Sir – Mr Grosvenor (Letters, June 30) needs to get with the programme. Doesn’t he realise that “Bier” is the Flemish word for “Beer”, and the Flemish-English hybrid plural “Biers” gives a drinking establishment that trendy continental feel we all love? Using the Flemish plural “Bieren” would I think cause only confusion.
Attempts at quipping aside, although I do empathise with Mr Grosvenor, and do know how irritating incorrect use of language can be, I also feel there is a fine line between error and evolution, and that part of the beauty of language is its ability to adapt and develop. William Shakespeare is a good case in point.
Dr Daniel Emlyn-Jones, Oxford
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