Re:Nonnative English speakers share their gripes about speak...
by trashtester on Thursday May 20, 2021 @01:13PM
(#27223958)
The Norwegian word ("labyrint") is also based on the Greek word (possibly through Latin, somehow).
Ironically, though, "maze" may come from the Norwegian word "mas".
Re:Nonnative English speakers share their gripes about speak...
by Broken_Hippo on Thursday May 20, 2021 @04:09PM
(#27226498)
Today, I've learned a new Norwegian word - labyrint. I've not stumbled across it.
Thank you.
Re:Nonnative English speakers share their gripes about speak...
by cafard on Thursday May 20, 2021 @11:09AM
(#27222142)
Richard Feynman had a similar story about speaking Portuguese, coming up with a longish word because he couldn't remember the common one, and impressing his hostess.
But is "labyrinth" from a romance language? It appears in Liddell & Scott's Greek-English Lexicon with the remark that it is a foreign word.
Re:Nonnative English speakers share their gripes about speak...
by mytailorisrich on Thursday May 20, 2021 @11:14AM
(#27222214)
It's the Greek word that was adopted in Latin and then romance languages.
A long time ago I was in the US and I used the word "labyrinth" because I didn't know "maze" and, well, in french for a maze we say "labyrinthe"... I still remember the reaction of my american friend, very surprised by my "advanced" english vocabulary.
We native romance language speakers have it easy ; )