Paul Anthony Jones

A fascinating exploration of the nuts and bolts of human language. Why don’t eleven and twelve end in –teen? The rest of our counting system sits in neatly arithmetical sets of ten, so why do these two rule-breakers seem so at odds with the numbers that follow them? Admittedly, that’s probably a question you’ve never thought to ask. But if...

Open the Cabinet to leap back in time, learn about linguistic trivia, follow a curious thread or wonder at the web of connections in the English language. 1 January quaaltagh (n.) the first person you meet on New Year's Day 1 April dorbellist (n.) a fool, a dull-witted dolt 12 May word-grubber (n.) someone who uses obscure or difficult words...

Why don’t eleven and twelve end in –teen? The rest of our counting system sits in neatly arithmetical sets of ten, so why do these two rulebreakers seem so at odds with the numbers that follow them? Admittedly, that question might never have occurred to you. But if you’re even remotely interested in the origins and oddities of language, you’re...