On Wed, 2005-08-31 at 22:38 -0500, Dale Erwin wrote: > Jonathon Coombes wrote: > > On Wed, 2005-08-31 at 09:16 +0100, James Tappin wrote: > > > >>On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 07:19:42 +0000 (UTC) > >>Andrew Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > >>AB> Reg Kennedy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in news:43154C99.7030809 > >>AB> @dnainternet.net: > >>AB> > >>AB> > Then, up comes the UK Thesaurus!! Of course, that's useless if I have > >>to > >>AB> > work in US English! > >>AB> > > >>AB> > >>AB> Colo(u)r me stupid, but does it matter what dialect the thesaurus is > >>in? I > >>AB> can see that it makes an important difference with dictionaries. But > >>the > >>AB> word meanings really aren't that far apart except in slang, and that > >>won't > >>AB> be covered by a thesaurus anyway. > >>AB> > >> > >>To take one (potentially embarassing) example: > >>UK: solicitor = lawyer > >>US: solicitor = prostitute or door-to-door salesman > > > > > > Hi James, > > > > Interesting example you use here. I know that in UK/AU terms, > > the adjective form - to solicit - can have that meaning, but > > not the noun form. May I ask how this ties in with the > > US Solicitor General position? :) > > > > Regards > > Jonathon > > "To solicit" is a verb. Adjective form????????? > It means: to approach with a request or plea. > It is often used in relation to sales, and in fact most > prostitutes are trying to sell something. Anyone who > engages in soliciting is a solicitor. When used to refer > to an attorney/lawyer/barrister, the request or plea is of > a different nature.
Doh! That is why I do computer work and not English teaching :) I was not really thinking along those lines at the time. It still does not take away from my point though - which you have made again above - they have two different meanings, but I have never seen the term solicitor used as one who prostitutes or does sales etc. > I really don't see all that much difference in the meanings > of words... just in common usage. > > I can understand how someone who thinks "to solicit" is an > adjective would have trouble understanding this. No, I understand the difference, just not how you apply it to what seems an uncommon or non-existent usage. So to answer my question - when the term solicitor is used, then if they are wearing a dress, it means prostitute, otherwise it means lawyer? ;) To finalise, I don't think it makes that much difference if you are using US or UK English for a thesaurus for over 99% of the words used in everyday terms. Regards Jonathon --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
