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Mathmos

Why is it that practitioners of the most noble art of mathematics are known as such at Cambridge?

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Reply 1
Avatar for Lidka
Lidka
13
*are

Because it's easier to say than Mathematician.
It's Cambridge slang. There's lots of it about.
How dull. Surely its even easier to say 'maths student'? Or 'someone who does maths'? Inventing a whole new word seems to be a lot of effort to go to, to me.
Sun Ra and his Arkestra
How dull. Surely its even easier to say 'maths student'? Or 'someone who does maths'? Inventing a whole new word seems to be a lot of effort to go to, to me.

Eh? The word 'mathmo' is very well established, just like 'plodge', 'bop', 'ent', 'muso', and loads of other Cambridge slang. It's not as if someone deliberately went round formally altering everyone's speech patterns; I guess someone said it one day and it caught on.

Anyway, "maths student" and "someone who does maths" get very boring used in conversation a lot. I'm a mathmo, and I talk about my subject a lot, and trust me, saying things like "because I do maths" rather than "because I'm a mathmo" can sound very odd in lots of situations. That's why the word 'mathematician' exists - because it's better than 'person doing maths' a lot of the time. :s-smilie:
Sun Ra and his Arkestra
How dull. Surely its even easier to say 'maths student'? Or 'someone who does maths'? Inventing a whole new word seems to be a lot of effort to go to, to me.


Right. 'Someone who does maths' is easier to say than 'mathmo'. Good one.
I'd rather hoped there was some great romantic story, apocryphal or not, behind its origins, is all. It being easier to say is a slightly disappointing reason for it.
Reply 7
Avatar for Chewwy
Chewwy
17
i know the real reason. it's quite complicated and involves Isaac Newton, the mysterious disappearance of priceless religious scripture from a college library, the KGB and a great deal of homosexuality. and punts.

but i'm afraid i'm forbidden to expand..
Reply 8
Avatar for epitome
epitome
11
generalebriety
I guess someone said it one day and it caught on.

Almost certainly -- cf: "Engling", which is beginning to get a hold. (:biggrin:)
epitome
Almost certainly -- cf: "Engling", which is beginning to get a hold. (:biggrin:)

Ahem, really? I reckon that's just your way of trying to promote some slang you made up or something... :wink:
Reply 10
Avatar for James
James
14
I was under the impression that "mathmo" was a universal term. :s-smilie:
Reply 11
Avatar for epitome
epitome
11
Ha, not quite (probably)! I genuinely can't remember who started it, though it seems to have been either created or revived by someone I know, and it's kind of spread. Fairly extensively. This is a cool thing, because "Englisher" doesn't quite hit the spot, and you can only really call the girls "Lit Chicks".
Chewwy
i know the real reason. it's quite complicated and involves Isaac Newton, the mysterious disappearance of priceless religious scripture from a college library, the KGB and a great deal of homosexuality. and punts.

but i'm afraid i'm forbidden to expand..


That's much better. Thank-you.
Sun Ra and his Arkestra
I'd rather hoped there was some great romantic story, apocryphal or not, behind its origins, is all. It being easier to say is a slightly disappointing reason for it.


"Mathmo" has connotations of the person, as well as the subject; a stereotype that's instantly called to mind amongst any Cambridge student.
5wra

ålealt¨åire
Reply 15
Avatar for Y__
Y__
13
scarlet ibis
"Mathmo" has connotations of the person, as well as the subject; a stereotype that's instantly called to mind amongst any Cambridge student.


Ooooh stereotyping fun! By the way, all arts students are lazy bastards :wink: .

*runs away*
Y__
Ooooh stereotyping fun! By the way, all arts students are lazy bastards :wink: .

*runs away*

Actually, you'd be surprised; the "mathmo" stereotype is much stronger (and infinitely more true).
Y__
Ooooh stereotyping fun! By the way, all arts students are lazy bastards :wink: .

*runs away*

I'm not an arts student. Never was either. or a science student. Us architects are a whole other breed ;yes; :p:
Reply 18
Avatar for 7589200
7589200
18
Chewwy
i know the real reason. it's quite complicated and involves Isaac Newton, the mysterious disappearance of priceless religious scripture from a college library, the KGB and a great deal of homosexuality. and punts.

but i'm afraid i'm forbidden to expand..


AHAHAHAHAHAHahhahAHHAHAHAHAHahaahahahahaa
**** right of
see now he cud say 'cos im a mathmo' rather than 'cos i do maths' - makes it sound more forgiveness-worthy - like GA said
James Gurung
I was under the impression that "mathmo" was a universal term. :s-smilie:


:ditto:

anyone tried the mathmo test

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