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Author Topic: Battlestar Grammatica  (Read 2737 times)

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Offline Jonathon

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Battlestar Grammatica
« on: December 04, 2006, 11:30:16 AM »
The other day we were watching some Battlestar Galactica (the episode "Home, pt. 2," I believe), and there was one scene that made me kind of groan. Some people are on a planet looking for something, and a guy asks a Cylon woman, "How much further?" She responds by saying it should be "farther" and explaining that "farther" is for physical distances while "further" is for more abstract things. Then he says something about how he's obviously not as smart as a Cylon. Ugh. Apparently even the oh-so-superior Cylons are still susceptible to linguistic fallacies.
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2006, 11:33:31 AM »
:cool:

Is what she said just plain false, or is it one of those "rules" that are more prescriptive than descriptive?
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Offline pooka

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« Reply #2 on: December 04, 2006, 12:04:42 PM »
There are cylon women, now?
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Offline Jonathon

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Battlestar Grammatica
« Reply #3 on: December 04, 2006, 12:20:13 PM »
Quote
:cool:

Is what she said just plain false, or is it one of those "rules" that are more prescriptive than descriptive?
Well, it's not entirely false, but I also wouldn't say that it's simply more prescriptive than descriptive. As with most prescriptive rules, there's some kernel of truth in it, but it's a gross oversimplification that tries to force the pair of words into a complementary distribution that has never existed (or even come very close to existing) in the language.
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Offline Brinestone

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« Reply #4 on: December 04, 2006, 12:29:29 PM »
Pooka: Yes, and they look like Victoria's Secret models.
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Offline pooka

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« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2006, 12:32:26 PM »
I was going to ask if they are hot. :lol:  No wonder everyone likes the new series better.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2006, 12:32:44 PM by pooka »
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2006, 12:36:22 PM »
Brinestone beat me too it.  I was going to say "Yes, and they're all hot."

One of them looks a lot like Xena.
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2006, 01:14:58 PM »
Quote
Well, it's not entirely false, but I also wouldn't say that it's simply more prescriptive than descriptive. As with most prescriptive rules, there's some kernel of truth in it, but it's a gross oversimplification that tries to force the pair of words into a complementary distribution that has never existed (or even come very close to existing) in the language.
If I won't understand the answer, I shouldn't ask the question. >.<
« Last Edit: December 04, 2006, 02:06:34 PM by Porteiro »
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Offline Noemon

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« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2006, 01:49:52 PM »
Admit it, Jonathan--you thought of the subject line for this thread ages ago, and have been itching to use it ever since.
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I hope you have a wonderful adventure in Taiwan. Not a swashbuckling adventure, just a prawn flavored pringles adventure.

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Offline Porter

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« Reply #9 on: December 04, 2006, 02:05:43 PM »
:D
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Offline Jonathon

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« Reply #10 on: December 04, 2006, 05:19:09 PM »
Porteiro: What part of that didn't you understand?

Noemon: I'm ashamed to admit that it only occurred to me last night. :blush:  
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #11 on: December 04, 2006, 05:31:16 PM »
Your point.
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Offline Jonathon

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Battlestar Grammatica
« Reply #12 on: December 04, 2006, 05:42:44 PM »
My original point was that if the Cylons really had a superior grasp of grammar and usage, then they would know that further and farther naturally have a lot of overlap. The idea that one word should be used in one situation and the other word in all other situations is artificial.

Just like the Cylons. :fear:  
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #13 on: December 04, 2006, 05:44:12 PM »
:)
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Offline Noemon

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« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2006, 05:53:52 PM »
Quote


Noemon: I'm ashamed to admit that it only occurred to me last night. :blush:
Well, it's easily the most clever thing I read all day, regardless of when you came up with it.  I've been kind of smiling about it ever since I read it.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2006, 05:54:18 PM by Noemon »
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I hope you have a wonderful adventure in Taiwan. Not a swashbuckling adventure, just a prawn flavored pringles adventure.

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Offline pooka

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« Reply #15 on: December 05, 2006, 06:06:34 AM »
But wouldn't it be Grammactica?
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Offline rav

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« Reply #16 on: December 07, 2006, 08:12:18 PM »
Battlestar Gra'ma
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Offline Jonathon

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Battlestar Grammatica
« Reply #17 on: December 10, 2006, 08:07:25 PM »
Tada!



Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I can't use it on t-shirts at my store. :(
« Last Edit: December 10, 2006, 08:18:09 PM by Jon Boy »
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Offline Icarus

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« Reply #18 on: December 11, 2006, 06:58:41 AM »
Too bad . . . I'd probably buy one.

-o-

I don't think I'd ever heard that "rule." When are you supposed to use "farther" and "further"?
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Offline Icarus

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« Reply #19 on: December 11, 2006, 07:00:26 AM »
I think I pretty much use "further" all the time except when I'm trying to make a fart joke. Is that the correct usage?
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Offline pooka

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« Reply #20 on: December 11, 2006, 08:48:17 AM »
Oddly, there was a thread on this very subject not so long ago right here.
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Offline Jonathon

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« Reply #21 on: December 11, 2006, 08:49:55 AM »
Quote
I think I pretty much use "further" all the time except when I'm trying to make a fart joke. Is that the correct usage?
That usage is sort of antiquated, but it's still used by respectable writers. You'd be fine sticking with it.
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