Pedantic question about standardisation

[BrianShaw]

... talk about pedantic.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Eaton make twin speed axles for trucks.

And then some... http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/index.htm

 

[cliveh]

Of course then you have the other end of the spectrum with the "good for you old man" types that hopefully have all died out.

Watching some of the documentaries from the Military Channel on the Brits in charge of the war effort like the Mountbattens and his group, that probably all went to Eaton. They all have the upper crust put on accent, dragging out words with a baritone drawl, trying to sound terribly important, don't you see. Boring reminiscences of their days in the House of Commons, and stiff upper lip and all that.

My God having to listen to those pompous asses for 10 minutes makes one want to do an Eastenders marathon.

Ignore Steve, as he really should have been a professor of English grammar, but missed his true calling in life. With regard to your point about our House of Commons, how true. How much parliamentary time is wasted each year with phrases like the right honourable gentleman?

 

[BrianShaw]

... but those phrases are so poetic. But I wonder about the use of the phrase "gentleman" for any legislator.

 

[lxdude]

Watching some of the documentaries from the Military Channel on the Brits in charge of the war effort like the Mountbattens and his group, that probably all went to Eaton. They all have the upper crust put on accent, dragging out words with a baritone drawl, trying to sound terribly important, don't you see. Boring reminiscences of their days in the House of Commons, and stiff upper lip and all that.

Wouldn't the Mountbattens have been in the House of Lords?

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Eaton make twin speed axles for trucks. I think you mean Eton, a school founded by King Henry VI as a school for poor boys which has somehow lost its original purpose.


Steve.

I have a Scheaffer fountain pen from the early 1970s, the instructions say "Scheaffer a division of Eaton-Textron"

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Traditionally a member's name is never uttered in Parliament since Charles I threatened to arrest its members. So some circumlocution was required. The practice was also adopted by the US Congress. It is always the senator from ... or the gentleman from ... Politicians being the pompous asses that they are love this stuff.

 

[MattKing]

+1

 

[lxdude]

How much parliamentary time is wasted each year with phrases like the right honourable gentleman?

Even when using boilerplate language they're lying!


Here it's "distinguished". If they are distinguished for anything, it's seldom good.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I wonder if our English members could help me with a particular quote. Jane Austen on hearing that a former Prime Minister was running for re-election remarked "It must be terribly difficult for him for he must make everyone like him." Was it William Gladstone or Benjamin Disraeli? Sort of describes Mitt Romney doesn't it.

 

[Steve Smith]

Not sure. Gladstone was Prime Minister four times and Disraeli twice.


Steve.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Thanks Steve. I have had no luck in finding the quote online.

 

[Diapositivo]

Jane Austen died in 1817.
Benjamin Disraeli was Prime Minister first in 1868.
His contemporary Gladstone succeeded to him for his first time in the post.

Jane Austen must have referred to some other Prime Minister.
And she was wrong as he barely needed a sufficient majority of a tiny minority of the English population "to like him".

 

[Sirius Glass]

I think that the reason some British get upset with Americanisms stems from WWII.
The British men complained that the Yanks were "over paid, over sexed and over here!"
The British women were glad that the Yanks were "over paid, over sexed and over here!"

 

[BrianShaw]

... and in North Yorkshire they still feel that way.

 

[blansky]

Wouldn't the Mountbattens have been in the House of Lords?

The documentary was World at War, I think it was. I think at this time he was a Minister of something, but the people interviewed were House of Commons, mostly talking about the vote of non confidence for Chamberland and Winston being appointed leader of the party by the powers that be.

It was all very British and looked like the interview were all done at the Club.

 

[blansky]

Wouldn't the Mountbattens have been in the House of Lords?

The documentary was World at War, I think it was. I think at this time he was a Minister of something, but the people interviewed were House of Commons, mostly talking about the vote of non confidence for Chamberland and Winston being appointed leader of the party by the powers that be.

It was all very British and looked like the interviews were all done at the Club.

 

[scheimfluger_77]

... and in North Yorkshire they still feel that way.

Who, the men or the women?

 

[lxdude]

The British women were glad that the Yanks were "over paid, over sexed and over here!"

We don't think keeping a stiff upper lip is what's important. Besides, a stiff upper lip can be an impediment to some things.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I'm at a complete loss now. Austin had so many pithy comments. Who is the author and the subject of the quote? It's such a delicious putdown.

 

[lxdude]

The documentary was World at War, I think it was. I think at this time he was a Minister of something, but the people interviewed were House of Commons, mostly talking about the vote of non confidence for Chamberland and Winston being appointed leader of the party by the powers that be.

It was all very British and looked like the interviews were all done at the Club.

The Mountbattens were definitely not Commoners. Lord Louis Mountbatten's sister was the mother of Prince Philip, the Queen's husband. Lord Mountbatten was a naval officer; from 1943-46 he was Allied Supreme Commander, South East Asia Command. It was/is not universally agreed that he was deserving of a high post.

BTW, it's Chamberlain.

 

[MattKing]

Traditionally, if a member of the House of Lords wished to be elected to the House of Commons, they were required to renounce their title before taking their seat.

The history and tradition imbued in the parliamentary traditions are really old, and do serve to restrain and limit a lot of governmental power - not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[BrianShaw]

Who, the men or the women?

Both, actually.

 

[Steve Smith]

We don't think keeping a stiff upper lip is what's important.

How to keep not just a stiff upper lip:

[video=youtube;5Ivsb79-h90]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ivsb79-h90[/video]

At 1:51


Steve.

 

[Steve Smith]

Whilst this thread is still running, here's another one:

The H in herb is not silent.


Steve.