|
Nothingland Something about nothing - game threads, diversions, time-wasters |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
08-05-2008, 07:25 PM | #1 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
|
Words in the wrong context
I guess we all notice things about how others communicate with us, but one thing that bugs me is when people use the wrong word in place of the right word.
As an example, and one of the situations that really bugs me, is when people use the word 'then' instead of 'than'. eg. 'I'd rather go to bed then watch tv', instead of, 'I'd rather go to bed than watch tv'. Another one is when people say 'axe' instead of 'ask'. I think my main objection to it is from a traditional stance in that the english language is bastardized more than enough through slang and local nuances. Do we really have to make it worse by using the completely wrong word? Isn't it possible to learn at least the basics?
__________________
Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-05-2008, 08:10 PM | #2 |
changed his status to single
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Right behind you. No, the other side.
Posts: 10,308
|
I argument with that.
__________________
Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin |
08-05-2008, 08:12 PM | #3 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
|
of course
__________________
Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-05-2008, 09:06 PM | #4 |
Doctor Wtf
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
Posts: 12,861
|
It's spelled "aks", Ali. As in, "didja aks her out?"
__________________
Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. |
08-05-2008, 09:13 PM | #5 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
|
Oh yeah...silly me. I should have realized you don't type a real word when you're describing someone else's pronunciation errors.
__________________
Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-05-2008, 09:22 PM | #6 |
Only looks like a disaster tourist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: above 7,000 feet
Posts: 7,208
|
You mean, like people who say 'boot' when they mean 'trunk'?
|
08-05-2008, 09:23 PM | #7 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
|
or trunk when they mean boot even...
__________________
Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-05-2008, 09:26 PM | #8 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
|
To be honest though, that's not really what I meant. I think you know that though right HLJ?
__________________
Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-05-2008, 09:30 PM | #9 |
Doctor Wtf
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
Posts: 12,861
|
Don't misunderestimate yourself.
And youse guy's are really great. I'm sure I could of thunk up more examples. On this topic, I have been thinking about ZippyT's ... how can I put this ... unconventional approach to spelling. At first I dismissed this as the struggles of someone whose literacy level was sorely lacking (my apologies for this Zippy!) but I've been wondering, provided that there is a large enough group that take the same apporach, use the same spellings, etc, could we say Zippy is writing - CORRECTLY - in a dialect of English different from, eg, mine? At what point does a local peculiarity become a legitimate regional dialect? And when or how does this become dominant? For example, of course the correct spelling of words like colour and flavour involve the letter "u" ( ) but our American friends had to save ink (something about rationing during the war of independence, I think) and left the "u" out, to the point that this is now the (statistically) prevalent form. How many people need to agree on a non-standard usage or spelling for it to become an "accepted" variant? And then the "standard" form?
__________________
Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. |
08-05-2008, 09:37 PM | #10 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
|
What you suggest is true and obviously how languages evolve. Of course, english in all it's forms originated from german language, so perhaps the German people should be complaining about how we've destroyed their language.
I think my argument just stems from irritation at hearing words pronounced or used in the wrong way. No great philosophy about it. Just a basic human emotion.
__________________
Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-05-2008, 09:45 PM | #11 |
Only looks like a disaster tourist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: above 7,000 feet
Posts: 7,208
|
Ali - yes, I'm just kidding you
ZG - I agree about 'could of' This is a little different, but the phrase 'try and ___' drives me nuts, and I see it all the time. It should be 'try to ___.' For example, "I'll try and call before I leave." Now that I've mentioned it, maybe it will bug you too. |
08-05-2008, 09:46 PM | #12 |
Doctor Wtf
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
Posts: 12,861
|
[snicker]
[/anal] Sorry, Ali, love you really.
__________________
Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. |
08-05-2008, 09:48 PM | #13 |
Only looks like a disaster tourist
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: above 7,000 feet
Posts: 7,208
|
Are you ripping on the lower-case 'e' or the apostrophe?
|
08-05-2008, 09:49 PM | #14 |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
|
I know you do Zen.
Now you're getting HLJ.
__________________
Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
08-05-2008, 09:49 PM | #15 |
Doctor Wtf
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
Posts: 12,861
|
Both - the bold is a bit hard to see.
"try and ..." ugghhh.
__________________
Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl. |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 members and 2 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|