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

In a message dated 7/2/1999 3:28:15 PM, raccoon@elknet.net writes:

>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)
>
Hmmmmm... I love the word ergative! I think the ugliest word is
glottochronology (and its derivatives).

Josh Roth
http://members.aol.com/fuscian