Campaign for etymologically correct plurals and singulars?

[asicsgirl]

I just found myself in a cafe physically unable to order 'a panini'. Usually I get round this by ordering something else, but today I ordered a panino! And was proud...

I know that loan words become Anglicised and lose their 'foreign' characteristics over time (e.g. 'forums' is more common now than 'fora' and there are many other examples), but some of the more recent additions to English (like 'panini') seem to be missing out on their rightful stage of being inflected as they are in the mother tongue.

Someone wrote in to the Guardian a while ago about how pleased they were to hear a guy in a newsagent ask for 'two Magna'. My kind of chap...

Anyone with me?

[Iklboo]

Um...I see what you're geting at.
Wonder if we could get away with 'Magnums' as Magnum is a trade name?
Think it probably occurs because a lot of people don't know the original word is a plural

(and don't get me started on tautolgy )

[marina]

An interesting one! In general I completely agree with your view asicsgirl but cannot help feeling that a panino has more of a direct cultural link to Italy than a lump of stodgy ice-cream on a stick
So yes to panino but verging on the poncetastic for the Magna IMO

[Nagapie]

I see a repeat of the 'Goodness Gracious me' skit....

[HuwEdwards]

it's like walking into a geeks convention...

[asicsgirl]

The ones in my local caff only bear a passing resemblance to anything you might get in Italy I fear...

[marina]

Iklboo has it perfectly. A panino is a panino but a Magnum is a trade name.

IIRC Magnum is the neuter singular for "large" and therefore an adjective in any case

[asicsgirl]

sorry x-post - that one was for marina

What skit on GGM? Is it on Youtube?

[Threadwworm]

Just one Cornetto!
Geeve eet to mee.
But if I want two,
They're Cornetti!

[asicsgirl]

Ah! Must have missed that one. Lovely.

[Iklboo]

PMSL threadworm

[marina]

LOL threadworm! Also up for a debate as to the authenticity of the loathesome Cornetoo

[asicsgirl]

I like the way putting an 'o' on the end is supposed to make it sound Italian

I remember reading somewhere that putting an 'x' at the end of brand names was supposed to make them sound medicinal/ clinical, e.g. Tampax, Durex...

[KarenThirl]

The coffee shop at our local park was selling Toasties and Panini's today. I thought of you guys...

[barnstaple]

Die and dice. I find it very hard to say die (in that context anyway).

[asicsgirl]

"Panini's" is great. The apostrophe an' all!

[maltloafeater]

I love these threads.

[Sanguine]

My name's sanguine, I've been lurking here for a while, I think I might be a pedant...

If I use "football stadia", DH gives me that look.

Also I have been known to explain to people why the plural of hippopotamus is not hippopotami

BUT I do have a really bizarre urge to call more than one iPod "iPed". I know it's not right, but there you are.

[asicsgirl]

Sanguine I do think brand names should have random plurals. One Magnum, two Magnata?

[lulu25]

it is "Magna" in our house. Is that incorrect?

[Sanguine]

Also, I have a hitherto unspoken desire to call a single floret of broccoli a broccolus.

[midnightexpress]

pmsl at 'broccolus'. Movillis.

[IorekByrnison]

What a good thread. I like broccolus, although the further researches of a pedant reveal that it should actually be broccolo.

You are so right about panino/panini. And while we are on the subject of adopted Italian bread based snacks, why can noone pronounce bruschetta?

[JackieNo]

Loving this thread. What do we think about 'data are...'?