China fingered as lappie disappears from Taiwanese boat Taiwanese military types are trying to allay fears that a laptop which went missing from a high-speed missile boat last month could pose a risk to national security after concerns that the device was stolen by Chinese spies. Colonel Lin Gau-joe of Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence told reporters that the laptop was being …
Structurally, 'laptop' may have the same number of syllables as 'lappie', but the double consonant 'pt' is more difficult to say since it requires a more complex lip and tongue movement at the transition. For casual speech (and casual writing), this is the reason I prefer to use 'lappie', 'deskie', 'tabbie' and 'mobbie'.
(Note: 'mobbie' may have one more syllable than the 'mobe' alternative but the longer 'ie' sound at the end allows relaxed vocalisation as part of a more natural breath pattern.)
Language changes and we should take advantage of increased efficiencies and comfort afforded by these advances.
"'lappie', 'deskie', 'tabbie' and 'mobbie'."
I think I just threw up a little. It sounds like the sort of infantilised speech people use toward their babies. I cannot believe that you have found efficiency gains in saying "lappie" over "laptop" either noticeable or sufficient reason to change by themself. In relative terms, the tongue and lip movements for "laptop" might be marginally more complicated than "lappie", but in absolute terms, both are trivially, trivially easy to say. The only sense in which there would be an advantage in the alternative term would be if it saved time or typing. The syllable count which is what I referred to earlier is therefore the relevant factor for the former - and it shows us that speaking time is unaltered. For the latter, you can see that "lappie" and "laptop" both have the same number of letters so again, no difference. In summary, you gain no advantage that is perceivable (few of us need to conciously sound out the word with tongue movements) and you gain the twin disadvantages of using a word that is different to the standard and focuses attention on your odd word use rather than what you're trying to say) and the equally significant disadvantage that large sections of the population will think you sound like an idiot. It's the sort of word a dim american might use as a name for the dog in their handbag. Paris, for no discernible reason... ;)
"After the bitter civil war in China ended in 1949, the nationalist faction retreated back to Taiwan, but no peace treaty was ever signed between the two sides and many on the Communist-ruled mainland still regards the island as their own."
Surely, by the same logic, the Island government could consider the mainland as their own as well?
could consider the mainland as their own as well?
It may surprise you to learn, Keith, that the «island government», aka the Republic of China, does, at least officially (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_the_Republic_of_China). Moreover, it not only claims all the territory claimed by the People's Republic of China, but an additional 2 million km^2 or so : «The Republic of China has never renounced its claim over territory it ruled prior to losing the mainland in 1949. This included all of mainland China, parts of northern Burma, Tannu Uriankhai (part of which is present-day Tuva in Russia), and Outer Mongolia, whose independence the ROC has never recognized.» As a matter of fact, since coming to power in 1949, the PRC has adopted a conciliatory attitude in order to resolve outstanding territorial disputes with its neighbours, and succeeded in a majority of cases. These disputes would have been at least as - I suspect more - difficult had the RC government remained in power (but please don't tell Phil ; it's never pleasant to have one's prejudices questioned)....
Henri
[quote]Structurally, 'laptop' may have the same number of syllables as 'lappie', but the double consonant 'pt' is more difficult to say since it requires a more complex lip and tongue movement at the transition. For casual speech (and casual writing), this is the reason I prefer to use 'lappie', 'deskie', 'tabbie' and 'mobbie'.[/quote]
Sorry for some reason I was expecting the word Barbie to appear in the same sentence.Just a small correction we are reading this, not speaking it out loud like a three year old.
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2025
