kgwilson Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I have noticed lately that the noun (UK, Aust, NZ, SA) "Aeroplane" is more and more being replaced with the noun (US) "Airplane". I wonder if this has anything to do with the influence of US TV or US aircraft or parts suppliers & US publications. The term Aeroplane was initially coined by the French in 1855 with an accent on the first "e" and was derived from the Greek "Aeroplanos" meaning "wandering in air". The english version dispensed with the accent to become the word Aeroplane we all know. Of course the prefix Aero is the first syllable many other nouns such as as Aerodrome, Aeroclub, Aerobatic, Aeronautic, Aerodynamic etc. I noticed a video posted at http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/aerodrome-aircraft-promo.40315/ entitled "Airdrome Aeroplanes promotional video". Crikey now we are really getting mixed up. Personally I don't like the US spelling Airplane like many other different US spellings. What next Airnautics, Airclubs, Airbatics, Airdynamics. We have already seen Airdrome. Whoever comes up with these would probably be an Airhead anyway. I also like to think of my aeroplane as "wandering in air". Great way to see the country. I guess it is just a matter of choice and there are a large percentage of people who can't spell anyway. What do others think? Maybe I should have posted this as a poll. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I like the way you have analysed it. Airheads are not as clever as aeroheads anyhow. Nev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly_tornado Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 its aeroplane jelly for me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Maj Millard Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Hairy-plane for Tomo !.................................................................Maj... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pudestcon Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I always, being a semi-illiterate bum, agonise over how I'm going to spell that word describing the machine I fly, with the result usually being "Airplane". From now on I'm going to spell it "Aeroplane", so don't come up with an argument why I should write"Airplane". By the way - I tend to use the term "Airfield" rather than any other term. Pud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly_tornado Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I'm ok with aircraft too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I'm not OK with aircraft but I keep practicing. Nev 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damkia Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 But you're all OK with "Airport"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I always, being a semi-illiterate bum, agonise over how I'm going to spell that word describing the machine I fly, with the result usually being "Airplane". From now on I'm going to spell it "Aeroplane", so don't come up with an argument why I should write"Airplane". By the way - I tend to use the term "Airfield" rather than any other term.Pud Provided you don't start entering '.hores' in in your logbook rather than 'hours', the quality of your flying shouldn't be affected by your spelling. Alternatively, get it wrong and Mrs Pud will most likely ensure that you suffer for the incorrect use of something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 it's aerogare in france. (Not sure of the spelling) I usually land on the aerodrome Airport has crept in but I might arrive at the airport to meet someone, but I don't want to land on it. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgmwa Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I agree with you. Personally, I like the old fashioned sound of `aeroplane', but unfortunately `airplane' seems to be creeping into our vocabulary. I spend quite a bit of time on some of the US builder forums (or should that be fora?), and it's interesting to note that they actually refer to `aircraft' more than `airplane', which sounds fine to me. However, their media is sold on `airplane' so I suppose our young journalists, with their increasingly limited exposure to English grammar and literature at school, will follow suit. They already seem to have enough trouble with their spelling, so no doubt the subtle difference between `airplane' and `aeroplane' will defeat them entirely. Besides with their default US English spell-checkers, what chance have they got? rgmwa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I like the sound of an old fashioned aeroplane too Nev.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil_S Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I have noticed lately that the noun (UK, Aust, NZ, SA) "Aeroplane" is more and more being replaced with the noun (US) "Airplane". I wonder if this has anything to do with the influence of US TV or US aircraft or parts suppliers & US publications.The term Aeroplane was initially coined by the French in 1855 with an accent on the first "e" and was derived from the Greek "Aeroplanos" meaning "wandering in air". The english version dispensed with the accent to become the word Aeroplane we all know. Of course the prefix Aero is the first syllable many other nouns such as as Aerodrome, Aeroclub, Aerobatic, Aeronautic, Aerodynamic etc. I noticed a video posted at http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/aerodrome-aircraft-promo.40315/ entitled "Airdrome Aeroplanes promotional video". Crikey now we are really getting mixed up. Personally I don't like the US spelling Airplane like many other different US spellings. What next Airnautics, Airclubs, Airbatics, Airdynamics. We have already seen Airdrome. Whoever comes up with these would probably be an Airhead anyway. I also like to think of my aeroplane as "wandering in air". Great way to see the country. I guess it is just a matter of choice and there are a large percentage of people who can't spell anyway. What do others think? Maybe I should have posted this as a poll. I agree, kg, and it probably stems from the US trait to remove as many syllables as possible, yet they like to use superfluous words as well. This is why Americans refer to an "ongoing emergency situation" where the single word "emergency" would seem to suffice. You have no doubt also noticed that we have started to follow the US in doing away with ordinal numbers when referring to dates, which clearly makes no sense, so we now have things like films starting at the cinema on "July 12" instead of July the 12th. There is no such thing as the 12 of July - it is the 12th day as it has followed on in order from the 11th, etc etc. My English teacher would turn in his grave. Mind you, he would not be "dead" these days as we seem now to have to use euphemisms, so he would have "passed away". Monty Python's parrot sketch has come to life! Cheers Neil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandit12 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 My money is for aeroplane, otherwise I would use airfcraft but never airplane. Here is another one: aerobatics or acrobatics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgwilson Posted June 11, 2012 Author Share Posted June 11, 2012 Ah yes the famous ex-parrot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaz3g Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 ?..The term Aeroplane was initially coined by the French in 1855 with an accent on the first "e" and was derived from the Greek "Aeroplanos" meaning "wandering in air". The english version dispensed with the accent to become the word Aeroplane we all know. . Hi KGW It is lovely to hear the analysis of a true etymologist while unravelling the origins of such an important word :-) I also don't like "plane" which is correctly the name of one of generally two wings on an aeroplane. I am happy to use "aircraft" as an alternative just so people don't think I'm a total pedant! KWG aka kaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaz3g Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 ...Here is another one: aerobatics or acrobatics? People in aeroplanes may do aerobatics; without aeroplanes, they merely manage acrobatics. Kaz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandit12 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 An acrobat does acrobatics - surely you need an aeroplane for aerobatics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damkia Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 People in aeroplanes may do aerobatics; without aeroplanes, they merely manage acrobatics.Kaz People...without aeroplanes are skydivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howard Hughes Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I think it perfectly acceptable to use either/or, regardless of what the English pedants say... I don't mind people using 'plane' either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahlocks Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I'm not OK with aircraft but I keep practicing. Nev ....too good to be just lost in the chaff. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaz3g Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 ..... ...I don't mind people using 'plane' either! Biggles would have admonished you severely if you were in his squadron! kaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howard Hughes Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 That's OK, I'm not officer material anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandit12 Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Biggles would have admonished you severely if you were in his squadron!kaz Kite! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightyknots Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I spend quite a bit of time on some of the US builder forums (or should that be fora?), and it's interesting to note that they actually refer to `aircraft' more than `airplane', which sounds fine to me. I notice that they often refer to the 'air'-plane as a "ship". . However, their media is sold on `airplane' so I suppose our young journalists, with their increasingly limited exposure to English grammar and literature at school, will follow suit. They already seem to have enough trouble with their spelling, so no doubt the subtle difference between `airplane' and `aeroplane' will defeat them entirely. Besides with their default US English spell-checkers, what chance have they got?rgmwa Bill Gates and his mates have a lot to answer for. If left in default, many words ending in -ise turn into ize. As far as I am concerned, the -ise have it! I always, being a semi-illiterate bum, agonise over how I'm going to spell that word describing the machine I fly, with the result usually being "Airplane". From now on I'm going to spell it "Aeroplane", so don't come up with an argument why I should write"Airplane". By the way - I tend to use the term "Airfield" rather than any other term.Pud The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Along with f_t, it's AEROplane jelly for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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