99.44% (was Re: German dialect in Texas)

Tue Nov 28 15:25:15 UTC 2006

>     >>>>>
>
> Chris has a point, though not necessarily the one she
> intended to make. Words beginning with /h/ in a Slavic
> language or in Rumanian are 99.44% certain to be of
> non-native origin. The root of "haken" could easily be the
> historical source of both "haczyk" and "hacek."
>
>  <<<<<
>
> How widely used is that "99.44%"? And how many who use it are
> aware of its origin, Ivory Soap, "99 44/100 % pure" (IIRC)?
>
> -- Mark

I remember (vaguely) the Ivory Soap ad campaign.  But to me, "99-44/100
%" recalls the Ronnie Milsap song "Pure Love".

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