English
a language that lurks in dark alleys, beats up other languages and rifles through their pockets for spare vocabulary
This one was posted a year or two ago, I believe. Still very true.
The actual quote, from James Nicoll is:
"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and riffle their pockets for new vocabulary."
One of my favourite and oft repeated quotes. I take a Wildean attitude to the clever conversation of others :D
Oscar Wilde: I wish I had said that.
James McNeill Whistler: You will, Oscar, you will.
Also - finally remembered preview is working again!
Quote"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and riffle their pockets for new vocabulary."
How very true, and if there's no other language around to purloin then a new word will spontaneously pop into existence, be used for as long as it's relevant or useful then be abandoned to the desolate wastes of the OED.
Paraphased by Stephen Fry as "English doesn't so much borrow from other languages, but hangs around dark alleys and mugs them."
I did a sketch of a ketch and a dinghy in the bungalow on my ranch yesterday. I was asked to do some proper work, but thought mañana, popped the canvas on the easel, et voila!