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Ignorance of the English language

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  • HKShooter65

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    Anybody a fan of "A Way With Words" on NPR?
    https://www.waywordradio.org
    It's great weekly hour of linguistics.

    Our language is fluid and dynamic and not at all a static entity.

    I'm far from an expert, though I do feel some precision in language is important.

    Quite recently THESE words were NOT words:
    Not a one of them raised the eyebrows of this board's spellcheck.
    BTW "spellcheck" is a relatively recent neologism itself.

    Vape.
    Tweet.
    Selfie.
    Kegel, as a verb. :)
    Texting.
    Locavore.
    Mini-me.
    OMG
    Ransomware.
    Ear-worm.
    Meh.
    Binge-watch.
    Sexting.
    Truthiness.
    Buzzkill.
    Sheeple. A personal fave.
    Friend, as a verb.
    Viral, as an adjective.
    Meme.
    Crowdfunding.
    Bling.
    Bromance.
    Photobomb.
    Just about anything with -esque or -iod tacked on the end.

    If any of us think we know a precision of language we'd best just get over it.

    Get this:

    https://public.oed.com/updates/new-words-list-january-2018/
     
    Last edited:

    HKShooter65

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    Lol I had a friend who would respond with: “so what you’re saying is”

    Is your friend a counselor of some sort?

    Re-phasing and reflecting a person's thoughts assist in showing the speaker that you are trying to perceive the world as they see it and that you are doing your best to understand their messages.

    It keeps them comfortable and talking....if that's your goal.

    Some are taught this. To some it comes naturally. It is affective in the appropriate setting. Perhaps not in a bar, though often in a debate, as it can be a Socratic trap!
     

    Younggun

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    Is your friend a counselor of some sort?

    Re-phasing and reflecting a person's thoughts assist in showing the speaker that you are trying to perceive the world as they see it and that you are doing your best to understand their messages.

    It keeps them comfortable and talking....if that's your goal.

    Some are taught this. To some it comes naturally. It is affective in the appropriate setting. Perhaps not in a bar, though often in a debate, as it can be a Socratic trap!

    So, you’re saying I’m a lobster?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    Kingarthur777

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    The overuse of "so". Ask someone a question. The answer will begin with, "so....".

    Drives me nuts!

    It drove me crazy in Laredo too. It seemed like every sentence began with, "Es que, I went out last night."
    Or the constant, "Nombre, you didn't do that did you?"

    My wife, though being of Nordic descent is also bilingual, but she has no accent to it. It is grammatically correct. I remember her coming back to the apartment very angry. She said, "Just speak one language or another, I don't care which one. Someone said today, 'Son las three o'clock.' 'Son los tres'; or 'Its three o'clock.' I don't care! Pick one!"

    I thought it was funny because I went to a bilingual church and Pastor Huerta (whom I made friends with his son who was a former seal-but not like the he-mountain most people think of). He was nice enough to take me to a buffet when I arrived in Laredo. I wanted to know the directions to the apartment I had rented in advance. They were relatively new, so he didn't know. He asked the waitress in Spanish where it was. She said, "Necesita que sigue este calle, pos, entonce a ver un 'Stop sign.' I had to say, that threw me in granny gear. I was following the Spanish just fine until Stop Sign entered the picture.
     

    Bozz10mm

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    Little Cajun kids use the word "bring" for "take" ... "Bring it over there."
    Wasn't quite sure the difference until grammar school.
    Still say it ... and get called on it.
    It's not just Cajun kids, I see it a lot on TV. I don't know why it bugs me so much, but it does.
    "I just cut my finger off, can you bring me to the hospital?" Arrrg!
     

    benenglish

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    I did not read the whole thread but I think everyone has pet peeves about language. I can remember being a preteen and hearing people at school say "Close off the light." You don't "close" a light. You can turn it off. You can open the switch leading to it if you need to interrupt the power. I suppose there are other ways to express the same thought.

    I cannot, however, understand how anyone conceived of "Close off the light" as the way to say "Turn off the lights."

    To my personal knowledge, that one has been around for at least 50 years.

    In other news, around my sister never mix up "was" and "were" when making a statement contrary to fact. You'll get an earful. :)
     

    Mowingmaniac 24/7

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    I myself.

    ok, what's wrong with 'I' all by it's lonesome?

    Or this particular preamble when starting out a statement: 'I mean...'

    Double negatives make me cringe.

    Or 'oncst' - not simply 'once' - when I hear that particular "bon mot", I place the speaker in the category of backward...

    Those who can't differentiate between lose and loose.

    I'll stop as my list is long and painful regarding almost every written or verbal error.

    Why?

    Because I'm perfect in every way, well not every way, but close..
     

    karlac

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    I did not read the whole thread but I think everyone has pet peeves about language. I can remember being a preteen and hearing people at school say "Close off the light." You don't "close" a light. You can turn it off. You can open the switch leading to it if you need to interrupt the power. I suppose there are other ways to express the same thought.

    I cannot, however, understand how anyone conceived of "Close off the light" as the way to say "Turn off the lights."

    To my personal knowledge, that one has been around for at least 50 years.....

    Historical ethnicity of the area?

    Paternal grandmother, a French speaker, would tell you to "save the lawnmower" in English, when telling you to put it back where you found it.
     

    Noggin

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    Double negatives make me cringe.

    ..

    Oh Yes! It is great fun explaining to someone when they say "I didn't do nothing" that therefore they must have done something. Of course it is inadvisable to try this on someone who has a sensitive ego and is also bigger than you, unless of course you have adequate protection.
     
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