# Linguistics

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156837>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 22, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156837 "2003-02-22T22:10:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/linguistics/156837/1 "2003-02-22T22:10:08Z")

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Since another thread ([Reading Old English](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=163822&perpage=50&pagenumber=1)) was getting severely hijacked, here’s as good a place as any to broach whatever floats your boat about Linguistics.

## I’ll start.

Why the heck does everyone have to ask me how many languages I know when they find out my major is Linguistics?

For their edification (and also because my head’s not doing well against that brick wall), from Merriam-Webster:

> [@](#):
>
> Main Entry: lin·guist  
> Pronunciation: 'li[ng]-gwist  
> Function: noun  
> Etymology: Latin lingua language, tongue  
> Date: 1591  
> 1 : a person accomplished in languages; especially : one who speaks several languages  
> 2 : a person who specializes in linguistics

## Be so kind as to notice definition two. {BTW, I can converse in more than one language.}

Whatever you consider to be your favourite language, what one thing tops the list of things that make it your favourite?