Crocodile Attack in Kakadu

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

Gunnel has been used in print in English since at least 1727, to represent the usual nautical pronunciation of the word.

The 1727 citation in Oxford English Dictionary reads: "as high as the Gun-wall or Gunnel."

One of the usual 'principles' to which people turn is whether orthography represents pronunciation or etymology. Or both.

Those pushing for reform of English spelling argue (including Noah Webster) that actual pronounced usage should be reflected in orthography. That raises the question: why is the language not called Inglish?

Those pushing for etymology seem to have affection for the orthography (or presumed orthography) of the word when imported into English. That raises the question: why is the language not called Ænglish?

The first usage of what became gunwale looks to be 1466 gonne walles, referring to the topmost hull planks supporting the barrels of a ship's great guns.

The history of the word gun is itself a ball of fun. First use in England appears in 1330, used for the name of a jolly big ballista mounted on the wall of a fort or castle originally built by William the Bastard (aka the Conqueror) a day's march out of London. That castle is now called Windsor, apparently after a forest.

The jolly big ballista was affectionately called Domina Gunilda, or in Ænglish "Lady Gunnhilda".

I've not seen anyone explain why the ballista was called after Gunilda or who she might have been (Gunnhildr is a calling name, representing Old Norse gunnr, meaning war; and Old Norse hildr, meaning battle).

Sixty years after the appearance of that jolly big ballista, cannon (the tubular things using the Chinese invention of gunpowder to expel ball or shot) were called Grete gonnes, great guns.

How do you get "Ing" out of "Eng" ?

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

How do you get "Ing" out of "Eng" ?

By listening to how people pronounce the word "English."

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

By listening to how people pronounce the word "English."

Perhaps associating with people who have mastered elocution would change your position

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

How do you get "Ing" out of "Eng" ?

I must be having a curmudgeon day:


It's because it is NOT pronounced EENGlish.


People usually say INGlish. As in INside or INdoors, rather than EENside or EENdoors.


I'm sure there are other examples...seen any? Been anywhere recently?

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

I've not seen anyone explain why the ballista was called after Gunilda or who she might have been (Gunnhildr is a calling name, representing Old Norse gunnr, meaning war; and Old Norse hildr, meaning battle).

The clerk whose desk is behind me often peruses my monitor.

He interrupted to point out that "Lady Gunnhilda" almost certainly refers to Gunhildr Haraldsdatter, the sister of Sven Forkbeard (aka Svend Haraldssen Tveskæg). He reckons Gunhildr was killed in St Brice's massacre on 13 November 1002. Apparently a massacre of Danes in Ængland ordered by King Æthelred. Story goes that Forkbeard did not appreciate the untimely death of his sister and installed his son Cnut (Canute) on the throne of Ængland.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Doesn’t anyone know how to spell “gunwales?”

Google Ngram's version of the usage corpus of gunwale and gunnel in the past few years:

[Don C L]

Ah my father always said he was a direct descendant of king Canute, don’t know if that is good or bad though.
That reminds me, per orthography and pronunciation , I always find it rough when I have a cough while sitting on a bough receiving a thorough soaking through to the skin by a storm.
It’s gunwales to me!
Must be the Cnut in me.

And about the reptiles along Central American rivers, I don’t know how aggressive they are but my Costa Rican friend told me not to find out. 2 tourists who did are still missing.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

Google Ngram's version of the usage corpus of gunwale and gunnel in the past few years:

Someone made a graph of that? Those academics have quite a bit of time on their hands!

[StuM]

Originally Posted by AndyEss

There are saltwater crocs in Costa Rica? Please tell me at least their range is only on the Carribean side.
Or else I need to start re-thinking a possible cruise.

There are no actual "saltwater crocodiles" (Crocodylus porosus) in Cosat Rica.

But there are "American crocodiles" (Crocodylus acutus) which are the only crocodile other than the "saltie" to live in salt water.


https://thecostaricanews.com/rio-tar...s-in-paradise/

[Tupaia]

In places like the Solomon Islands it is a well known fact that crocodiles only eat bad people.

[RaymondR]

From Wikipedia:

"A governmental study from Australia accepts that the very largest members of the species are likely to measure 6 to 7 m (19 ft 8 in to 23 ft 0 in) in length and weigh 900 to 1,500 kg (2,000 to 3,300 lb)."

They don't seem to scare the tourists though.

[44'cruisingcat]

The crocodile that killed our friend in Hinchinbrook channel this year was measured at 5 metres. We've seen one much bigger than that in there.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Someone made a graph of that? Those academics have quite a bit of time on their hands!

Nope, it's all automagic based on a large database of books. It's actually a very interesting and useful tool:


https://books.google.com/ngrams/info#


https://books.google.com/ngrams/grap...unwale%3B%2Cc0

[arsenelupiga]

confirming old people saying in australia:

your dinghy is crocs chewing gum.

[Knotical]

Pretty sure they were crocs based on their appearance and location, caimans are not found in that particular area, also, the locals know best and they told us they were crocs.

Originally Posted by Factor

I think that is an alligator or masybe a Cayman, not a croc