Oxonian

[irmamar]

Is an Oxonian somebody who is studying in Oxford?

[Ambarina]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Is an Oxonian somebody who is studying in Oxford?

Apparently, it is (according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxonian). It can be somebody who is studying or who has studied at Oxford - past students are also included in the term.

[irmamar]

Well, "at" Oxford.

Thanks a lot, Ambarina.

If I wanted to say "relativo a Oxford", what would be the best: "related to Oxford" or "relating to Oxford"?

[Ambarina]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Well, "at" Oxford.

Thanks a lot, Ambarina.

If I wanted to say "relativo a Oxford", what would be the best: "related to Oxford" or "relating to Oxford"?

It's at because we are refering to the university not the town. If you say he studied in Oxford it would not refer to the university but some other institution in the town.

[irmamar]

Thanks.

And my second question is...

[Ambarina]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Thanks.

And my second question is...

Depends what you want to say. Can you be more specific?

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Ambarina

Depends what you want to say. Can you be more specific?

An Oxonian is somebody related / relating to Oxford.

[Ambarina]

The term "oxonian" refers to someone related with Oxford, be they an inhabitant of the town or a student of the university.

[xchic]

Originally Posted by irmamar

An Oxonian is somebody related / relating to Oxford.

Yes, but as Ambarina said, specifically someone who studies or has studied at Oxford University.

Someone who simply lives in the city of Oxford, or was even born in the city wouldn't necessarily be an Oxonian.

It depends upon the source of your information

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by xchic

Yes, but as Ambarina said, specifically someone who studies or has studied at Oxford University.

Someone who simply lives in the city of Oxford, or was even born in the city wouldn't necessarily be an Oxonian.

It depends upon the source of your information

Yes, it can mean someone who was born in the city of Oxford, but far more likely is meant as somebody who is studying at the university, or has gained a degree there in the past.

It is a fact that these kinds of English words rarely have a completely unambiguous meaning, and usually it depends on context. There is a parallel here with, for example, Lesbian. This is a person, male or female, from the Greek island of Lesbos, but has taken on a related meaning in a totally different context.

[xchic]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yes, it can mean someone who was born in the city of Oxford, but far more likely is meant as somebody who is studying at the university, or has gained a degree there in the past.

It is a fact that these kinds of English words rarely have a completely unambiguous meaning, and usually it depends on context. There is a parallel here with, for example, Lesbian. This is a person, male or female, from the Greek island of Lesbos, but has taken on a related meaning in a totally different context.

So it has - just like the word gay.


Instinctively, I expected a person born in Oxford to be an Oxfordian, but apparently that also has a completely different meaning.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by xchic

Instinctively, I expected a person born in Oxford to be an Oxfordian, but apparently that also has a completely different meaning.

But your instinct is not to Latinize everything, which was the instinct in Oxford, and probably still is to some extent.

[xchic]

Originally Posted by Perikles

But your instinct is not to Latinize everything, which was the instinct in Oxford, and probably still is to some extent.

Precisely

[irmamar]

I needed a short definition for Oxonian. Thanks everybody.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Ambarina

It's at because we are refering to the university not the town. If you say he studied in Oxford it would not refer to the university but some other institution in the town.

I'm pretty sure Brookes used to have advertising posters saying "Study mathematics in Oxford". Not 100% certain, though: it might have been UAE (now Anglia Ruskin) advertising "Study mathematics in Cambridge". I apologise for my poor memory.

Originally Posted by xchic

Yes, but as Ambarina said, specifically someone who studies or has studied at Oxford University.

If you want to be really precise then it might be "a member of Oxford University". But I don't think Irma really wants a debate on whether someone with an honorary degree from Oxford is an Oxonian.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by pjt33

I'm pretty sure Brookes used to have advertising posters saying "Study mathematics in Oxford". .

Yes they did . A mean advertising trick where they said in Oxford with the intentional misunderstanding of at Oxford.

Originally Posted by pjt33

If you want to be really precise then it might be "a member of Oxford University". But I don't think Irma really wants a debate on whether someone with an honorary degree from Oxford is an Oxonian.

I agree.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yes they did . A mean advertising trick where they said in Oxford with the intentional misunderstanding of at Oxford.

I thought it was pretty clear that it was talking about Brookes rather than OU. After all, Brookes doesn't gain anything from the campaign unless people select Brookes on their UCAS application form.

I interpreted it as not essentially devious but promoting deviousness: "Study here and you'll be able to make other people believe you were at Oxford".

[irmamar]

That's curious that a simple particle (in or at) can change the meaning of a whole sentence.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by irmamar

That's curious that a simple particle (in or at) can change the meaning of a whole sentence.

No more so than phrasal verbs, surely?

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by pjt33

No more so than phrasal verbs, surely?

¡Aggggg! No me hables de ellos.