Regarding the headline: "Calgary Mom Charged with Murder" In Canada we have "mums" (or at least we used to have them.) Americans have "moms." Next you'll be writing "Calgary Mom Charged with Murder, Huh?" Angus Taylor
Victoria, B.C.
Mom is short for mommy. Mum is short for mummy. Many linguists believe both words are derived from the sound young children make: ma, ma. (Variations of "momma" and "mamma" are found in languages around the world.) The Latin term mama, which has the same origins, is linked to breast-feeding, and forms the root of several other words, including mammary and mammal.
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary lists mom as "North American," not merely American. Mum is classified as "British and Canadian" slang.
August, 2001
May 3, 3003
I think you miss the point of the note, which has little to do with the origins and more to do with the fact that most Canadians of a certain age were brought up by Mummies rather than the American counterpart "Mommies".
Given the fact that most Americans have gradually eliminated all vowels but the short "a" this will undoubtedly devolve further.
Delighted to find your space. At 50, I often feel that the English language is going the way of the dodo bird and I enjoy finding out that I am not the only one with concerns about usage.
Suzette L'Abb�
Montreal
The etymology was mentioned to shed some light on why there may be disagreement over which version is "correct." If the word is, indeed, based on the sound babies make when nursing, it's hardly surprising that more than one version exists. Mama. Mommy. Mummy.
May 2002
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