Ten Plus One More

[Tinker]

Ten Plus One More

In this language we refer to as English,
are roots from more ancient communications.
Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Germanic refurbish,
assuming bits and pieces with translations.
Sonics with meaning, practical and stylish
spread across the ocean to new world nations.
Now, to why I began this boring discourse,
it is centered upon a single word's source.
Specifically a numerical claim,
how the word for "eleven" came into fame.
Germanic born, "left one plus ten", is to blame.
                                           ~~Judi Van Gorder

Eleventh Power

[badger11]

Had me counting Tink!🙂

[Tinker]

Ha ha,  Yes, the form is an 11 by 11 and why isn't the word oneteen in stead of eleven?  An exercise in silliness.

~~Tink

[tonyv]

And I thought 1+1 = 11 ! 😄

I am fascinated by the chart in my dictionary which shows the Proto-Indo-European family of languages of which English, a Germanic language, is a part and from the same root source as so many other languages from entirely different branches. I never would have thought that English would be in any way related to Russian, Greek, Iranian, or Hindi, yet somehow it is. I like how your poem incorporates an etymological example. It brings fun to the chart.

Tony 

 

 

[Tinker]

So cool.  I wish I had that fan.  I can sort of read it when I enlarge but the words are fuzzy.   Really interesting.

~~Judi

[tonyv]

It looks like a fan, Judi, but it's actually just a chart in the inside cover of my dictionary. I'll try to take a better picture and post that in place of this one when I do.