CHAT: Ugly linguistics terms (was Re: inventory of cases)

On Mon, 28 Jun 1999, Brad Coon wrote:
> My first exposure to the whole concept of ergativity was in a sketch of Inuit
> grammar which
> as you note, used the term Relative.  I have used it ever since in my languages
> although the
> genitive sense has usually been lost once cases started proliferating.  I just
> can't see myself
> ever using the term 'ergative' which has got  to be the ugliest word in all of
> linguistics (IMNSHO).
That's got to be one of the top 5 or so, but I'd say "inchoative" in #1 :O)

--
Eric Christopherson
raccoon@elknet.net      rakkoon78@hotmail.com