In the context of death penalties, before I get any clever answers.
2006-12-09 02:11:06 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Because people would giggle every time the newpapers said "and the criminal was hung."
2006-12-09 02:13:24 · answer #1 · answered by jgbarber65 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Reality: Anyone can be hanged well, but only certain males can be "well hung!'
Actually, when looking forward to a death sentance:
"You will be hanged by the neck until dead" sounds more judicial than
"You will be hung by the neck until dead."
And when talking about someone being executed by hanging:
Dirty Fingers McGee was hanged in the tower court yard
Brings less smirking than
Dirty Fingers was hung in the tower court yard...
But who knows for sure. Those who have been hanged are no longer hung up on the subject!
Charles "That Cheeky Lad"
2006-12-09 03:22:59 · answer #2 · answered by Charles-CeeJay_UK_ USA/CheekyLad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not certain why. The convention is that the past tense of "hang" is "hung" unless it talks about an execution, in which case it is "hanged". Normally, a weak past tense is used when a noun is used as a verb. So the past tense of "ring" is "rang" if it refers to a bell, but it is "ringed" if it refers to the planet Saturn, because it is using "ring" (a noun meaning a circle) and using it as a verb. So maybe there is a legal noun "hang", meaning an instance of an execution by hanging. If that's the case, then the past tense would indeed be "hanged".
2006-12-09 02:16:18 · answer #3 · answered by alnitaka 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as I am aware, it applies only to people. "Nathan was hanged" clearly indicates the way he died, whle Nathan hung from a tree means he was swinging from the tree.
One of the oddities in the English language. Sorry I can't be more specific.
2006-12-09 02:54:32 · answer #4 · answered by True Blue Brit 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a friend who is hanged like a horse. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, couldn't help myself. In all seriousness I have often wondered about that too. It's one of many English words that don't follow the usual rules. Remember that English was influenced by three major languages. Latin, French & German.
2006-12-09 02:17:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good thing you put that in detail otherwise I was going to answer with a little clever answer.Anyways you say it that way because its past tense I believe.
2006-12-09 02:15:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
LOL
Because guys like the word hung.
2006-12-09 02:13:08 · answer #7 · answered by Tiny 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We say both. One means" to execute by hanging" the other means "to suspend".
The criminal was hanged in the market place.
Mona Lisa hung in the king's bathroom. Nowadays it is hung in the Louvre.
Both forms are acceptable but mean different things.
2006-12-09 02:17:22 · answer #8 · answered by WISE OWL 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hung emerged as pp. 16c. in northern England dial., and hanged endured only in legal language (which tends to be conservative) and metaphors extended from it (I'll be hanged)
2006-12-09 02:18:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know. i've noticed that too. but i just say hung. English is weird. Someone is being hanged ... he was already hung
2006-12-09 02:12:58 · answer #10 · answered by ipodlady231 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋