Scriptwriter looking for help

[MikeEllis]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Hey, I bet it means he understands the difference between alumnus, alumna, alumni and alumnae.

I do. And I can pronounce them in Greek even.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by MikeEllis

I do. And I can pronounce them in Greek even.

Cool. What are the Greek words for alumnus, alumna, alumnae and alumni? Are they close to the Latin words that have come into English, or are they considerably different? (I'm aware that Latin and Greek are related Indo-European languages, and English is related to them, too. But they can and do differ widely at many points.)

Yes, "lifelong learning" can include whining to try to get other people to do research for me.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by exlurker

Cool. What are the Greek words for alumnus, alumna, alumnae and alumni? Are they close to the Latin words that have come into English, or are they considerably different? (I'm aware that Latin and Greek are related Indo-European languages, and English is related to them, too. But they can and do differ widely at many points.)

Yes, "lifelong learning" can include whining to try to get other people to do research for me.

The words would be completely different. Is there even a direct translation between the Latin and Greek? Maybe mathetes/matheti for alumnus/alumni?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

The words would be completely different. Is there even a direct translation between the Latin and Greek? Maybe mathetes/matheti for alumnus/alumni?

I'm guessing that he thought alumnus, etc., are Greek, not Latin. The Latin pronunciation is different from the English pronunctiation. In Latin, alumni = alum-nee, while alumnae = alum-neye.

BTW, alumnus and alumna literally mean "foster son" and "foster daughter," which can in turn mean "pupil." They come from the same root as alma in alma mater, which means "nurturing mother."

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'm guessing that he thought alumnus, etc., are Greek, not Latin.

Mmhmm

[MikeEllis]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'm guessing that he thought alumnus, etc., are Greek, not Latin. The Latin pronunciation is different from the English pronunctiation. In Latin, alumni = alum-nee, while alumnae = alum-neye.

I didn't think that. In fact, I wasn't thinking at all when I typed that, apparently. I know that alumnus, etc., are Latin, but I wrote Greek instead. Probably because I'm used to arguing about how to pronounce their Greek alphabet. Pronounce it "sigma kee" or "alpha fee," for example, to the wrong person and you can make an enemy for life.

Sadly, though, I keep doing it. I suffer from a bad case of has-to-be-the-smartest-boy-in-the-class syndrome.

On the other hand, I'm busy reading the recruitment forum and outlining how I plan to structure this fictional rush at a fictional university this weekend. I'll put my plans up here next week to get some feedback on its verisimilitude.

One more time, thanks for the help.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by MikeEllis

verisimilitude

Just don't use that word in the script.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by MikeEllis

I didn't think that. In fact, I wasn't thinking at all when I typed that, apparently. I know that alumnus, etc., are Latin, but I wrote Greek instead.

Gotcha.

Probably because I'm used to arguing about how to pronounce their Greek alphabet. Pronounce it "sigma kee" or "alpha fee," for example, to the wrong person and you can make an enemy for life.

Oh boy -- do we have threads on that for you.

(With Alpha Fee, though, you'll be good. )

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MikeEllis

Sadly, though, I keep doing it. I suffer from a bad case of has-to-be-the-smartest-boy-in-the-class syndrome.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step.

I haven't gotten that far yet.


Seriously check out the Weird Rush Stories thread...they're 99.9998% sorority stuff, but there might be some gems you could use. It's definitely a "truth is stranger than fiction" type thread.