English Language - what "Does your head in" ??

[Mick F]

The cannons fired.
That seems correct, but I reckon that's a plural plural.
If there are a few/many ships, and they all fired, there would be cannons firing.

However, the plural of cannon ............ as a few/many of them sitting in the gun-deck of a (singular) ship are cannon.

Hence my suggestion of grass vs grasses maybe?

[Mick F]

PS:

I'm having salmon for tea today.
Maybe I could have two salmons?

[thirdcrank]

The cannons fired.
That seems correct, but I reckon that's a plural plural.
If there are a few/many ships, and they all fired, there would be cannons firing.

However, the plural of cannon ............ as a few/many of them sitting in the gun-deck of a (singular) ship are cannon.

Hence my suggestion of grass vs grasses maybe?

Give it a rest

[Mick F]

Listening to R4 PM prog just now.
The presenter cappy said Wed nes day and sec ret ary.

[Mick F]

.......... and just said rec-og-nised.
Not reckonized.

[Mick F]

........... and just said "fy-nance" instead of fin-ance.

He may say "adver-tize-ment" instead of ad-vert-izment later?

He's not perfect, like wot I iz.

[Dingdong]

My grannie couldn't say 'spaghetti'. Enthusiastically she would say 'We're having pisgetti tonight!' and we'd roll around laughing. Happy days!

[Jdsk]

My grannie couldn't say 'spaghetti'. Enthusiastically she would say 'We're having pisgetti tonight!' and we'd roll around laughing. Happy days!

Jonathan

[richardfm]

My grannie couldn't say 'spaghetti'. Enthusiastically she would say 'We're having pisgetti tonight!' and we'd roll around laughing. Happy days!

It was "basgetti' in our house when the children were little

[Jdsk]

Notice the common factor: double consonants that are mechanically hard to enunciate. Same as in Wednesday and February upthread.

Jonathan

PS: It's not all double consonants that are hard to enunciate.

[DaveReading]

Notice the common factor: double consonants that are mechanically hard to enunciate. Same as in Wednesday and February upthread.

I've heard that some Brazilian brothers in Bradford can manage February without any problem.

[Jdsk]

Notice the common factor: double consonants that are mechanically hard to enunciate. Same as in Wednesday and February upthread.

I've heard that some Brazilian brothers in Bradford can manage February without any problem.

: - )

Jonathan

[Chris Jeggo]

Notice the common factor: double consonants that are mechanically hard to enunciate. Same as in Wednesday and February upthread.

I've heard that some Brazilian brothers in Bradford can manage February without any problem.

... and I've heard talk of badness in Orford Ness.

[Dingdong]

The old grannie also found both the concept and the pronunciation of 'DVD' nigh on impossible.

It usually came out as 'Will you get me one of those Frank Sinatra VDD's at the Asda son!' And also 'DVVideos'. Bless.

[simonineaston]

The collective UK media appears to have undergone aversion therapy for the repeated use of the empty and pointless word 'double-down' - mimicing our sound-bite addicted & useless politicians - and switched instead to their latest empty and pointless promise, to "grip" issues...

Sunak, who has come under intense pressure from Conservative MPs to reduce the number of unofficial crossings into the UK, said he believed voters’ biggest policy priority was for him to “grip” the issue.

I realise of course that this is an indication more that politics does my head in, rather than our lovely and ever changing language!