kottke.org: Language X is essentially language Y under conditions Z

Via Kotte.org, John Cowan’s large list of expressions in which languages are explained in terms of other languages:

English is essentially a half dozen other languages locked in a small room. They fight.

Icelandic is essentially Norwegian spoken with an American accent.

English is what you get from Normans trying to pick up Saxon girls.

Spanish is what happened when Moors tried to learn Latin and said “screw it.”

Dutch is English spelt funny and spoken in a Klingon accent.

English is essentially French converted to 7-bit ASCII.

Language X is essentially language Y under conditions Z

July 23, 2012