Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Home » Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Search
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
Sleeping robotos
Guest
1
2009/03/24 - 11:26am
Print

The stoplight-as-robot metaphor reminded me of two favorite terms I've heard for two kinds of road furniture:

The first is for speed bumps: "sleeping policemen".

The second is for those lines of small, reflective squares set into pavements to serve as nighttime road lane markers: "Martian droppings".

-mpg

Guest
2
2009/03/24 - 11:28am
Print

Following up on my own post, I'll note that the term "road furniture" (and variants thereof) is used by urban planner types, to describe things like street signs, bus stop waiting areas, benches, etc.

-mpg

Guest
3
2009/03/24 - 11:30am
Print

And following up on my follow-up, let me for the record note that I never know what to do when writing things like

The term road furniture (and variants thereof) IS used by urban planners.

Is the singular noun turmped by the parenthetical? Should it be IS or ARE?

-mpg

Martha Barnette
San Diego, CA
820 Posts
(Offline)
4
2009/03/24 - 2:50pm
Print

Mpg, I'd heard "sleeping policemen" and "sleeping Bobbies," but not "Martian droppings." Appetizing! Was not aware of "road furniture" either, thanks.

It's a close call, but I'm inclined to say that the "and variants thereof" is so closely associated with "road furniture" as to render it one idea, and therefore I'd use "is," just as I'd say "Macaroni and cheese is great comfort food."

What say the rest of you smart folks?

Guest
5
2009/03/24 - 4:20pm
Print

Before the smart people answer, I will weigh in. I like "is" better in that case as well. The stuff in parentheses should not contribute to the main sentence. If the parenthetical stuff were in plain text, then "are" would be correct.

Forum Timezone: UTC -7
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
A Conversation with Dr Astein Osei
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1268
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 110
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Menu

Recent posts