'Th' sound to vanish from English language by 2066 because of multiculturalism, say linguists

Visitors expecting to hear the Queen’s English spoken on the streets of London in 50 years may need to "fink" again.

By 2066, linguists are predicting that the "th" sound will vanish completely in the capital because there are so many foreigners who struggle to pronounce interdental consonants - the term for a sound created by pushing the tongue against the upper teeth.

Already Estuary English – a hybrid of Cockney and received pronunciation (RP) which is prevalent in the South East – is being replaced by Multicultural London English (MLE) which is heavily influenced by Caribbean, West African and Asian Communities. But within the next few decades immigration will have fundamentally altered the language, according to experts at the University of York.

The "th" sound – also called the voiced dental nonsibliant fricative – is likely to change to be replaced an "f", "d", or "v" meaning "mother" will be pronounced "muvver" and "thick" will be voiced as "fick". However the ‘h’ that fell silent in Cockney dialect is set to return allowing ‘ere’ to become ‘here’ once more.

Dr Dominic Watt, a sociolinguistics expert from the University of York,said: “Given the status of London as the linguistically most influential city in the English-speaking world, we can expect to see significant changes between now and the middle of the century.

“The major changes in the way we speak over the next 50 years will involve a simplification of the sound structure of words, they’ll become shorter probably

“By looking at how English has changed over the last 50 years we can identify patterns that seem to repeat. British accents seem to be less based on class these days. 

“Languages also change when they come into contact with one another. English has borrowed thousands of words from other languages: mainly French, Latin and Greek, but there are ‘loan words’ from dozens of other languages in the mix.”

The Sounds of The Future report was produced from a study involving analysis of recordings from the last 50 years as well as social media language use. Other changes likely to become widespread by 2066 include a habit known as "yod dropping" in which the "u" sound is replaced with an "oo". It means that "duke" becomes "dook", "news" is pronounced "nooze" and "beauty" changes to "booty".

Consonant "smushing" is also predicted where two sounds collapse together completely so that "wed" and "red" will soon be indistinguishable. Likewise the "l" at the end of words will be dropped so that the words "Paul", "paw" and "pool" all sound the same. Similiarly, "text" will lose the final "t" to become "tex".And, the glottal stop pronunciation of "t" – a brief catch in the throat when the tongue tip closed against the roof of the mouth – will be the default pronunciation.

Brendan Gunn, a voice coach who is currently working with Pierce Brosnan on his new US series said: “The younger generation always wants to be different from the older generation and that process will continue throughout history.

“Text speak which is a form of shortening will become ordinary speak, so you may end up saying ‘tagLOL’ or ‘toteschill’ which means hashtag laugh out loud or totally chilled.

“Even in the Royal family it is probable that Prince George will speak much differently to the Queen. In London I think we will see the ‘th’ becoming an ‘f’ all the time.”

Technology will also change the way people speak, and the experts predict that as artificial intelligence emerges the, computers could begin to invent new words.

Dr Watt added: “It is conceivable that some of the words that will come into English in the next 50 years will have been invented by computers because as computers become more intelligent it may be they start creating words of their own and feeding the, back to us.

“Already we’re seeing text words phrases coming into respected dictionaries. As time goes on we’re going to see more and more of that kind of thing.

“The traditional dialects will die out and others will morph into the speech of large urban centres.”

The Sounds of the Future report was commissioned by HSBC to coincide with the launch of its new voice ID, which is currently being rolled out to 15 million users.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/09/28/th-sound-to-vanish-from-english-language-by-2066-because-of-mult/

What Australian slang has given the world

In 2013, ‘selfie’ became Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year.

It’s become such a ubiquitous word, but few stop to think about where it came from. It may come as a surprise to learn that is has its origins in Australia: the first evidence of the word in use comes from an online forum entry by the Australian Nathan Hope, who posted a photo of his lip, which he says he cut while drinking at a mate’s 21st birthday party.

It’s not the first time an Aussie slang word has made its way into the wider English lexicon. Far from it – Australian slang has influenced the English language around the world, just as Australian culture has been transported to the world by comedians such as Barry Humphries, TV shows such as Neighbours, and actors such as Cate Blanchett and Hugh Jackman.

In the past six months, and throughout this year, Oxford Dictionaries has been steadily updating the Australian English entries to its online dictionary. By the end of this project, some 2,000 words, definitions and phrases derived from or chiefly used in Australian English will have made their way into the venerable online dictionary.

Only some of these will have made their way around the world, but just as Australians have historically borrowed many words an incorporated them into their own variety of English, other English-speakers are now borrowing from the Australian vocabulary.

Greenies, mozzies and pollies

Take ‘selfie’. For most Australian English speakers, the ‘-ie’ suffix is a natural part of the language. Unlike similar diminutives in international English, for example ‘birdie’ or ‘doggie’, the ‘-ie’ suffix in Australian English serves as a marker of informality – providing speakers with a shared code of familiarity and solidarity. Australian English is replete with such words: ‘barbie’ (a barbecue), ‘mushie’ (a mushroom), ‘prezzie’ (a present), and ‘sunnies’ (sunglasses) to name just a few.

There are a number of these types of abbreviations that have started their life in Australian English and are now to be found in global English: ‘budgie’ (a budgerigar), ‘greenie’ (a conservationist or environmentalist), ‘mozzie’ (a mosquito), ‘pollie’ (a politician), and ‘surfie’ (a surfer).

The Australian penchant for abbreviating words is also demonstrated by the use of the ‘-o’ suffix. In Australian English an ‘ambo’ is an ambulance officer, a ‘reffo’ is a refugee, and a ‘rello’ is a relative. A number of these types of abbreviations have made their way into global English including ‘demo’ (a demonstration), ‘muso’ (a musician), and ‘preggo’ (pregnant). Other abbreviations, including ‘perv’ (a sexual pervert) and ‘uni’ (university), have also migrated to global English.

Perhaps the most well-known abbreviation in Australian English is ‘g’day’. While this abbreviated form of ‘good day’ is recorded from the 1880s, it came to international prominence in the 1980s through a series of tourism advertisements where Australian actor and comedian Paul Hogan invited people from around the world to visit Australia and say “g’day”.

Many English speakers would also know about the common use in Australia of ‘mate’ (a friend, a colleague) and the great Australian adjective ‘bloody’ (used as an intensifier – ‘that’s a bloody good book’). These two words are used elsewhere but are often stereotypically associated with Australian English.

But a number of widely-used words that have either originated in Australian English, or where the first evidence and primary usage is Australian. These include ‘petrolhead’ (a car enthusiast), ‘ratbag’ (a troublemaker), ‘rustbucket’ (a dilapidated car) and ‘wheelie bin’ (a large two-wheeled bin for household rubbish).

Plenty of verbs, too, have Australian origins. Examples include: ‘to crash’ (to go to sleep), ‘to hurl’ (to vomit), ‘to rubbish’ (to denigrate a person), and ‘to stonewall’ (to obstruct a piece of parliamentary business).

They’re a weird mob…

As with other varieties of English around the world, Australian English has its fair share of idioms and phrases that are often unfathomable to the non-native speaker. This is certainly true of idioms including ‘to carry on like a pork chop’ (to behave foolishly; to make a fuss), ‘to chuck a sickie’ (to take a day’s sick leave from work – with the implication that the person is not really ill), and ‘to spit the dummy’ (to lose one’s temper).

But some Australian idioms and phrases have been taken up widely in global English. For example, ‘like a rat up a drainpipe’ (very quickly), ‘no worries’ (an assurance that all is fine) and ‘to put the boot in’ (to attack savagely, especially when the opponent is disadvantaged, or in a manner which in conventionally unacceptable).

Australian comedian Barry Humphries helped to popularise a number of phrases including some of his own inventions: ‘as dry as a kookaburra’s khyber’ (very dry), and ‘to syphon the python’ and ‘to point Percy at the porcelain’ (both terms for urinating).

Unlike selfie, it’s unlikely these particular phrases will catch on in a big way. But the culture that produced them has contributed many wonderful terms to the world’s vocabularies – and for that we should be ‘rapt as a dunny roll’.

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http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150427-pervs-greenies-and-ratbags

50 BRITISH PHRASES THAT AMERICANS JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND

1. “How’s your father,” “Rumpy pumpy,” “Good rogering”
Meaning: To have sex, sexual relations, get “your groove on.”

2. “Going to play some footy”
Meaning: Going to play soccer.

3. “I’ll give you a bunch of fives”
Meaning: You’re going to get a punch in the face.

4. “That was a right bodge job”
Meaning: That job went wrong.

5. “Oh bloomin ‘eck”
Meaning: A non-curse word exclamation.

6. “That’s pants”
Meaning: It’s not great, not very good.

7. “I’m knackered”
Meaning: I’m tired, exhausted.

8. “Don’t get shirty with me,” “Don’t get your knickers in a twist,” “You’re getting on my goat,” “Wind your neck in”

Meaning: Someone’s getting angry or aggravated with you…or you’re getting annoyed or
irritated with them.

9. “ I was gobsmacked”
Meaning: I was shocked, lost for words.

10. “She was talking nineteen to the dozen”
Meaning: She was talking at a speedy rate.

11. “It’s all gone pear shaped”
Meaning: Something has gone wrong.

12. “She’s a picnic short of a sandwich,” “She’s a slice short of a loaf”
Meaning: She’s a little dopey, not very clever.

13. “She’s as bright as a button”
Meaning: She’s clever.

14. “He’s as mad as box of frogs,” “He’s crackers”
Meaning: He’s mad. He’s lost it.

15. “Spend a penny,” “Going for a slash”
Meaning: To visit the bathroom.

16. “Well that’s thrown a spanner in the works”
Meaning: Plans have gone awry, a curveball has been thrown.

17. “We’re having a right old knees up,” “Heading out on the tiles,”“Out on the lash”
Meaning: To go out for the night to have a good time. To party.

18. “I’m out on the pull tonight”
Meaning: To go out looking for a lady or man with whom to enjoy a romantic liason (see #1.). To get ‘laid’.

19. “I’m going to get off with him / her”
Meaning: I’m going to kiss / snog that person.

19. “I’m quids in” / I’m skint,” / “Have you got any dosh?”
Meaning: You’ve come into money / You have no money / You’re asking someone if they have any money.

20. “Sweet Fanny Adams”
Meaning: Nothing, such as when being asked what you did for the day or what you’re currently doing.

21. “It’s just Sod’s law”
Meaning: Same as ‘Murphy’s Law’ — what’s going to happen, will happen.

22. “It’s parky out” or “It’s brass monkeys out”
Meaning: It’s cold outside.

23. “She’s such a curtain twitcher” or “Stop being such a nose ointment”
Meaning: She’s a nosy neighbor, stop being so nosy.

24. “Did you see her? She’s such a chav”
Meaning: A British stereotype for a ‘low class’ person or someone wearing ‘cheap’ clothes.

25. “That’s smashing,” “Super,” “Ace,” “Pucker”
Meaning: That’s “awesome.”

26. “Did you just fluff?” “Did you just pop?”
Meaning: Did you just fart?

27. “He’s the dog’s danglies,” “It’s the mutt’s nuts”
Meaning: He’s the best, it’s the best. Top notch.

28. “Nice baps,” “Look at those bristols,” “Look at those rose buds”
Meaning: Nice breasts.

29. “Old Blighty”
Meaning: Britain.

30. “Oh, he’s a Bobby,” “They call him PC plod”
Meaning: He’s a policeman / cop.

31. “I’ll ring you,” “I’ll give you a bell,” “I’ll give you a tinkle”
Meaning: I’ll call you.

32. “He’s such a plonker,” “ponce,” “pillock,” “tosser,” “ twit,” “knob,” “bellend”
Meaning: He’s not very nice / He’s an idiot.

33. “Stop being such a big girl’s blouse”
Meaning: Stop being such a wimp.

34. “Toodle Pip!” “Ta ta!”
Meaning: Goodbye.

35. “I’m just having a fag”
Meaning: I’m just having a cigarette.

36. “I’m totally cack-handed”
Meaning: I’m not coordinated.

37. “He’s such an anorak”
Meaning: He’s such a geek.

38. “Don’t be such a wind-up merchant”
Meaning: Stop teasing.

39. “Having a good old chinwag”
Meaning: Having a gossip / chat.

40. “She’s got a face like a bag full of spanners” / “She has a face like a cat’s arse”
Meaning: She’s not very attractive / She is pulling a ‘sour’ face.

41. “Meat and two veg”
Meaning: A man’s ‘private parts’

42. “She’s so gobby”
Meaning: She’s very mouthy, rude.

43. “She / he / it’s minging”
Meaning: She / he / it’s not very nice, disgusting.

44. “That’s mint, that is”
Meaning: Mint condition, perfect.

45. “Careful, he’s on the chunder bus”
Meaning: He’s going to be sick, throw up.

46. “Oh stop whinging on”
Meaning: Stop moaning.

47. “You look smart”
Meaning: You are well dressed.

48. “That’s lush”
Meaning: That’s nice, or that tastes good.

49. “I’m feel really grotty”
Meaning: Feeling under the weather, not well.

50. “Ta!”
Meaning: Thanks!

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http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/50-british-phrases-americans-just-dont-understand/

The 6 English Words Longer Than Antidisestablishmentarianism

If your elementary school teachers told you that antidisestablish-mentarianism was the longest word in the dictionary, they lied.

In fact, most dictionaries today don’t include antidisestablish-mentarianism. It’s rarely used anymore, according to Merriam-Webster’s FAQs page. (Apparently, a lot of people wonder about this.)

Antidisestablishmentarianism was a political position during the Reformation. King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, so he split from Roman Catholicism. Those against him were “anti” the “disestablishment” of the church and thus, didn’t approve of the budding Anglican Church, later known as the Church of England.

It’s an interesting addition to your vocabulary and historical knowledge. But the word only contains 28 letters — not the longest one in the English language.

We compiled a short list of longer words below (excluding chemical compounds, which can run up to 189,819 letters.)

1.Aequeosalinocalcalinoceraceoaluminosocupreovitriolic: noun, a word coined by Dr. Edward Strother to describe the spa waters in Bath, England.

At 52 letters, this is the longest English word ever created that appears outside literature. Many scholars in the 17th Century (Dr. Strother’s time) spoke Latin fluently. Therefore, much of the word stems from the dead romance language. Let’s break it down.

“Aequo” means equal in Latin.

“Salino” comes from “salinus,” the Latin word for “containing salt.”

“Calcalino,” “aluminoso,” and “cupreo” are all derivative words of their corresponding minerals: calcium, aluminium, and copper, respectively. Waters at the bathhouse must have contained all three.

“Cera” (embedded within “caraceo”) means “wax” in Latin.

Finally, “vitriolic” functions as an adjective, meaning “resembling vitriol.” And vitriol is a sulfate of any of various metals (as copper, iron, or zinc).

These waters were a solution of equal parts salt, calcium, aluminium, copper, and other metallic sulfates that felt sort of waxy.

2. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis: noun, a pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of very fine silicate or quartz dust.

Pneumoconiosis: noun, a disease of the lungs caused by the habitual inhalation of irritants (as mineral or metallic particles) — also called miner’s asthma, miner’s consumption.

Medical terminology does tend to read lengthy, but at 45 letters, this disease is the longest.

The medical prefix “pneumo” comes from the Latin word “pneuma” meaning wind, air, or breath.

“Ultra” is another prefix borrowed from Latin which means “to the furthest degree possible.”

“Silica” (changed to silico for phonological purposes) is the dioxide form of silicone, usually occurring as quartz sand.

The suffix “osis” refers to an abnormal or diseased condition.

And we all know what “microscopic” and “volcano” mean. (Silica is often found in volcanic rocks.)

So pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is a condition affecting air flow to the furthest degree possible, caused by silica, potentially from a volcano.

3. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: noun, fear of long words.

This word has four basic components changed to fit together phonologically: hippopotamus, monstrous, sesquipedalian, and phobia.

Many theorize “hippopoto” was added as an etymological joke to make the word a little longer — and thereby making people who suffer from the syndrome even more terrified. “Sesquipedalian”is an adjective that means having many syllables.

String all these together, at 36 letters, and hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia means fear of monstrously multisyllabic words.

4. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: adjective, extraordinarily good; wonderful.

Made famous by the song of the same title in the children’s movie “Mary Poppins,” this word somehow ended up in the Oxford Dictionary.

Robert and Richard Sherman co-wrote the song for a duet with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, famous songbirds of the ’60s. It’s no wonder the 34-letter word stuck.

5. Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism: noun, a relatively mild form of pseudohypoparathyroidism that is characterised by normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood.

For further understanding, pseudohypoparathyroidism:

noun, a usually inherited disorder that clinically resembles hypoparathyroidism but results from the body’s inability to respond normally to parathyroid hormone rather than from a deficiency of the hormone itself.

And

hypoparathyroidism: noun, deficiency of parathyroid hormone in the body.

The Latin prefix “pseudo” means false, deceptive, or inauthentic. Two “pseudos” amplifies the meaning.

The prefix “hypo” means under, below, or lower, and “para,” in this case, means beyond or past.

Suffererers of this syndrome, which is made up of 30 letters, have a twice false, beyond lower (than normal), thyroid issue.

6. Floccinaucinihilipilification: noun,

the estimation of something as valueless (encountered mainly as an example of one of the longest words in the English language)

.

Back in the 18th Century, Eton College created a grammar book which contained a section listing all the words in Latin that meant “of little or no value” according to World Wide Words. As a joke, someone stuck them all together and added “ification,” meaning the act of doing something, to make a 29-letter noun.

Some of these words don’t appear in any dictionary, we know. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t words. Words that appear in the dictionary must meet three criteria: widespread use, sustained use, and meaningful use, according to a lexicographer from Merriam Webster.

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/words-longer-than-antidisestablishmentarianism-2013-9