5 Year Gaol Term Now For Debarking - No Exceptions

[mita]

Various organisations have Style Manuals which set a standard usage. The ABC's Style Manual says:

gaol

current usage is jail, not gaol

I believe that the Macquarie Dictionary (regarded as the 'authority' on Australian English) gives both gaol & jail as alternatives.

When that happens, Style Manuals generally pick the one that is most in use.

On the topic of debarking, there's been some excellent, informative threads on DOL. As permitted by a law that has sensible & humane guidelines, debarking. And can save dogs' lives & people's sanity.

Edited July 26, 2010 by mita

[Bartok]

I think they now teach JAIL as we are pathetic and caved into American spelling

the same being taught "you and I"

apparently it is now 'You and me"

we suck

I still write gaol

[mita]

I think they now teach JAIL as we are pathetic and caved into American spelling

the same being taught "you and I"

apparently it is now 'You and me"

we suck

I still write gaol

It's not caving in to American spelling....it's followed the change in pronunciation to take the word back to where it was in the 13 th century. When there were 2 spellings jaiole & gaiole....both from different parts of France. The French language was used in England from the time of William the Conqueror. But the English came to write it 'gayhol' & later 'gaol', but it was pronounced with a hard 'g' as in 'good'. Then the pronunciation changed to the soft 'g' as in germ. So back came the 'j' sound. Which is why gradually, the spelling changed again....to 'jail' which better matches the pronunciation. The Americans simply used it more than the British. But in recent times, the British have also started to use 'jail' more.

The Australian 'standard' as set out in our Macquarie Dictionary is that both can be used here. But Style Manuals are selecting 'jail' as the choice because it better matches the change in both Britain & the US. Back to one of the centuries- old versions...'imported' from France.

By the way, the use of 'you & I' and 'you & me', depends on the grammar of a sentence. First is subject, the second is object, in a sentence. Each can be right, depending on the grammar.

As in 'You and I will go together.' and 'He will come to pick up you & me.' But not the other way round.

Edited July 27, 2010 by mita

[WreckitWhippet]

Moral of the story, if your dog barks, shoot your neighbour, you'll do less time for that.