LL-L "Measure words" 2002.12.14 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
 L O W L A N D S - L * 14.DEC.2002 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Web Site: <http://www.lowlands-l.net>  Email: <admin at lowlands-l.net>
 Rules & Guidelines: <http://www.lowlands-l.net/rules.htm>
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Server Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 Archive: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>
=======================================================================
 You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
 To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
 text from the same account to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or
 sign off at <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
=======================================================================
 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
 L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic
               V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
=======================================================================

From: Thomas Byro <thbyro at earthlink.net>
Subject: LL-L "Measure words" 2002.12.13 (04) [E/Spanish]

Jorge:

There are consequences to living in a country that is next door to one that
persists in using units of measurement that were designed in the dark ages.
When I stayed at the Coast Inn of the North in Prince George, British
Columbia, there was a parking lot to the rear with a rather low overhang.
There was a sensibly sized sign giving the clearance in meters and a much
larger sign giving the clearance in feet and inches.  The latter obviously
for the benefit of numbskull Americans who could not cope with the metric
system.

It is peculiar in this day and age to listen to news broadcasters giving the
water flow of rivers in terms of acre-feet.  Even stranger to have the size
of things compared to football fields.  Now here is something that may
resonate with the American public in a way that the metric system apparently
cannot.  I propose a whole new system of measurement based on the football
field to replace the metric system.

Tom Byro

==================================END===================================
* Please submit postings to <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>.
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
  to be sent to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or at
  <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 =======================================================================