Messages

1

English & Linguistics / Ellipsis

« on: October 14, 2008, 12:07:40 PM »

Some of both?  I agree that schools don't stress much importance in teaching grammar, but I think the amount of communication done electronically has worsened the problem.  Where letters were once well-thought-out, many people now find simple things like capitalization a hassle.  The focus of getting a message out as quickly as possible just adds to the problem of society's very loose grasp on proper grammar.

2

English & Linguistics / Ellipsis

« on: October 14, 2008, 10:30:58 AM »

I agree, but usually there's a reason for those non-verbal blanks.  They're often intended to create some sort of emotion.  For instance, when she says "thank you...", it feels sarcastic.

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English & Linguistics / Ellipsis

« on: October 14, 2008, 10:11:02 AM »

I was just thinking about how people use ellipses way too much these days.  At work, we use MSN IM a lot to communicate from one side of the office to the other.  One of my coworkers uses them in about half of her messages.  It makes it really hard to read her.  It makes it feel like she's irritated with me most of the time.  Other times, it makes it seem like she's really unsure about what she's talking to me about.

I blame it all on computers.  The availability of instant written correspondence has made too many people lazy and ignorant.

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English & Linguistics / The random etymology of the day

« on: June 04, 2008, 12:24:49 PM »

Yup. Use the subjunctive were when the hypothetical in question is not the case. Use was if you're not sure if it's the case or not. Here's an example of the difference, but using love instead:

1. If he loved you, he wouldn't treat you this way.
2. If he loves you, he's sure subtle about it.

Ah ha.  I had never gotten a clear explanation of how to use was and were and why.  Thanks.

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English & Linguistics / Quotes from work

« on: June 03, 2008, 02:08:39 PM »

Okay - just overheard this at work and it made me ROFL.  Ought to use it as a sig.

Two co-workers talking about cars.

"This car wasn't just red, it was RED. It was a kinda of 'you-can-kill-someone-in-this-car-and-get-away-with-it' red!"


(sorry for all the hyphens, JB)

Meaning the blood splatter would blend in with the paint?  And I really hope they didn't say "kinda of," but very intelligent sounding people either way.

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English & Linguistics / Quotes from work

« on: April 29, 2008, 02:30:33 PM »

I haven't been in this forum for months, and this is the conversation I just happen to walk in on.

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English & Linguistics / Question marks at the end of statements

« on: February 15, 2008, 03:33:08 PM »

No, it's asking for a question.

No, it's commanding a question.

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English & Linguistics / Question marks at the end of statements

« on: February 06, 2008, 04:33:30 PM »

How grammatically correct is the question mark at the end of the following sentences?

Guess what?
Dallas, though, is strangely 11-9 against the East this year?
I wonder what the Heat announcers will have to talk about?
 

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English & Linguistics / Grammar Gripe

« on: March 23, 2007, 11:50:57 PM »

Oops.  I didn't realize that you had quotation marks around the phrase and not the individual words.

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English & Linguistics / Grammar Gripe

« on: March 23, 2007, 10:50:15 PM »

But those aren't gender-neutral.

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English & Linguistics / Grammar Gripe

« on: March 23, 2007, 10:00:54 PM »

It's in the forum software and it bugs me. When you send a PM, it says "Thank you for sending a message to Friend's Name. They will be notified when they receive it."

I know that we use they because we don't want to be bigots and use he, but they is plural. I only have one friend!

What's the alternative to using "they" while still gender-neutral?

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English & Linguistics / AAVE, aka Ebonics and school teachers

« on: October 09, 2006, 08:47:07 PM »

I think using ebonics to communicate with students is a step backwards.  Whether you teach it to them or not, it still gives them the impression that it's okay to use in all different areas of society.

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English & Linguistics / How many of there are you?

« on: October 03, 2006, 11:37:14 AM »

Meh.  I didn't even notice it the first time.

It took me a couple seconds to realize what she said the first time, and I figured it was just a freudian slip.  Then she said it five or six more times to the other classes.

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English & Linguistics / How many of there are you?

« on: October 03, 2006, 11:20:41 AM »

My new health teacher was saying this today as she was talking to the off-campus classrooms.  It made my ears bleed.

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English & Linguistics / , and nine lemons.

« on: September 01, 2006, 06:45:04 PM »

Both are right. Though I personally think that 1 is more right.

Yeah, that's what I've always been taught.  I prefer using a comma because there's a pause.

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English & Linguistics / Just in case

« on: August 18, 2006, 08:06:14 PM »

It makes sense how it could mean that, but I've never heard it like that before.

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English & Linguistics / Ow. My head.

« on: August 17, 2006, 08:14:04 PM »

They should be avoided unless it increases the likelihood of being misunderstood significantly.

Your goal in using hyphens is to confuse people?  I usually think you do a pretty good job without them.

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English & Linguistics / Irregular plurals

« on: August 03, 2006, 07:29:32 AM »

Yay!  I win, too.

19

English & Linguistics / I hate journalistic writing

« on: July 18, 2006, 03:06:16 PM »

Can I come pick you up this evening to go fill my tank?

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English & Linguistics / I hate journalistic writing

« on: July 18, 2006, 02:49:18 PM »

I wrote that report in 4th grade.  How'd KSL get ahold of it?  Dina Freedman stole my work!

And of course, when you're filling up that tank tonight, you'll have your car full of people because we should be car pooling right now to cut down on vehicle emissions.

Are they suggesting car pooling to the gas station?

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English & Linguistics / and etc.

« on: July 17, 2006, 02:54:38 PM »

Every time my boss uses "etc.", he says "and" first.  I think I learned in third grade that "et cetera" means "and so forth."

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English & Linguistics / Glottal plosives?

« on: July 11, 2006, 04:27:35 PM »

*head aspirates*

You mean:  *head a spirates*

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English & Linguistics / Spelling reform

« on: July 09, 2006, 01:55:12 PM »

I remember when I was in sixth grade, I made up a "code."  I used the pronunciation guide in a dictionary that shows all the different sounds, and I made a new character for them (I also dropped "c" and "x" in my alphabet).  My friend and I started writing to each other with it.

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English & Linguistics / Spelling reform

« on: July 07, 2006, 03:16:58 PM »

Learning how to spell everything differently is one thing.  Actually spelling that way is another story.  You're not just teaching a quarter billion people to spell a different way, but also trying to get them to break life-long habits.  Businesses, government, etc. would all have to deal with what would most likely be a very lengthy transition.  I imagine there would be a lot of confusion mistaking one word for another because you're not used to it being spelled that way.  I found it surprisingly difficult to read through those phonetic paragraphs.

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English & Linguistics / Quotes from work

« on: June 21, 2006, 09:33:11 PM »

Ah, that's why I thought you were going insane, or I was going insane.