Re: Opinions on English

On Sun, Sep 17, 2000 at 09:46:55AM -0400, Yoon Ha Lee wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2000, Jonathan Chang wrote:
[snip]
> >     *snarfle* English is such a magpie language it's wonder it got so
> > "powerful." Then again there are IMHO many types of Englishes, even within
> > America - to not neglect sayin' da whole wide world.
>
> Quick question: what does "magpie" mean in this context?  (I'm used to
> thinking of magpies as bringers of good luck, so I *know* I'm missing
> some connotation.)
In this context, just means it's a mixed up, sundry language.


T