User Comments - simonw
simonw
Posted on: Mahjong
February 2, 2008 at 4:04 PMMájiàng is fun, but it pales into insignificance next to Wéiqī (tr. 圍棋, s. 围棋, usually known in the English-speaking world as 'Go', from the Japanese pronunciation 'Igo'). If you're interested in Chinese games which really are ancient, you should definitely check it out. It's properly mind-blowing. "Go is to (western) Chess as philosophy is to double-entry accounting"
Posted on: Art Museum
March 27, 2008 at 11:34 AMsorry Mike, gonna have to disagree with you... the tendency to create these kind of (ambiguous) compound adjectival nouns is actually considerably more prevalent in American English than in British English. Strictly speaking, it is permissible by the standards of American English usage, and isn't by those of British English (I double-checked in Fowler's...!). In addition to which, although I've heard the phrase once or twice in England, I would have to say it's by no means common in my experience. ohdannyboy's alternatives are clearly preferable in my opinion, and I think it's perfectly reasonable to criticise (or criticize, whichever you prefer!) if you're prepared to be constructive! simon :)