SMBC Comics Forum

Reason #46 why you shouldn't always believe Felstaff: He's lying.

I plan to go into teaching, solely to bring up an entirely new generation on a menu of lies, deceits, and misconceptions.

Just for the record, the "lieutenant" thing is entirely true; we do indeed call them "left-tenants", but only since the end of World War II.

Following the devastation of the notorious bombings of that era, returning soldiers were promised "Homes for Heroes", which were meant to be exactly as the name suggested but actually ended up being pre-fabs, quickly-built undesirable properties with many flaws. A sad chapter in British history.

Already, though, Britain had a tendency for overcrowding in urban areas, and a history of lodgers -- single people who would rent out a room in a larger house, generally with access to the bathroom and kitchen of that same house. With the pre-fabs being such abysmal failures, this was taken to a new level, where the stately homes that survived the bombings would rent out every free room, even if not entirely convenient. Many of these larger houses had several utility closets, ante-rooms and, most commonly, bathrooms.

As a quick aside, for those who don't know, British people refer to a toilet as a loo in popular slang.

As such, Britons renting out a bathroom to sleep in would come to be called "loo tenants".

The government at the time, already struggling with the failing popularity of the military reputation following WWII, tried to outlaw this slang, as it generated a lack of respect (thought of as very important in those days). When that failed, they officially altered the pronunciation of the title of "lieutenant" to "left-tenant". This was significantly easier to implement, and calling an officer a "loo-tenant" has since been rendered illegal in itself, punishable by being forced to read every single one of Gutchucker's ++ posts.

Interesting! but does it blend? is it true?

My grandad was a leff-tenant in 1942-45 for the Royal Marine Commandos (started out as lance-corporal, I believe). He had an inherent dislike for the "loo" pronunciation, calling it "a bloomin' yank word".

I call shenanigans, although your explanation is a much better story. The OED claims that while the origin is unclear, the pronunciation "lef" began at some point before the 19th century with the 'u' and the end of the french word being read and pronounced as a 'v' and later becoming a 'f.'

The OED also says the proper pronunciation is "lefˈtenənt", while the proper pronunciation of lieu by itself is "lu" or "lju"

Kaharz wrote:The OED claims

Pffft, the OED. You know it contains more mistakes than Wikipedia, right?

And I just wrote a Wikipedia article to back up my tall tale. Quod erat demonstrandum.

OED vs. QED
Fight of the century!

This Sunday at the Slaughterdrome

GreenCrayon wrote:Pffft, the OED. You know it contains more mistakes than Wikipedia, right?

Not surprising, it is the Oxford English Dictionary after all. I have a few friends from England* and I'm not sure what language it is exactly they speak, but It certainly isn't English.

*Admittedly, they are almost all Londoners, which is probably like listening to some from NYC speak American English

GreenCrayon wrote:Reason #46 why you shouldn't always believe Felstaff: He's lying.

Curse my gullibility!

It's spelled "gullability"

Oh you rascal, Felstaff!

Du bist ein schlitsor!!!

FengharTheNord wrote:Du bist ein schlitsor!!!

Hey. Hey. Hey. I don't speak your booga booga language.

Just that other booga booga language, Americanese.

Apocalyptus wrote:booga booga

Will you guys shut up about my mum already?
Unga bunga bung...