS, right? -- Andrei Gerasimenko -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
061212 Neil Bothwick wrote: On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:38:07 +0200, Uwe Thiem wrote: I was looking up something in my Oxford dictionary. 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor on a VDU screen. 1) You have waaay too much time on your hands :) It's ok to have a bit of light entertainment during the day (smile). 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device (pl also mouses) so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. I don't know where they got 'mouses' from, but when a native speaker hears the word 'mice', s/he tends to picture an infestation, ie many more than a countable few, so there mb grounds for inventing a different plural for the gadgets. 3) a dictionary documents the language as used, This may be difficult for German French natives to grasp, as their languages have strict rules laid down by authorities -- leading to bitter disputes re German punctuation in recent years -- , but the OED, which is an authority, simply reports how people use English, incl how they have used it in the past back to its Dark Ages predecessors. -- ,, SUPPORT ___//___, Philip Webb : [EMAIL PROTECTED] ELECTRIC /] [] [] [] [] []| Centre for Urban Community Studies TRANSIT`-O--O---' University of Toronto -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12 December 2006 18:24, Neil Bothwick wrote: I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? 1) You have waaay too much time on your hands :) Well, I had to look up the other thing. ;-) 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device (pl also mouses) so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. Uh, yours is newer than mine (1994). So I am allowed to call them mice. What a relief. 3) Bear in mind that a dictionary documents the language as used, not a set of rule for using it, so if both plurals are accepted usage, both should be included (you are not alone Alan :) I always thought of the Oxford dictionary as extremely conservative, i.e. it reflects a language in use 30 years ago. BTW, my spellchecker accepts mouses - of course it can't distinguish what I am referring to. Anyway, thanks for answering (to Alan as well). Uwe -- Mark Twain: I rather decline two drinks than a German adjective. http://www.SysEx.com.na -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:54:20 -0500, Philip Webb wrote: 3) a dictionary documents the language as used, This may be difficult for German French natives to grasp, as their languages have strict rules laid down by authorities Which everyone ignores... You can't enforce rules of language... unless you are my editor :) -- Neil Bothwick WinErr 009: Horrible bug encountered - God knows what has happened signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:20:48 +0200, Uwe Thiem wrote: I always thought of the Oxford dictionary as extremely conservative, i.e. it reflects a language in use 30 years ago. I used to think the same, but it is not so, for example the 2002 edition lists text as a verb. -- Neil Bothwick Top Oxymorons Number 15: Extinct Life signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12/12/06, Uwe Thiem [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 12 December 2006 18:24, Neil Bothwick wrote: I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? 1) You have waaay too much time on your hands :) Well, I had to look up the other thing. ;-) 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device (pl also mouses) so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. Might this also be related to the use of mouse as a verb? I.e. mouse over the image to see it change, I mouse You mouse He mouses? We all.mice? -- Ryan W Sims -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:05:56 -0500, Ryan Sims wrote: 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device (pl also mouses) so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. Might this also be related to the use of mouse as a verb? I.e. mouse over the image to see it change, Verbs don't have plurals. The OED does list mouse as a verb, but only as an activity of cats. I'd never use it like you just did except in JavaScript :) -- Neil Bothwick Mr. Worf, scan that ship. Aye Captain. 300 dpi? signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote: While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard *anyone* use the word mouses for *anything* and if I had I would have corrected them by telling them mice is the proper plural of mouse, even when talking about a pointing device. In Argentina we do not say raton (spanish translation for mouse), but we say mouse, so, the plural for that is... mouses like in che, anda a buscar unos mouses (hey, got get some mouses). :) Anyway, mouses sounds just fine for me :P - -- Arturo Buanzo Busleiman - Consultor Independiente en Seguridad Informatica LISTA DE CASAMIENTO: Cualquier Fravega a nombre de Busleiman (37520). http://www.buanzo.com.ar | http://www.vivamoslavida.com.ar : Portal no-comercial del buen vivir! -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFFfvL7AlpOsGhXcE0RAjZAAKCBZe26qJRRChQAjuyMfgyH1bJ1JgCeM0kV 28+E1A7yG7qitdojeZIkgss= =ZRht -END PGP SIGNATURE- -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12 December 2006 18:41, Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote: While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard *anyone* use the word mouses for *anything* and if I had I would have corrected them by telling them mice is the proper plural of mouse, even when talking about a pointing device. Taking into account what others said, I guess we have to agree on disagreeing. ;-) Actually, that is fine with me. Best thing humanity achieved - ever. I am just happy I can continue to call those pointing devices mice. BTW, I am rather surprised by the high number of replies to my OTOTOT post - suggesting you all have way too much time on your hands. ;-) Uwe -- Mark Twain: I rather decline two drinks than a German adjective. http://www.SysEx.com.na -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
RE: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
-Original Message- From: Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 1:21 PM To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote: While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard *anyone* use the word mouses for *anything* and if I had I would have corrected them by telling them mice is the proper plural of mouse, even when talking about a pointing device. In Argentina we do not say raton (spanish translation for mouse), but we say mouse, so, the plural for that is... mouses like in che, anda a buscar unos mouses (hey, got get some mouses). :) Anyway, mouses sounds just fine for me :P - -- Arturo Buanzo Busleiman - Consultor Independiente en Seguridad Informatica LISTA DE CASAMIENTO: Cualquier Fravega a nombre de Busleiman (37520). http://www.buanzo.com.ar | http://www.vivamoslavida.com.ar : Portal no-comercial del buen vivir! You guys have no clue how BADLY I needed the entertainment break this thread has brought - THANK YOU!! TIM Tim Holmes IT Manager / Webmaster / Teacher Medina Christian Academy A Higher Standard... 28+E1A7yG7qitdojeZIkgss= =ZRht -END PGP SIGNATURE- -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:20:43 -0300, Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman wrote: In Argentina we do not say raton (spanish translation for mouse) As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) -- Neil Bothwick Jimmy Hoffa is buried here -- X signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
Selon Neil Bothwick [EMAIL PROTECTED]: On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:20:43 -0300, Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman wrote: In Argentina we do not say raton (spanish translation for mouse) As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I propose we rename that thread: Of mice (mouses ?) and men -- ~adj~ -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12/12/06, Neil Bothwick [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:20:43 -0300, Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman wrote: In Argentina we do not say raton (spanish translation for mouse) As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I like it. What about trackballs? -- Ryan W Sims -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 2006-12-12 at 20:12 +0200, Uwe Thiem wrote: On 12 December 2006 18:41, Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote: While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard *anyone* use the word mouses for *anything* and if I had I would have corrected them by telling them mice is the proper plural of mouse, even when talking about a pointing device. Taking into account what others said, I guess we have to agree on disagreeing. ;-) Actually, that is fine with me. Best thing humanity achieved - ever. I am just happy I can continue to call those pointing devices mice. BTW, I am rather surprised by the high number of replies to my OTOTOT post - suggesting you all have way too much time on your hands. ;-) Uwe The semester's over. All I have is time. -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 2006-12-12 at 13:05 -0500, Ryan Sims wrote: Might this also be related to the use of mouse as a verb? I.e. mouse over the image to see it change, I mouse You mouse He mouses? We all.mice? Well, that had me laughing quite a bit. However, are you really sure that the verb would be to mouse over, rather than to mouseover? I would suspect that the usage of that term as a verb has been grabbed from maybe JavaScript or some GUI builder tool, and thus should be verbified as the entire word that it is in its original usage. Of course, one might consider it normal to seperate prepositions from verb stems. Fredrik Tolf -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
