Message: "Re: Bill/William, Bob/Robert"

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Re: Bill/William, Bob/Robert

by Nanaea

10/17/2001, 8:36 PM

You're going to be on radio? Cool deal! :) :) :) Hey, Mike? Be careful they don't pull a fast one on you and slip in a question like: "How did Ned come from Edward?" :) Ah, you already know all about that stuff, anyway.

Hey, does the radio station take questions from call-in listeners? You know, like on *Frasier*? Coz that would be so cool. I could call in with my question for you (just like they get familiar voices to do the call-in segments on *Frasier*) and you'd have to guess who I am.

Heheh, don't worry -- I'm not really gonna call. Jus' kiddin'. :)

-- Nanaea

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- Mike C +2

10/17/2001, 9:30 PM

Thanks Nan. ;)

So do you know any interesting info on Bob or Bill?

- Nanaea +1

10/17/2001, 10:10 PM

Nothing which you probably don't already know. I recall that the rhyming nickname fashion may have begun in England and Scotland sometime around the end of the 12th century to the beginning of the 13th century, gaining in popularity right up and through Shakespeare's time, and practiced mainly by the lower classes. And, besides "Bob", another rhyming nickname for Robert was "Dob" or "Hob" (from which surnames such as Dobbins and Hobbes were derived). And, of course, there was "Dick" for Richard, "Ned" for Edward, "Peg" for "Meg" or "Margaret", etc.

I dunno how interesting that is. Why is this radio station so interested in the names Bob and Bill, anyway? Is the station manager's name Bob or Bill? :)

-- Nanaea

- Andrea (guest)

10/17/2001, 10:31 PM

Also Hitch for Richard.

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