Entertain me!

Originally posted by The Plumber
Oh, and, you can assume a lot of things about the English language, but please don't assume that it's logical....😀

What's illogical about all this anyway?

You're quite mad.

Originally posted by Nordlys
Maybe it's just as illogical, but it shouldn't be.

Why?

Originally posted by Bowmann
Your error has nevertheless been recorded for posterity.

I'm sure posterity appreciates it.

Originally posted by The Plumber
Why?

Well, if you want to analyze and describe aspects of language, an illogical system doesn't seem the best way to go. And it's supposed to be science, isn't it?

Originally posted by Bowmann
What's illogical about all this anyway?

You're quite mad.

Katja was assuming that since there is a word for the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of successive words (aka, alliteration), that logically there must be one for the repetition of vowel sounds. I was merely pointing out that English doesn't follow such rules of logic (laying aside the fact that alliteration describes both cases).

As for being mad... ...let's just say that reminds me of a little saying regarding a pot and a kettle.

Originally posted by Nordlys
Well, if you want to analyze and describe aspects of language, an illogical system doesn't seem the best way to go. And it's supposed to be science, isn't it?

But aren't you assuming that the underlying language being analyzed has to follow the rules of logic?

Originally posted by The Plumber
But aren't you assuming that the underlying language being analyzed has to follow the rules of logic?

No, but if the underlying language has both phenomena (as we know it has), it would be illogical to have a word for one of them, but not the other one.

Originally posted by Nordlys
No, but if the underlying language has both phenomena (as we know it has), it would be illogical to have a word for one of them, but not the other one.

And, of course, the English language is anything but logical, hence one shouldn't assume that if there was a word for one, there must be a word for the other. 😕

Originally posted by The Plumber
And, of course, the English language is anything but logical, hence one shouldn't assume that if there was a word for one, there must be a word for the other. 😕

Going in circles... I don't think you can make the same assumptions about technical terms as about casual language.

Originally posted by Nordlys
Going in circles... I don't think you can make the same assumptions about technical terms as about casual language.

You're starting to sound like a German. Why is a term like alliteration "technical" in nature?

Originally posted by The Plumber
You're starting to sound like a German. Why is a term like alliteration "technical" in nature?

Okay, let's try the other term my dictionary gives for "Fachbegriff", "specialist term". Better? You know what I mean, don't you?

Originally posted by Nordlys
Okay, let's try the other term my dictionary gives for "Fachbegriff", "specialist term". Better? You know what I mean, don't you?

I do know what you mean, although "specialist term" is not typical English usage (at least not in any English I'm familiar with), so I wouldn't say "better." However, I don't think you understand what I mean. Just because English has a word for a particular practice or occurrence, doesn't mean that it would have a term for a related or similar practice or occurrence. English isn't logical like that.

Originally posted by Starrman
I am so god damned bored that I'm beginning to get an urge to chew my own lips off. Please, somebody, anybody, help.

are you bored?

Originally posted by Starrman
I am so god damned bored that I'm beginning to get an urge to chew my own lips off. Please, somebody, anybody, help.

play me a game of chess, i'm a quick mover

Originally posted by The Plumber
alliteration:

The repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the beginning of words or in stressed syllables, as in “on scrolls of silver snowy sentences” (Hart Crane). Modern alliteration is predominantly consonantal; certain literary traditions, such as Old English verse, also alliterate using vowel sounds.

assonance:

1 - ...[text shortened]... clusion - both were alliteration, not assonance, although Starrman's post approached assonance.

How did Starrman's post approached assonance? It was as much an alliteration as mine.