We learn to toe the party line

Feb 18, 2011 14:40

Today seems to be poll day.

Poll

If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's really not that exciting.

In other news, did you know that tarragon was also known as dragon's wort, or the dragon herb? Which is cool. I still don't like it, though.

microtrivia, geek questions, silly questions

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Comments 6

beckyl February 18 2011, 16:01:38 UTC
That probably explains Tarragon the Dragon in The Herbs (Parsley the lion etc.)

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ewx February 18 2011, 19:42:49 UTC
That is to say, I agree that the FAQ says it’s pronounced that way, I pronounce it with /I/ nevertheless.

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ewx February 18 2011, 19:45:14 UTC
Sorry, I’m confused about my IPA, I mean /aɪ/. i.e. rhymes with bind, grind, mind.

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venta February 18 2011, 20:47:20 UTC
Well, since I am now in possession of the information that it's named for the entrance to Valhalla, I'm less surprised. If I'd met the word in the context of Norse mythology, I imagine I'd have automatically pronounced it the way the FAQ wants me to.

But when you meet it in the context of something which, like, grinds through loads of values... well. You say it like val-grind.

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lnr February 20 2011, 12:29:34 UTC
Bah, radio buttons :P

It is by some, including those who wrote it. It isn't by others, including many of those who use it. I don't think that means the people who pronounce it differently are necessarily wrong though. Consider the many and varied pronunciations of "Linux".

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undyingking February 21 2011, 22:31:43 UTC
I believe its Latin name is something related to dragons. What it has to do with Tarragona, I don't know. Possibly, nothing, and the English name is just a degraded version of "dragon" which has converged on the name of a Spanish city by the power of suggestion. Which would be quite interesting (I think...)

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