BS: Pluralism?

Subject: BS: Pluralism?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 10:12 AM

Whilst doing some song research, I came across the word 'molasses'

Knew was connected to sugar but checked out definition.

Although it's a singular noun, it sounds like a plural.

There's other terms like this, where you'd think there'd be more than one of whatever it was, yet only one item's being described, as in trousers [pants], secateurs, scissors

Any more?

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 10:19 AM

more-lasses? That's a rare plural.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 10:37 AM

Trousers is an unusual noun....singular at the top and plural at the bottom.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: frogprince
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 11:23 AM

And, from top to bottom, each garment is a "pair". Why isn't a shirt called "a pair of shirts"? Pants have two legs, a shirt has two sleeves.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: frogprince
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 11:39 AM

...then again, gals usually wear just one bra at a time; but calling it "a pair of bras" would seem very logical...

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: Songwronger
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 10:52 PM

And of course, there are words that are plural with no singular forms:

• alms
• amends
• doldrums
• pliers
• scissors
• shorts
• smithereens
• trousers

http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/39_plural_forms_that_might_confuse_writers_10648.aspx#

I take exception to one of those. I've made half-assed amends before, so maybe that was an amend.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 04:29 AM

In French, many nouns we see as plural are singular. Un pantalon (one trouser?) and even 'un gant' (a glove?) It makes me smile when my husband says in French, "I must put my glove on." or, "I've put my warm trouser on." I visualise a chap with one very chilly hand and a goose-pimpled leg.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 08:58 AM

"I've put my warm trouser on." might be uttered by someone who'd lost a leg.

And of course, there are words that are simultaneously plural and singular, as in:

Sheep

Fish [although the archaic 'fishes' is sometimes used]

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 11:56 AM

Deer and buffalo, in fact most animals in a herd, eg a herd of zebra.
Strangely, in Tudor times a man would wear doublet and hose (not hoses)
And I believe one sheared sheep with a scissor. The word for a pair of tights in French is 'un bas', so I would be putting on my tight. And we are asked to give a performer 'a big hand', which is odd as you need two to clap! Mr Happy, your mention of a one-legged man reminded me of that Monty Python sketch where a bunch of one-legged men hopped up to a display of single shoes outside a shoe shop and nicked the lot!

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: G-Force
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 01:44 PM

Then there's maths. (This may confuse some of our American friends).

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST,michaelr
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 04:59 PM

I once played a gig where there was a single audient.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 23 Nov 13 - 05:57 PM

Media is an odd plural, that is sometimes treated as a singular.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 07:37 AM

Yes, Ed, like 'stadia' and 'podia'. At least these Latin plurals obviate all danger of the dreaded ubiquitous redundant apostrophe! I had to teach my husband to hiss like a snake when trying to pronounce English plurals ending in 's'. The result isn't perfect, as he will earnestly say, "I 'ave five pound...SSSSS!"

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST, Ebbie
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 01:54 PM

Glasses? An eye glass, I think, is a telescope. What about binoculars? (Why the 'n'? Wouldn't "bi-ocular" be better?)

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: Monique
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 02:19 PM

A pair of tights in French can be either "un collant" or "des collants/ une paire de collants", "bas" is just one stocking. Ditto for "pantalon", it can be "un pantalon", "des pantalons/une paire de pantalons". I never heard about just one glove, what brand of French does your husband speak Eliza?

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST,Troubadour
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 03:12 PM

Phenomena!

Often used as a singular instead of the correct phenomenon!

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 05:09 PM

He speaks French as spoken in Ivory Coast, Monique. But I have also always said 'un bas' for a pair of tights and 'un gant' for a pair of gloves. I've never heard of des pantalons for one pair of trousers.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 06:32 PM

Ever felt just one heebie-jeebie?

Or, for that matter, contrived to wind just a single spaghetto round your fork?

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 07:53 PM

Ebbie--
Glasses for only one eye is a monocle.
I've heard the word glass used for a telescope (a spy glass) predominantly in naval usage, but not so much anymore.
The N in binocular derives from the term BINARY (as does BI) is easier to pronounce with the N. Many letter combinations are are used just for that reason.

Songwronger--
I suppose if one gave a single cent to only one recipient a singular alm might be correct.
If one doesn't have general malaise, being bored with one thing only might be just a doldrum.

MtheGM--
As a kid I loved spaghettos, and at the plurally.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 07:55 PM

As a kid I atE theM plurally.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Nov 13 - 11:49 PM

Further to 'heebie-jeebie': if something was a bit spooky, did it ever give you a creep?

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: GUEST,Ebbie
Date: 25 Nov 13 - 12:51 AM

A creep, Michael? I've met a few.

Subject: RE: BS: Pluralism?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Nov 13 - 01:07 AM

I think we need to get Spaw in here to comment. I know he's more into possums than mole-asses, but no doubt he'd have something to say about this.

-Joe-