Word usage / etymology

laissez-faire

laissez-faire

laissez-faire

Soldato
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Throughout my life I have been told that many common words are plebian, a few examples;

Toilet
Serviette
Pardon
Settee
Greens
Tea

Correct usage would be :

Loo / lavatory
Napkin
What
Sofa
Vegetables
Supper

I don't see any debate that the latter forms are more accepted but I am interested in why. I notice most of the latter are germanic whilst many of the former are of French origin. Any etymology experts here?
 
Lavatory, vegetables and supper are all certainly romance, two of them certainly French, in origin and not germanic. And "pardon" being classed as plebeian over "what"? I don't really agree with most of those...
 
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El Gringo said:
Lavatory, vegetables and supper are all certainly romance in origin and not germanic. And "pardon" being classed as plebeian over "what"? Have you got the lists mixed up?
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Definitely not - pardon is dreadfully common. The lists are correct in terms of social status but I know almost nothing about etymology, hence my interest in hearing where the words come from. Have looked on OED but not terribly helpful.
 
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laissez-faire said:
Definitely not - pardon is dreadfully common.
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I disagree. Pardon is far more polite than a simple what...

/ Lavoratory certainly comes from the latin, and supper comes from the French "souper", which means to dine
//...WHICH, according to OED, in turn comes from Germanic.
 
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laissez-faire said:
It is very much a 'common' conception that pardon? is more polite than what?. However it is frightfully non-U.
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And I suppose that, contrary to public opinion, because a dusty book decrees that pardon is plebeian it must therefore be so? Language is about change, and "common" public opinion is the ultimate decider in all cases.
 
I would hazard a guess that "pardon" is classed as being plebian because of inferences to a master/servant/ feudal relationship. Not that it is necessary relevant/ more polite but by using "pardon" you may be suggesting that you are subordinate.

Personally I would use the phrase "excuse me" as I would have thought we left this forelock-tugging rubbish in the 19th Century where it belongs.
 
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