[alt-photo] re English

[Judy Seigel]

On Tue, 12 Jan 2010, Tomas Sobota wrote:

> I don't think that it's so simple as to say "Mike pronounces it that way
so..." because the root 'argyro-' has been used well before  'argyrotype'
has been coined, so there is or should be an established way of pronouncing
it in English as there is in other languages. For example, histologists use
'argyrophilia' to denote the affinity of some tissues to be stained by
silver. This usage goes probably back to the XIX century if not before.
  etc.>

I once read an explanation of why English is such a mishmosh of spellings 
and pronunciations, which of course I fail to recall... tho I think it was 
something about the many sources and influences ... (which probably 
figures -- & continues).

I do, however, recall an explanation of why English is so often the 
language of commerce (and now the Internet???) The story was that for 
generations the Germans and French refused (or anyway failed) to learn 
each others' language, but both knew English, so used that to communicate.

J.