Whats with the word "gaol"?
23 February 2005, 06:54 PM
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Gaol is the correct spelling, jail is for Americans. The only times jail is used by a UK author are when; a: he/she is ignorant of the true spelling, b: he/she is writing for US as well as UK readers and is pandering to the fact that a Brit can establish the meaning of jail whereas a Yank would be stumped by gaol, or c: the author is writing for young readers and understands that education standards have declined to a point where most young readers would have to ask what the meaning (let alone the pronounciation) of gaol was.
23 February 2005, 06:56 PM
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Think gaol was the traditional name. Jail is a new one, possibly an americanism but I'm speculating. Maybe someone knows, this is scoobynet after all 
23 February 2005, 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Jap2Scrap
Gaol is the correct spelling, jail is for Americans. The only times jail is used by a UK author are when; a: he/she is ignorant of the true spelling, b: he/she is writing for US as well as UK readers and is pandering to the fact that a Brit can establish the meaning of jail whereas a Yank would be stumped by gaol, or c: the author is writing for young readers and understands that education standards have declined to a point where most young readers would have to ask what the meaning (let alone the pronounciation) of gaol was.
Well I didnt know that
23 February 2005, 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Jap2Scrap
standards have declined to a point where most young readers would have to ask what the meaning (let alone the pronounciation) of gaol was.
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23 February 2005, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by dracoro
Personally I think the 'younger' readers will wonder why goal mas mis-spelt and why it makes no sense in context of whatever they're reading
23 February 2005, 08:56 PM
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From the Oxford English Dictionary:
"the word came into England from two Old French words, jaiole and gayole (the latter surviving in the spelling gaol): both are from Latin word: cavea ‘cage’."
"the word came into England from two Old French words, jaiole and gayole (the latter surviving in the spelling gaol): both are from Latin word: cavea ‘cage’."
23 February 2005, 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris L
From the Oxford English Dictionary:
"the word came into England from two Old French words, jaiole and gayole (the latter surviving in the spelling gaol): both are from Latin word: cavea ‘cage’."
"the word came into England from two Old French words, jaiole and gayole (the latter surviving in the spelling gaol): both are from Latin word: cavea ‘cage’."
24 February 2005, 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Jap2Scrap
Gaol is the correct spelling, jail is for Americans. The only times jail is used by a UK author are when; a: he/she is ignorant of the true spelling, b: he/she is writing for US as well as UK readers and is pandering to the fact that a Brit can establish the meaning of jail whereas a Yank would be stumped by gaol, or c: the author is writing for young readers and understands that education standards have declined to a point where most young readers would have to ask what the meaning (let alone the pronounciation) of gaol was.
24 February 2005, 11:56 AM
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That's one word where I don't care about tradition. I find jail far easier, I've always hated gaol - always read it as "gay-ol".
Oddly, I was looking for a dog-cage round Lisbon, checked in the dictionary what to ask for and it's "gaiola" - pronounced gay-ola!
Oddly, I was looking for a dog-cage round Lisbon, checked in the dictionary what to ask for and it's "gaiola" - pronounced gay-ola!
24 February 2005, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Brendan Hughes
That's one word where I don't care about tradition. I find jail far easier, I've always hated gaol - always read it as "gay-ol".
Oddly, I was looking for a dog-cage round Lisbon, checked in the dictionary what to ask for and it's "gaiola" - pronounced gay-ola!
Oddly, I was looking for a dog-cage round Lisbon, checked in the dictionary what to ask for and it's "gaiola" - pronounced gay-ola!
While you're at it, it'd be easier to spell colour as color, favour as favor, neighbour as neighbor, flavour as flavor, etc.
Cheers
24 February 2005, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Jap2Scrap
Easier? ok.. 4 letters is a challenge I guess
While you're at it, it'd be easier to spell colour as color, favour as favor, neighbour as neighbor, flavour as flavor, etc.
Cheers
While you're at it, it'd be easier to spell colour as color, favour as favor, neighbour as neighbor, flavour as flavor, etc.
Cheers
24 February 2005, 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Bubba po
The use of "Gaol" in modern English is anachronistic and only a pseud would use it in preference to "Jail"
Just my farthing's worth.
Just my farthing's worth.
I would argue that point, but I have to look up anachronistic first
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