dwarf vs. midget

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Swiss Jake

#184484 Tue, 17 Jan 06 03:35 AM

Hello teachers!

What is the difference between the above mentioned words? My dictionary translates it as the same.

Thank you!

Jake

Swiss Jake

Joined on Fri, Dec 30 2005

Full Member (183)

Please, correct my mistakes in my posts. Thank you! "The only real mistake is the one from which you learn nothing." -- John Powell

Difference between

khoff

#184491 Tue, 17 Jan 06 03:47 AM

Hi, Jake. I hope I can help you here without offending anyone. Generally, "midget" refers to a person who is very short, but normally proportioned. "Dwarf" refers to a person with one of several varieties of a specific genetic condition called dwarfism - usually they have very short arms and legs and unusually large heads. Socially, I believe that the word "dwarf" is acceptable because it refers to a specific medial condition, but I think the word "midget" is considered offensive by some people who prefer to be called "little people" or
"people of short stature." Does that help?

khoff

Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005

Denver, Colorado, USA, Earth

Senior Member (2,433)

Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

Swiss Jake

#184825 Tue, 17 Jan 06 04:53 PM

Thanks for the elucidating, khoff. It helps!

Jake

Swiss Jake

Anonymous

#269576 Tue, 19 Sep 06 10:12 PM

Some might say vertically challenged!

Anonymous

#270665 Fri, 22 Sep 06 07:02 AM

Hi there,

I would like add some technical knowledge on this matter - Dwarfs are often individuals conceived in space. As there is no gravity in space, the individuals conceived in an interstellar environment lack forces to stretch their limbs whilst their heads continue to grow. Hope the above helps with your query.

Anonymous

Clive

#271060 Fri, 22 Sep 06 11:55 PM

Hi,

Although there is no gravity in space, I see that there is humour. Smile [:)]

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (19,371)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Anonymous

#279210 Wed, 11 Oct 06 06:35 PM

I thought there was an actual difference (height) between the two. So this is not true??

Anonymous

#286129 Fri, 27 Oct 06 04:51 AM

Clive,

If I am standing on the moon and let go of a pencil, will the pencil fall, float away, or stay where it is?

If I let go of a pencil from outside the space shuttle while it is in Earth's orbit, what will happen to it? Will the pencil orbit the Earth forever, travel through space to another planet, or eventually burn up in Earth's atmosphere?

There is gravity in space because there is mass in space.

The point at which two gravitational influences are equal is called a Lagrange point (go ahead, look it up).

What astronauts experience is called microgravity.

I'm going to take a wild guess that orbital mechanics, inter-planetary physics, astrophysics, biomedical, engineering, etc. are not your best subjects. Thus, I will advise you to stick to what you know best.

Anonymous

Grammar Geek

#286143 Fri, 27 Oct 06 05:47 AM

Anon, I see no reason for this post. Clive made a comment in good humor. It was not intended to be dissected as a factual scientific analysis. The factual analysis is, he shares his time unselfishly to help people, and if you all you have to contribute to discussions are snide remarks to the people who help others, then kindly keep your "contributions" to yourself.

I'll leave it to the discretion of other moderators whether to delete your post and my response with it.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (14,710)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

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