Tell Techno.

[mollinary]

I'm just off to listen to some Zed-Zed Top

Sounds EeZED - PeeZED!

[Techno]

Would Techno be a sharp dressed man?

Definitely NOT, Bill.

Versace and Armani have both offered me a retainer NOT to ever be seen (or wear) their creations.

Whatever I put on, I look like a sack of poop, tied up in the middle.

Cheers - A Scruff who doesn't even have to try.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Cheers - A Scruff who doesn't even have to try.

But  is very trying !!!!

[Techno]

Thank you, Ian ! 

Cheers - Phil

[FierceKitty]

You say Zed - we say Zee.

The different names for the last letter of the alphabet are curious. Usually, where American differs from English, the reason is that an old 17th century usage lingered on in the USA since it was once such a backwater; but "zed" was the original, so in this case the American form seems to be the neologism. Unless it's a Celtic variation that survived out west...?

[Leman]

No z in the Welsh alphabet, so unlikely to be Brythonic Celtic, unless the Bretons use a z, eg Welsh for zoo is sw with a circumflex over the w.

[Techno]

No 'V' either, is there, Andy ?.....

Though there's a place a few miles from us called Velindre Varchog...(or something like that...I'm too lazy to look it up)....which appears to be the spelling in Welsh.
Perhaps the council was too lazy to put an 'F' instead of the 'V'.......which is how I believe it's pronounced.

Cheers - Phil

[d_Guy]

Whatever I put on, I look like a sack of poop, tied up in the middle.

You have a way with words, Sir! 

[d_Guy]

The different names for the last letter of the alphabet are curious. Usually, where American differs from English, the reason is that an old 17th century usage lingered on in the USA since it was once such a backwater; but "zed" was the original, so in this case the American form seems to be the neologism. Unless it's a Celtic variation that survived out west...?

My part of the USA is still a backwater.
I found this possible explanation:
https://theuijunkie.com/z-zee-zed-americans-british/

"The Lost City of Z" was confusing to us.

[d_Guy]

No z in the Welsh alphabet, so unlikely to be Brythonic Celtic, unless the Bretons use a z, eg Welsh for zoo is sw with a circumflex over the w.

In our brief visits to Wales, we learned that "LL" is pronounced rather like clearing one's throat of phlegm. As one with post nasal drip, I was a natural! 

[fsn]

Ahhh! You missed the delights of "rh" and "ch" as well.

As someone who was forced to learn Welsh for many, many years, I remember the delights of a classroom of fellow oiks chanting "rh", "ch", "ll".

What finished me with Welsh was the horrible, horrible mutations. Apparently I scared the other children, but this was just as well as I couldn't cope with the apparently arbitrary changing of letters in the Welsh language. For example "llan" = "lake". "Mair" = "Mary" so you would think that "LLanmair" would be "Mary's Lake". No, no, no. Because it's a Wednesday or something equally Brythnotic, the "m" must be changed to a "f" (which isn't half a "ff" as you would think) and become "LLanfair".

Then after two years the Welsh teach retires and we get a new one who tells us we've been learning South Welsh which isn't proper in North Wales.

Techno, pass me the orange tablets. I'm having one of my turns. 

And there's more words for "no" in Welsh than Scotsmen have for "rain".

[Techno]

Then after two years the Welsh teach retires and we get a new one who tells us we've been learning South Welsh which isn't proper in North Wales.

Techno, pass me the orange tablets. I'm having one of my turns. 

I haven't got any orange pills, Nobby.....The nearest I've got is a sort of pinkish 'hue'.
This pill has replaced the blue ones.

As for the North/South Wales....When we first moved here, I was chatting  to one chap who would definitely agree with you.
He was from South Wales....His wife was from North Wales.
They were both 'native' Welsh speakers, but had to speak to each other in English, as neither of them could understand the others Welsh.

Go figure. 

Cheers - Phil

[fsn]

I haven't got any orange pills, Nobby.....The nearest I've got is a sort of pinkish 'hue'.

S'O.K.  I found  mine.

[Leman]

I think you'll find llan means parish and that llyn means lake. The mutation of Welsh letters is a result of the way the language flows. When a written grammar of Welsh was finally developed (centuries after it was first spoken) the mutations were included in the grammar. A similar approach in English has been very hit and miss, with the result, for example, that most people don't say I could have, but instead say I could of, which is technically incorrect,  but they then write it as that. It should be written could've but most English people can't be bothered to master the apostrophe. Consequently most twitter feeds look like only the completely ignorant use them. Doubtless someone will return with the now well worn comment about English is a living language and constantly changing and developing. Well, sorry, but to the educated such a person just comes across as a lazy moron who can't be bothered to learn the correct way to do something.

[Westmarcher]

Doubtless someone will return with the now well worn comment about English is a living language and constantly changing and developing. Well, sorry, but to the educated such a person just comes across as a lazy moron who can't be bothered to learn the correct way to do something.

Hear, hear! (.... and, of course, you'll get the odd one who spells it, "here, here."   )

I'm no great grammar or spelling expert but one of the mis-pronunciations that irks me in my neck of the woods (Scotland) is in respect of the word, "definitely." This is nothing to do with the old Scots tongue. Often I hear "definetely" - sometimes "definately" - and once, recently, "definately."  

It's spelled with two "i"s, two "e"s (not three) and no "a."  So, my fellow Scots, please pronounce this, "definitely."  OK?
 
Another word is "sang-witch" (sandwich).

I also found it disappointing that one of the "could of" brigade includes a well known author and wargamer based in Edinburgh ... I mean, the guy is supposed to be well-educated ...

... mutter, mutter .....

[rant over   ]

[Techno]

In our brief visits to Wales, we learned that "LL" is pronounced rather like clearing one's throat of phlegm. As one with post nasal drip, I was a natural! 

Hi, Bill....If I ever have to order something from a firm I haven't dealt with before....I have to spell my home address phonetically.......Either that, or I let them guess from my postcode, which one's my home addy.

Cheers - Phil....(Yep...Part of my home address is a throat clearing sound.)

[Ithoriel]

Of course there are those of us who think the pedants are simply failing to recognise the ever-evolving, mutable nature of language.

Language is about belonging and "in groups" as well as communication. It would be a shame if it's diversity and change were strait-jacketed by arbitrary rules about "correct" usage.

Providing the target reader/ listener understands the writer/ speaker then it's "right" so far as I'm concerned.

But each to their own. A'ight?

[Leman]

I suppose you could therefore assert that not bothering to use an indicator, switching from one side of the road to another, going the opposite way round a roundabout is ok because the driver is developing his/her own way of doing things regardless of the rules. This developing language thing has always surprised me when uttered by someone who follows a hobby governed by rules. Language was standardised for a reason - so we understand exactly what someone is trying to say or write. The whole point of the book 'Eats shoots and leaves.' Also the really ridiculous Banana's 75p. Lucky old Canaan Banana having 75p to spend!

[Ithoriel]

I doubt a missing Oxford Comma has caused many fatalities.

To be fair, the driving style you describe does seem to be prevalent in many parts of the world!

If it matters to you feel free to use the "correct" version, if it doesn't don't let others shame you for not following their rules.

[mollinary]

I suppose you could therefore assert that not bothering to use an indicator, switching from one side of the road to another, going the opposite way round a roundabout is ok because the driver is developing his/her own way of doing things regardless of the rules. This developing language thing has always surprised me when uttered by someone who follows a hobby governed by rules. Language was standardised for a reason - so we understand exactly what someone is trying to say or write. The whole point of the book 'Eats shoots and leaves.' Also the really ridiculous Banana's 75p. Lucky old Canaan Banana having 75p to spend!

'An indicator'?   Hmm.... Is that the thing that is automatically disabled when entering supermarket car parks, and is programmed to random direction flashing when on roundabourts?  I have often wondered what it is for!