23 SEPTEMBER 1955, Page 16

POSH LINGO SIR,—Strix, dividing the sheep from the etymological goats,

explains that 'The village are livid' becomes, in non-U, 'Our village is up in arms.' His attitude here is positively feudal.

It implies a detachment on the part of U- users. To them, be it noted, the village takes a plural verb, 'the village' being 'they,' people for whom one has a territorial responsibility. To the villagers, non-U to a villein, the place is singular, the alma mater.

Strix, of course, is definitely U. I remember with delight how (in your columns) he wondered what the village was doing on Coronation Day, and 'got on a horse and rode down' (I quote from memory).—Yours faith- fully,