Miss Elaine Eos wrote:
> FWIW, I call a cordless phone "land line" (although I might adopt
> "stationary" as the opposite of "mobile" -- I like that! :), because
the
> communication to the other person isn't cordless -- it's just that MY
> communication with the PHONE SET (base unit) is cordless. But that's
> like having a remote control for my TV -- it doesn't make the TV
> "mobile", it just gives me some flexibility in my interactions with
the
> TV.
Just a note here. The word isn't actually "stationary," of course. I
could also have translated the Greek word "statheros" as "stable."
"Call my on my stable" doesn't have much of a ring to it, though.
> "Call me on my stationary" works, unless the listener mistakes
> "stationery", which could lead them to believe you're requesting a
> written response in an awkward way. "Call me on my regular" makes me
> immediately think "I'm glad he didn't ask me to call him on his
> irregular!"
"Regular" is "kanonikos" in Greek, which survives in the English word
"canonical." "Kanonikos" does not have a negative form, so the Greeks
use another adjective, "anomalos" to talk about things that are
irregular, which is why irregular verbs are also known as "anamalous
verbs" in seventeenth-century English grammars.
However, the word "anomalos" has taken a series of steps in meaning
since the days of Pericles. Outside of grammar, the word "anomalos" is
nowadays chiefly used to describe...hmm..."elegant and refined
gentlemen of exquisite grace and sensibilities."
So perhaps you shouldn't call anyone "on your 'stable'" and I would
advise you never to call anyone "on their 'homo.'"
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