SPELLING
Sir-L. D. Austin should hardly refer to the wrong forms he quotes as spelling errors: that would imply that when "adaption" and "interpretive" are used in writing the sounds of "adaptation" and "interpretative" are meant. Surely not; "phenominal" can be the only one regarded as a spelling error, arising perhaps through confusion with "nominal," from a Latin root, where the word is actually from the perfect participle of the Greek verb "phaino," with the admittedly hybrid Latin ending a Res I cannot see, however, why he prefers "retractation" to "retraction" (unless he has some musical or special technical form in mind). Both forms are etymologically valid, the first from the perfect participle of "tracto" (‘tractatus"), and the second from the perfect participle of "traho" ("tractus"). The two words have basically the same meaning, "to draw"; "tracto" is the frequentative form found with some verbs, I hold with Mr Austin that care should be exercised, As for education, I do not suggest that a knowledge of the etymology is always needed; a wide and attentive reading of English is sufficient. I would seldom have enough courage to correct peeple on etymological grounds for fear they will point to usage as their authority, The language has many words not eorrectly formed. Should not "homicide" be "hominicide,’ since the root of "homo" is "homin-" not "hom-’’? I wonder what Professor Arnold Wall thinks of this?
WALTER
BROOKES
. (Wellington).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19571011.2.17.1
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 948, 11 October 1957, Page 11
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236SPELLING New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 948, 11 October 1957, Page 11
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