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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| English terminology? |
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| Dawn |
| 09/24/02 at 11:32:42 |
| I have a language question for all you folks on the other side of the Channel. I was watching a BBC show the other day (yes, we do get BBCPrime here) and the commentator was standing in front of a field of grain of some type or another, and repeatedly referred to the grain as corn. Now, for me, with my American version of English, corn is the yellow stuff which comes on a cob. And the grain in that field was not the corn I know. It was wheat or rye or something like that. So, the question: does "corn" commonly refer to generic grain, to some specific type of grain, or was this reporter just a little confused? Peace, Dawn |
| Re: English terminology? |
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| BrKhalid |
| 09/25/02 at 05:56:01 |
| Asalaamu Alailkum ;-) Not sure Dawn. I get the feeling sometimes "corn fields" is used in a generic sense. But then again who said the English Language made sense anyway ;) [or is that just the Brits? ;-)] But by all means feel free to send us over some of that Swiss choccie you have over there ;-) |
| Re: English terminology? |
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| Abu_Atheek |
| 09/25/02 at 06:30:10 |
| [slm] The dictionary meaning of *corn*, taken from The Oxford Paperback Dictionary: 1. grain or seed, especially of cereal 2. plants that produce grain 3. ([i]Amer.[/i]) maize 4. a single grain of wheat or pepper etc. |
| Re: English terminology? |
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| Dawn |
| 09/25/02 at 14:30:37 |
| [quote author=Abu_Atheek link=board=british;num=1032881562;start=0#2 date=09/25/02 at 06:30:10] [slm] The dictionary meaning of *corn*, taken from The Oxford Paperback Dictionary: 1. grain or seed, especially of cereal 2. plants that produce grain 3. ([i]Amer.[/i]) maize 4. a single grain of wheat or pepper etc.[/quote] Yep, my American Webster's said something similar, but I would never use the word to refer to a field of any other grain. So, it appears that it is used, as I heard it, to refer to a generic grain, but such usage isn't typical or wide spread or such -- i.e., what would come out of the "typical bloke's" mouth (if such a person were to exist). Is that about the sum of it? And Br. Khalid, next time I make it to the U.K., I will be sure to bring some chocolate for you. Peace, Dawn |
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