LL-L: "Special expressions" LOWLANDS-L, 26.MAY.2000 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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From: Thomas [t.mcrae at uq.net.au]
Subject: SUBMISSION: "Special expressions" LOWLANDS-L, 24.MAY.2000(01) [E]

> From: Ian James Parsley <parsley at highbury.fsnet.co.uk>

> Subject: SUBMISSION: "Special expressions" LOWLANDS-L, 24.MAY.2000 (01)
[E]
>
Ian,
yet again you've clarifed things for me, thanks.
> I must say I wonder what was wrong with those British soldiers (!)
In the mid 1950's death of course was not a popular barrack room topic,
even
among us medics.
> although I've an idea it's more common in
> the north of England than the south,
Must admit my main army friends were either Scots, Scouses, or Southerners.

>It is not, however, found in Northern Ireland to my
> knowledge.
Nor in Scotland in  my day although I wonder if the Scots 'kackie' or
'keekie'( referring to what I'll diplomatically call faecal matter) are
derivatives. The Anglo-Saxon meaning in Sir Gawain certainly refers to
clearing the throat and similar noises occur when expressing the other
material.
> I suppose it is not impossible that it has been re-established in
> England via Australian soap operas,
Interesting speculation, can say no more as I've never watched one here at
source.
Regards
Tom
Tom Mc Rae
Brisbane Australia
"Oh wid some power the Giftie gie us
Tae see oorselves as ithers see us"
Robert Burns--

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From: Matthew McGrattan [matthew.mcgrattan at brasenose.oxford.ac.uk]
Subject: LL-L: "Special expressions" LOWLANDS-L, 25.MAY.2000 (01) [E]

> I am uncomfortable with the modern phrase "to grow a business". I prefer
"to
> make a business grow". "Grow" is both transitive and intransitive but it
> seems to me that in its traditional transitive use it does not have the
> sense of "make bigger". This contrasts with the intransitive use. Of
course,
> one can say "He grew a foot" which is nominally transitive but actually
> intransitive (unless he's a lizard) because "a foot" has adverbial force.

I hear this use of "grow" increasingly in the UK. I have always assumed it
was an Americanism (and I find it incredibly irritating). This transitive
use seems particularly confined to financial and business subjects -- "to
grow your assets", etc.

I remember noticing this "transitivisation" of other words in a similar
context but can't think of any examples off-hand.

Interestingly, I also hear adjectives switiching to be used as
verbs. "Big" being a good example. As in "to big up" -- i.e. to make more
important, etc.

Cheers,

Matt

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