Re: Topology on cohomology groups

["Fred E.J. Linton" <fejlinton@usa.net>]

On Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:17:05 AM EDT, "Prof. Peter Johnstone"
<P.T.Johnstone@dpmms.cam.ac.uk> 
in response to: Andrew Stacey <andrew.stacey@math.ntnu.no> wrote, in part:

> On Fri, 19 Jun 2009, Andrew Stacey wrote:
> 
> > ... over the finite skeleta.
> 
> Not really a contribution to the mathematical question, but I'm struck by
> the fact that both Andrew Salch and Andrew Stacey, in their replies to
> Steve Vickers, use the plural "skeleta". I used to do that when I was a
> student, as a way of winding-up my teachers, but it isn't justifiable.
> 
> The English word "skeleton" is indeed derived from a Greek root (the
> past participle of the verb "skellein", to wither or dry up), but it
> doesn't exist as a noun in Greek. There is therefore no justification
> for giving it an imagined Greek plural. Having in my time devoted some
> effort to fighting the bogus (but in fact more justifiable) Greek
> plural "topoi", I feel bound to protest against this one too. ...

The generic-seeming example "phenomenon/phenomena" certainly *suggests*
a parallel "skeleton/skeleta" -- but it would also suggest "polygon/polyga",
which I think we all would agree is nonsense. Peter is merely (justifiably)
pointing out that "skeleton/skeleta" is as much nonsense as "polygon/polyga",
and I'm with him 100% on that score.

[As for the plural of "topos", I guess I'm in the mugwump camp that would
*write* it as "topoi" (pace Peter), but *pronounce* it as "toposes" :-) .
English was never very strong at phonetic consistency of pronunciation;
witness GBShaw's "phonetic" spelling of FISH: "ghotip".]

Cheers, -- Fred

PS: "ghotip"? "gh" as in COUGH, "o" as in WOMEN, 
"ti" as in NATION, and "p" (silent) as in PNEUMONIA.




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