a new emperor -or evil overlord- in the making....
*imagine a baby 's first walk while the darth vador theme blast all the windows*

[url]http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/do-minions-speak-real-language[/url]

Any thoughts Mike?

[QUOTE=xilman;347019]Yup, she's dropped her sprog. Ho hum.[/QUOTE]

"Dropped 'er sprog?" What barbarous tongue is that? What is the derivation?

[QUOTE=kladner;347048]"Dropped 'er sprog?" What barbarous tongue is that? What is the derivation?[/QUOTE]
[url]http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sprog[/url]

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;347054][URL]http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sprog[/URL][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE][B][SIZE=2]Etymology[/SIZE][/B]

From Middle Low German [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sprake#Middle_Low_German"]sprāke[/URL]. Cognate to German [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sprache#German"]Sprache[/URL], Dutch [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spraak#Dutch"]spraak[/URL], Norwegian [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spr%C3%A5k#Norwegian"]språk[/URL], Old English [I][URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spr%C3%A6c#Old_English"]sprǣċ[/URL][/I] and Swedish [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spr%C3%A5k#Swedish"]språk[/URL].
[/QUOTE]O.K..... Thanks, Uncwilly. It is interesting that it has a pedigree, and that it is basically the same as "speech". I suppose birthing a child is an utterance of sorts. But I was really just chaffing xilman.

[QUOTE=kladner;347066]O.K..... Thanks, Uncwilly. It is interesting that it has a pedigree, and that it is basically the same as "speech". I suppose birthing a child is an utterance of sorts. But I was really just chaffing xilman.[/QUOTE]TBH, that's the first time I've seen that proposed etymology, not least because it pertains to the Danish word and I tend not to read Danish dictionaries very often.

The etymology of the English sprog is that it is a form of "sprout" which itself is a newly appeared (part of a) plant. The imagery is immediate.

Ah! "Sprout" certainly is more intuitive. Much obliged! :smile:

When I encounter such expresion, I like going to [url]http://www.urbandictionary.com/[/url] .
for sprog , here is the entry :
[code]
1.sprog

once disparaging term for a child, now often used affectionately. (Chiefly British)
"I'll come by your place after I drop the sprogs at school"

2.sprog

Derogatory term for a child.
"People who make sprogs should be locked up in a room full of sprogs and then strangled to death with a condom which is what they should've used in the first place."


3.SPROG

Naval term for a young/inexperienced rating...
Him? He's just a SPROG, Seaman Part one Right Outta Ganges!

by Sean's X-Type Cat Mar 22, 2010 add a video add to a list
4. Sprog

A new military recruit or a recruit fresh out of training arriving at a unit.
Look at that sprog! He is absolutely clueless!

5.sprog
1. derogative term for an unpleasent child.
2. illigitimate offspring


6.Sprog

Someone who either has grown up in, or is currently residing, in the New Zealand city of Nelson, particularly known for its inbreeding problem
Did you see that sprog in the NZ Warriors the other day

7.sprog

The Sprog is a 14foot (4.27m) two sail hard chine dinghy. It was originally designed in South Africa in the post WWII years in marine ply. At the end of the 70's, a successful conversion to foam sandwich GRP produced many new Sprogs and resulted in the revival of the class.

[/code]

Fascinating and very amusing! I like #2 especially.

There is a condom commercial (French) out there somewhere (see below!) which depicts a young father with a horrible little boy who is throwing a tantrum in the supermarket.

[YOUTUBE]mycGMDz2knA[/YOUTUBE]

Spawn?...

[QUOTE=firejuggler;347115]When I encounter such expresion, I like going to [url]http://www.urbandictionary.com/[/url] .
for sprog , here is the entry :
[code]
1.sprog

once disparaging term for a child, now often used affectionately. (Chiefly British)
"I'll come by your place after I drop the sprogs at school"

2.sprog

Derogatory term for a child.
"People who make sprogs should be locked up in a room full of sprogs and then strangled to death with a condom which is what they should've used in the first place."


3.SPROG

Naval term for a young/inexperienced rating...
Him? He's just a SPROG, Seaman Part one Right Outta Ganges!

by Sean's X-Type Cat Mar 22, 2010 add a video add to a list
4. Sprog

A new military recruit or a recruit fresh out of training arriving at a unit.
Look at that sprog! He is absolutely clueless!

5.sprog
1. derogative term for an unpleasent child.
2. illigitimate offspring


6.Sprog

Someone who either has grown up in, or is currently residing, in the New Zealand city of Nelson, particularly known for its inbreeding problem
Did you see that sprog in the NZ Warriors the other day

7.sprog

The Sprog is a 14foot (4.27m) two sail hard chine dinghy. It was originally designed in South Africa in the post WWII years in marine ply. At the end of the 70's, a successful conversion to foam sandwich GRP produced many new Sprogs and resulted in the revival of the class.

[/code][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=chalsall;347132]Spawn?...[/QUOTE]Quite possibly. Chambers suggests that it might be a reverse portmanteau of "frog spawn". I believe that a convincing case hasn't yet been made, though I prefer sprout. The OE [i]spræc[/i] is certainly wrong, IMAO.