Author Topic: Funny English and Linguistics stuff... (Read 203983 times)

BlackBlade · « **Reply #925 on:** August 25, 2014, 09:16:26 AM »

So is it ever used, where the person being asked, "If it's all the same to you" is actually being asked if it's all the same to them?

Jonathon · « **Reply #926 on:** August 25, 2014, 09:33:30 AM »

Yes, but it's not really directly asking—it's it's giving the other person the opportunity to voice their opinion if they have a conflicting one.

Dro_Trebor · « **Reply #927 on:** August 25, 2014, 12:38:09 PM »

Example:
If it's all the same to you, I'd like to change the topic to the phrase "your mother"

dkw · « **Reply #928 on:** August 25, 2014, 06:54:10 PM »

Quote from: BlackBlade on August 25, 2014, 09:16:26 AM

So is it ever used, where the person being asked, "If it's all the same to you" is actually being asked if it's all the same to them?

No one is being asked anything. It's a statement -- "unless you object I'm going to do X." If it were a question it would be "Do you mind . . .?" (Which is also often used sarcastically.)

Jonathon · « **Reply #929 on:** September 03, 2014, 10:18:09 AM »

For the hyperliteral among us.

Nighthawk · « **Reply #930 on:** September 04, 2014, 02:19:57 PM »

Spoiler: About those Oxford commas... (click to show/hide)

Annie Subjunctive · « **Reply #931 on:** September 05, 2014, 11:53:45 AM »

Oh, goodness!

Dro_Trebor · « **Reply #932 on:** September 06, 2014, 05:03:44 AM »

Quote from: Jonathon on September 03, 2014, 10:18:09 AM

For the hyperliteral among us.

That comic is in violation of the TOS.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

rivka · « **Reply #933 on:** September 09, 2014, 07:43:48 AM »

http://dianeduane.com/outofambit/2014/09/09/cripes-im-cited-oxford-english-dictionary/

Jonathon · « **Reply #934 on:** September 09, 2014, 08:47:01 AM »

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #935 on:** October 12, 2014, 08:56:46 AM »

Broker is a funny name for someone who helps you with your investments.

BlackBlade · « **Reply #936 on:** October 12, 2014, 09:01:16 AM »

Quote from: Tante Shvester on October 12, 2014, 08:56:46 AM

Broker is a funny name for someone who helps you with your investments.

I wonder if it has to do with the word "brook" as in, "I will brook no protest."

Tante Shvester · « **Reply #937 on:** October 12, 2014, 01:03:17 PM »

I'd want someone who was richer, not broker.

BlackBlade · « **Reply #938 on:** October 12, 2014, 02:00:59 PM »

Quote from: Tante Shvester on October 12, 2014, 01:03:17 PM

I'd want someone who was richer, not broker.

If he was richer he wouldn't be too sweet on making you money.

Jonathon · « **Reply #939 on:** October 14, 2014, 01:11:09 PM »

Sputnik · « **Reply #940 on:** October 14, 2014, 03:44:43 PM »

I was going to say this guy really is a son of a gun, but then the guy said "literally" in the wrong context, so he deserves it.

Jonathon · « **Reply #941 on:** October 14, 2014, 03:54:15 PM »

Quote from: Sputnik on October 14, 2014, 03:44:43 PM

I was going to say this guy really is a son of a gun, but then the guy said "literally" in the wrong context, so he deserves it.

You could make the same argument about really that most people make about literally.

Sputnik · « **Reply #942 on:** October 14, 2014, 03:58:26 PM »

No, Really can be used simply in emphasis of your figurative claim, however literally is bound by absolute definition to only mean actuality and reality of your claim. "Man, that guy really is a jerk!" could mean he's just super mean, where as "Man, that guy is literally a jerk!" means they're calling a short, pulling action a "guy".

Jonathon · « **Reply #943 on:** October 14, 2014, 04:01:06 PM »

So literally means "in a literal manner" but really doesn't mean "in a real manner"? Why not?

Jonathon · « **Reply #944 on:** October 14, 2014, 04:01:37 PM »

Unrelatedly, "How To Talk To Babies About Semiotics".

BlackBlade · « **Reply #945 on:** October 16, 2014, 11:15:19 AM »

Seemingly obvious in retrospect, the "phil-" in "philharmonic" is from the Greek "philos" or to love. So philharmonic simply means to love music.

Jonathon · « **Reply #946 on:** October 16, 2014, 11:28:05 AM »

I wonder if anyone's ever made a misharmonic orchestra.

BlackBlade · « **Reply #947 on:** October 16, 2014, 11:30:29 AM »

Quote from: Jonathon on October 16, 2014, 11:28:05 AM

I wonder if anyone's ever made a misharmonic orchestra.

Or a malharmonic one.

Nighthawk · « **Reply #948 on:** October 16, 2014, 01:22:48 PM »

Jonathon · « **Reply #949 on:** October 16, 2014, 01:29:49 PM »

It took me a minute to see it, but then