Messages

1

English & Linguistics / More Comic Sans

« on: July 25, 2005, 10:04:28 AM »

I confess to using it once in a publication.  I didn't know any better.  It was an amateur mistake... but I was an amateur.

I've never done it again.

AJ

2

English & Linguistics / The joys of corporate writing

« on: July 25, 2005, 09:26:10 AM »

yeah.... It's weird that the crappy grammar is pissing me off as much as anything.  Basically if he was going to ding me, he should do a good job of it.   But if that is supposed to be "constructive criticism" the world is doomed.

AJ

3

English & Linguistics / The joys of corporate writing

« on: July 25, 2005, 08:26:54 AM »

precisely

4

English & Linguistics / The joys of corporate writing

« on: July 25, 2005, 08:00:50 AM »

A sample from my actual work review. (I got screwed on it)

Planning:
Priortizes and plans work activities   2- Needs Improvement
Uses time efficently   2-Needs Improvment
Plans for Additional Resources  2- Needs Improvement
Integrates changes smoothly  2-Needs Improvement
Sets goals and objectives  2- Needs Improvement
Works in an organized manner  2-Needs  Improvement

Ok.. now the verbage... I figured I didn't have to grammar correct a crappy review.

Anna generally plans and prioritizes well.  She usually integrates changes smoothly into existing plans.  However she could make more efficent use of her time through better planning and organization.  Anna sometimes does not plan well enough for additional resources.  Further, she does not always set effective goals and objectives for herself.  There would be fewer inefficencies if her work was better organized.  Anna needs to establish priorities based on the fluctuating requirements of the department.  Anna integrates changes smoothly into existing plans.  However she would be more effective if she prioritized and planned her work better.  Anna could make more efficent use of her time through better planning and .  Also she sometimes dones not plan well enough for additional resources.  Addtionally, she does not always set effective goals and objectives for herself.  There would be fewer inefficiencs if her work was better organized.  It should be noted that Anna's overal performance has been comprimised in comparison to her review scores last review period.  Anna has recieved formal counselling to direct attention to those job responsibilities that require improvement.  She recognizes this as a positive means of corrective action and has been progressing at an acceptable level.

Have fun...

AJ

5

English & Linguistics / Pronunciation question

« on: March 02, 2005, 12:56:25 PM »

Grin,  Grew up in CA, lived 5 years in OK, now reside in the Chicago Area.  My parents were basically midwesterners.  I've had people completely unable to identify my 'accent'.  I also  adapt to accents  really easily.  I've mostly lost the bits of Okie that rubbed off and am basically back to normal though.

AJ

6

English & Linguistics / Pronunciation question

« on: March 02, 2005, 10:26:51 AM »

I say TORD.

If I'm going to draw it out I'd say it more like toe-ord than anything else

AJ

7

English & Linguistics / Verdigris

« on: December 03, 2004, 11:40:15 AM »

Actually the world revolves around Admiral Protonium, Captian Neutronium is just a sidekick though he may be completely unaware of it.
 
AJ

8

English & Linguistics / Hours-ours

« on: December 03, 2004, 11:35:52 AM »

Due to a bad pun on advertising propaganda at my company.  I started thinking about this today.

How hick am I?  I  tend to pronounce "hours" as two syllables "ow-ers".    While I pronounce ours as "ares"   Or at least I think that's the way I say them.  It's definitely the way I hear them in my brain.

AJ

9

English & Linguistics / Seal Seal Seal

« on: September 30, 2004, 08:03:12 PM »

I think a chinchilla may win on the furry bit.  It has 40 hairs per follicle which I think is the highest in the animal kingdom.

10

English & Linguistics / Seal Seal Seal

« on: September 30, 2004, 08:02:12 PM »

I am that I am  

11

English & Linguistics / Seal Seal Seal

« on: September 30, 2004, 06:16:59 PM »

My company manufactures seals for automobiles among other things.  

Our engineering web page's slogan is "John Crane Engineering- Where seals are not just furry aquatic mammals"  It is so bad I cringe every time I read it, but that's where that bit came from.  I am aware that a seal is not exactly the furriest creature in the world.

 

12

English & Linguistics / Seal Seal Seal

« on: September 30, 2004, 02:58:07 PM »

See I knew you'd know the answer!

13

English & Linguistics / Seal Seal Seal

« on: September 30, 2004, 02:34:15 PM »

They are both from Middle English, one via Old English and the other via Latin and Old French, so how did they end up sounding the same today?

 

14

English & Linguistics / Seal Seal Seal

« on: September 30, 2004, 01:59:31 PM »

How in the world, did something like a wax stamping for security process done by landowners, end up with the same name as the aformentioned furry aquatic mammal also known as a seal?