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| re: "Literally" | |
| Posted by: Budinsky 07:32 pm EDT 07/16/18 | |
| In reply to: re: "Literally" - BruceinIthaca 10:01 am EDT 07/16/18 | |
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| I have yet to understand how presumably intelligent people take the position that if a word is consistently used incorrectly by enough people that the word's meaning needs to be bent to accommodate that incorrect usage. I would think that they'd take the opposite tack, acting as a bulwark to defend the language. I'm not familiar with the work of McWhorter and I'm not about to remedy that. Apparently, he's "a smart scholar." Just out of curiosity: could you provide me with an example of a stupid one? |
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| re: "Literally" | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 10:20 am EDT 07/17/18 | |
| In reply to: re: "Literally" - Budinsky 07:32 pm EDT 07/16/18 | |
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| I'm in academia--the list of "stupid scholars" is legion, trust me. Language changes over time--"hussy" used to mean "housewife." So, if people today use it to mean something derogatory about a woman, they are "wrong"? Rules about split infinitives and not ending sentences with prepositions are vestiges of eras when rules for classical languages (which are highly inflected) were imposed on non-inflected languages (like English, which has some inflection, but not in as determinative way as Greek and Latin). Too bad you proudly assert you have no plans to "remedy" your ignorance. Linguistics, even at its most basic and less technical level, is fascinating and gives insight into language change. But do try to be a "bulwark" against change--it's a losing battle. |
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| re: "Literally" | |
| Posted by: Budinsky 09:07 am EDT 07/18/18 | |
| In reply to: re: "Literally" - BruceinIthaca 10:20 am EDT 07/17/18 | |
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| Sarcasm notwithstanding, you seem to suggest that "change" is synonymous with "progress." I don't subscribe to that notion. I didn't "proudly assert" anything. Whether you're among the "legion" you claim, I know not. But I'd classify you as among the presumptuous. |
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| re: "Literally" | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 10:21 am EDT 07/18/18 | |
| In reply to: re: "Literally" - Budinsky 09:07 am EDT 07/18/18 | |
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| Not presumptuous...just educated. | |
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