Re: OT: French/English etymology question: "sauf"/"save"

Mark writes:

>  Douglas Koller:
>
>  > Yeah, but I still use it, which hurls it into an Oscar Wildean
>>  antiquity of total undudeness.
>
>I assure you, sir, that my perception of what is and is not outdated
>in English is based neither upon your usage, nor that of Mr. Wilde, nor
>any amount of non-dudity.  :)  It is, rather, based upon what I hear
>and read in modern (primarily local) speech and (primarily American)
>composition.  That particular use of "save" is rare within those contexts,
>hence my conclusion that it was "somewhat" outdated.  Please note that I
>did not claim it was obsolete or archaic.  However, perhaps it is not
>outdated so much as consigned to a more formal register than once it was.
That's entirely possible. Perhaps I'm a tad sensitive. As a
forty-year-old middle school teacher, I've been reminded a couple of
times this week that I "do not make the scene". Wanna clear a room of
13-year-old girls? Kiss two fingers and say, "Peace out, homies."
They'll run shrieking. :)

Kou, the Uncool

Reply