More sensible Singular/Plural logic in the English language

Forogar

I am fed up of illogical singular and plural sets such as: one=sheep, many=sheep. Logically it should be: one=shoop, many=sheep, just like one=goose, many=geese. Here are some other suggestions based on existing plurals; new words are underlined; feel free to add your own: Singular/Plural Model: Goose/Geese & Tooth/Teeth & Foot/Feet Shoop/Sheep Moose/Meese Hoof/Heef Mongoose/Mongeese Twoozers/Tweezers Model: Mouse/Mice & Louse/Lice House/Hice Grouse/Grice Blouse/Blice Spouse/Spice Douse/Dice Trout/Trice Foosh/Fish Model: Woman/Women & Man/Men Ham/Hem Model: Hippopotamus/Hippopotami & Genius/Genii & Radius/Radii Litmus/Litmi Lexus/Lexii Octopus/Octopi

- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

Kschuler

Forogar wrote:

Spouse/Spice

...Isn't having spice, in this context, illegal?

Duncan Edwards Jones

The plural of Octopus is Octopodes :-)

Forogar

...or Octopusses. I think you missed the point. I am suggesting alternative plurals (or singulars) to existing words.

- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

Tim Carmichael

When you invent the time machine, you can go back on work on restructuring the language. And, I think you'll find other languages besides English as just as finicky. And, while you at it, stop the creation and Java and it's offspring as well.

Jorgen Andersson

Sorry, but plural of spouse isn't spice för very long. It'll soon turn into murder.

Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello

W Balboos GHB

K.I.S.S.:

. . . S

Ravings en masse^

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

bVagadishnu

kudos luggage

_______________________________________________________________ Ah don't lean on me man, cause you can't afford the ticket

Lost User

Forogar wrote:

I am fed up of illogical singular and plural sets such as

Go enjoy Esperanto and let English be; there's already enough managers, marketing-idiots and Americans making up nonsense-words.

Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)

Kaladin

The problem isn't in the language's creation, but in people porting words from other languages over.

TheGreatAndPowerfulOz

Whiner

#SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun

TheGreatAndPowerfulOz

In the 1800's it was

#SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun

TheGreatAndPowerfulOz

and perhaps teach you some proper grammar and word usage.

Tim Carmichael wrote:

go back on work

Tim Carmichael wrote:

the creation and Java

#SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun

Forogar

Are you calling me S? Well! No K's for you!

- I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

Jeremy Falcon

But variety is the spice of life!

Jeremy Falcon

Jeremy Falcon

If the English language were developed in one sitting you'd see stuff like that. It however evolved over time in tidbits.

Jeremy Falcon

Jacquers

So virus... would it be viruses or virii ;P

Nagy Vilmos

Sadly English plurals are actually logical. All you need to know is the etymology of the word and that will lead to the correct plural. Simples.

veni bibi saltavi

Gary Wheeler

Agreed. I really hate it when people enverb nouns.

Software Zen: delete this;

R Giskard Reventlov

Quote:

The usual plural in English is "octopuses" (pronounced /'ɒktəpʊsɪz/), but the Greek plural form "octopodes" (pronounced /ɒkˈtɒpədiːz/) is sometimes used, though less frequently than in the past. The form "octopi", as if the word were a Latin second-declension noun, is generally considered incorrect, but is in fact used.

I've always used octopi or slimy, 8 legged bastard/s. Couple of years ago I was on a fishing pier and someone pulled up a small and live octopus that had grabbed the line. I took it from him (he was going to kill it, I think). It was such a cute little chap and I threw him/her/it back into the water.