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08-18-2013, 02:45 PM | #1 |
polaroid of perfection
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 24,185
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I am Literally Disappointed
The Oxford English Dictionary has been amended to show that literally can now be used for emphasis and to mean metaphorically.
I can no longer snigger at phrases like "Michael Jackson literally exploded onto the music scene" or "In his youth, Michael Owen was literally a greyhound." It takes some fun out of this pedant's life. But hey, I accept pronunciation and meaning changes because that's part of English. Not going to go against the OED on this one. It's just galling to become a dinosaur at 41. Literally.
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08-18-2013, 04:36 PM | #2 | |
We have to go back, Kate!
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
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Fucking annoying.
It literally makes me want to claw my own eyes out.
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08-18-2013, 05:40 PM | #3 |
still says videotape
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
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God damn it!
Blood is not literally pouring out of my ears.
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08-18-2013, 05:51 PM | #4 |
Person who doesn't update the user title
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods
Posts: 6,402
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Geeesh, now I literally can't stop my G-daughter from using
"air quotes" and "literally" in literally every other sentence. |
08-18-2013, 08:05 PM | #5 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
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Thie litterally gives me the shits. I'll brb!
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Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-19-2013, 02:08 PM | #6 |
I can hear my ears
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 25,571
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I think this is shite. Are they going to change the definition if the word 'bad' now? To include the opposite meaning like we do. "That car is bad." "Bad Ass"
Where will the madness end¿ I ask you.
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08-19-2013, 05:07 PM | #7 |
The Un-Tuckian
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Central...KY that is
Posts: 39,517
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I'm gonna watch porn. Literally.
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08-19-2013, 06:23 PM | #8 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
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If they have changed the meaning of literally, do you think they should change nonplussed to mean what it seems it should mean?
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Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-19-2013, 06:30 PM | #9 | |
We have to go back, Kate!
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
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What does it seem it should mean?
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08-19-2013, 07:17 PM | #10 |
UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 20,012
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It logically seems to mean "unenthused" or "not impressed," but in fact means "speechless." Many people use it when they intend the former meaning and don't even have any idea that it actually doesn't mean that at all.
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08-19-2013, 07:22 PM | #11 |
Person who doesn't update the user title
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods
Posts: 6,402
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OK, here's another change we should make...
"Next Friday" or whatever "Next XXXday" is to mean whenever I mean it to mean. Oh wait. It's already used to mean that. |
08-20-2013, 07:13 AM | #12 | ||
We have to go back, Kate!
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
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Quote:
That explains why someone once picked me up on my use of it on a forum. I'd used it (correctly) to say I was nonplussed by something someone had said to me. And someone posted 'are you sure you meant to say nonplussed'. Their comment made no sense to me...but now it kind of does. They must have thought nonplussed meant unimpressed or not enthused. When what I was trying to say was that something someone had said to me was so off kilter and unexpected I was entirely taken aback and had no idea how to respond.
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Last edited by DanaC; 08-20-2013 at 07:18 AM. |
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08-20-2013, 05:03 PM | #13 |
The Un-Tuckian
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Central...KY that is
Posts: 39,517
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Instead of changing words' meanings, we should be adding words.
Words like 'whattheidonteven'.
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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off. |
08-20-2013, 06:01 PM | #14 | |
We have to go back, Kate!
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
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That definitely needs to be accepted as a proper word.
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08-20-2013, 06:21 PM | #15 |
Snowflake
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Dystopia
Posts: 13,136
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The dictionary isn't supposed to tell you what words mean, it's supposed to tell you what people mean when they say them.
I'm leaning heavily on the Gricean Maxims and the Cooperative Principle when I say this, but I'm also biting my tongue. I don't think ignorance should be glorified, but neither should asshole-ish nitpicking. So there are two sides.
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****************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio |
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