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By Bystander

How many words are there in the English language? ;
That is an unanswerable question for three reasons: First,
because the language is constantly being added to. Everyday some
new drug is being developed, or some new mechanical device or
sociological principle, and all these things have to have names.
These names are likely to start out as patented trade names, but as
the use of the thing so designated becomes more common they
pass in current usage and are accepted “‘dictionary words’’. (E.g.

kodak, aspirin, laser.)
And then,.at the other end, words drop out of use. Who says

“forthwith”? any. more, or ‘‘lackaday’’? — words that were in
common use by our grandparents?
2 They may be remembered in some book, or again they may be

irretrievably lost, as seems to be the case with that weight that
--everybody used to know, that the delivery man used as an anchor
for his horse when he.was out of sight of his van, ;

(If some reader remembers what this weight was called, | hope.

--he will write and share his knowledge with us.)

The third reason why our question is unanswerable: nobody
knows what constitutes a ‘‘word’’. If I hit my nail with the
hammer, instead of the iron one, and say pouch’ Is is touch’? a
word; or just,a noise? a
“Is staircase one word, or is it two? And if it is only one, as my

_ dictionary suggests, what about stair-well, which the same
authority ignores entirely?

If may not affect the number. of words; but it is important to
note that words sometimes change their meaning over the years.
Our King James Bible was first published in 1611, and some of its
language is already misleading (presently used for ‘‘im-

mediate). or obsolete ‘(daysman. for “referee; ” bolled for
. “Sswollen). :

11:45) a.m. hot lunch; 1. p.m.
discussion group” “(when an-

Daily - re billiards, library,
os morning coffee, lunch, afternoon
po tea
ce Monday. - 9 am. cco
9:30 a.m. beginner’s French; 10 -
a.m. quilting; 11:45 a.m. lunch, —
Ey y 30 p. -m. ceramics; 1 p.m. Tai 7

- Chi; 1:30 p.m. swimming, oe
: beginners bridge;’7. p.m. games: oe
night and dupl ate bridge.” PDE BN Rte vokeaes bowling: I: 46 a.m. junch

below), film 1. p.m. last Wed-
“nesday of each month; oe PMs
duplicate bridge.

-Thursday = 9: a.m.

ue 12 noon

. pirogue,

Silver Threads -

. ‘and whist.

~ nounced), silversmithing; 2.p-m.° © closed-until further notice. Stamp

concert (see..special.event ‘dates

ms Special Events:

lapidary; 9: 30 aim. weaving; 10>

THE REVIEW

That is why we have so many new versions of the bible, written
in. ‘‘today’s English” —- which will be: ‘‘yesterday’s. English’’
tomorrow!

In short, a language is.a living, growing thing. It borrows
constantly from other languages, and we have no final authority
corresponding to the French Academy to tell us when these
borowings are acceptable English.

We borrow from every language — toboggan, coca, potato,
igloo and. hundreds of other words are from the
aboriginal languages of the New World, while even more, of
course, have been taken from European, African and Asiatic
tongues — like divan from the Turkish, where it means a council

of state, but the Turks had borrowed it from the Persian, who had

used it to mean an account book — and we use it to mean a piece
of furniture!
Tea is only one of several Chinese: words we use. We ‘hav

numerous words from.India, as you may hear in the speech of, any.

ex-solider of the Indian army — tiffin, pukka, khaki..
Musical terms we borrow chiefly from the Italian; cuisine and
haute couture and their vocabularies from the French. .

Words about boats are often Dutch — sloop, hoy, yacht. We

get monsoon from the Portugese, who got it, or something MKS
from the Arabic.
Arabic also gives us many mathematic terms, algebra, aided,

and science, alcohol, alkali.

All these, and countless more accretions were grafted into the
already rich stock made up of Saxon words for the rural life,

Norman French for city dwellers and the courts; Latin for the
church and the law, and some surviving tags. of Gaelic. Iti is arich..

heritage we have.
Pity we make so little use sof itt.
eA: be continued]

Saturday and. Sunday centre. Ks

~ Be $2245, reg. $2999.00

“Club “Ist and: 3rd Saturday of y
“each month.

-Nov. 7, 1 p.m. “Discussion —_| et
Groups. Doug McLean on |
‘‘Arthritis’’, public welcome. .
~ Nov..12 - Centre closed © for.

Time a Call

‘Sidney —

| Central Saanich —

CHILDRENS HALLOWE'EN PARTY Hate
“4106 p.m. “Slellys School Gym Sr STEEP
~*Fun Games. ‘Candy Treats
Sana judging (sails a al 4. 3 p. m,

ahs

- Sponsored Hy contrat Saanich f Recreation and;
‘Agricultural Society, ae rahe aa
Brentwood Bay. Rotary lun
Cantral Saanich Lions in
Community. Recreation 12, Stellys School me
Our thanks lo other contributors 10 this Community. event! * 7

| FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL
“CENTRAL SAANICH RECREATION DEPT.’ ,

ah

“fL HALLOWE'EN COSTUME PARTY.

harp why ve ¢ 2 an dun der).
+B #815 10-9:30 p.m,

"boysine ins Ce oS - earent
ia b Noto: in case of inglerent ‘weathet “the vont wil be. canceled,

nat Ls i

poe te Sidney. Ghamber of Canim arce oe

for kids up to 12. years
A “4106 p.m. *Sanscha Hall
A Games
BONFIRE ‘AND FIREWORKS: DISPLAY
~ fun for: the. entire family

—16:30'p.my. *Tullista Park
-* Refreshments dispensed by sidisey. Lions’ Lunch Box

TEEN. -GHOSTBUST ERS" SKATE
ages 12. and up.

“Panorama Lolsure cent

“Canned music and DoJ: Oey alee
—*Prizes tor best Costumes. . - ven hae
AS ie ental only $1, 00).

sh age

A FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL
PANORAMA LEISURE CENTREAT = 656. rn

- Co opeilivaly. Sponsored by;
Sidney Lions Club: Me

_ Sidney. Rotary Clu se
1 Sidney Kiwanis Glut pe baseha ane ay

Sidney Volunteer Fire Dept...

Peninsula: Recreation. nee alee -
Town. of Sidney ec, ay
“District of North: Saanic hh
b Sanscha Hall |
Sidney R.C.M, P.

f Parkland $6 houl

~ eAct Now! Limited

1 Satellite TY Speciale
A DEXCEL 1100 Quality siereo sareine |

A receiver Complete w..remote. ind PRECISION 10’ Mesh |
f- Dish lor only $2095, reg. $2995 or 12’ Mesh Dish for Fos

7 | complete nackaaks reddy for installa- :
: tion. Professional, installation extra.

of | “Treals “Costume. sucgina (ost judging starts al iF
415 p.m, with: age 2 and under) »

. a Knights Ol. Pythiag ce eee . i ae

A ‘with the co- Sn and assistance of the motchants of, Sidney.

Wednesday, October 24, 1984

Close encounters

and businessman

Developments scheduled for commission
the town will be discussed by — Clive Tanner 8 p.m. Thursday on
Sidney. aldermen Jim Lang, the phone-in Saanich Cablevision
chairman of committee C, John show, Close Encounters. Host on
Calder, advisory planning channel 10 is Derek James.

PANORAMA
LEISURE CENTRE

IT‘S BADMINTON SEASON

AT SANSCHA HALL! —

MON., TUES., WED., & SUN.
7:30 to 9: 30 p.m.

Drop-in: $2.50/singles
$4.50 couples
Birds supplies

656-1211

TOWN OF SIDNEY

NOTICE

. Tenders are invited by the Town of Sidney. tof. the supply of Janitorial Ser-
~ vices lor
(a) Town Hall
_ (hb) Senior Citizens: Centre

los the years. 1985 and 1986. Contracts will be based on the schedule ot
duties. etc. available fromthe Works & Services Henartment atthe Town
Hall, 2440. Sidney Avenue.

lenders.should: bein the hands of the undersigned by 3-p.m, .
8th. 1984. Lowest.or any tender not necessarily iccepted,

GS: Logan, A.G.1.S:. PAdm.. CMC.
Town Administrator
2440 Sidney Avenue
Sidney. B.C... V8L1Y?

‘Noven ber

JEWEL

inthe
HEART

of Sidney

| epiamonds *Watches
B eTrophies eEngraving:
: eee eRepalrs a

YOUR GIFT CENTRE . ee ES |
WHEN YOU REALLY f LOVE ‘SOMEONE! I
B (ASK f BOU OUR CHRISTMAS LAY- away) -

qT BONFIRE AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY.

a : - 9pm, "Wain, Road Firehall
a" Hogs, drinks, colfee & donuts ‘

: _ Sponsored bys Thee
North Saanich Volunteer Fire op
District ol North Saanich f

~ FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL a aa ee
. NORTH SAANICH AT 963 918

“THE DISTRICTS OF SIDNEY, NORTH SAANICH AND i GeNtAAL|
| SAANICH ARE PLEASED TO OFFER THESE SPECIAL HALLOWE'EN
EVENTS —~

s 1. . FREE OF CHARGE
, TO NESIDENTS ON THE PENINSULA, PLEASE SHOW YOUN AP-.

; PRECIATION BY THANKING THE MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT HELE)
a MAKE. ESE: EVENTS SUCH: AN ENJOYABLE SUCCESS! eet

| CLIP & SAVE FOR HALLOWE'EN NITE,