You Can Literally Use the Word Literally, Literally Anyway You Want?

[ofafeather]

I cringe when I hear that crap. And yeah, "Can I ask you a question?" ranks up there with the same level of stupidity. Why don't you just ask your question, it would have taken less than half the time. What's even worse, if you answer no, they ask anyway.


Then hit them with...it's literally "MAY I ask you a question" not "CAN I ask you a question".

The only correct response to the question “Can I ask you a question?” is “You just did!” Literally!

 

[BrokenRecord]

Well we don’t have a government agency that regulates language like Germany and our dictionaries are all independently published. There is no standard other than the ones we literally create.

 

[ofafeather]

My biggest language pet peeve is the misuse of “I” instead of “me” because people think it sounds more proper but half the time is literally wrong! “They gave my wife and I free tickets”. Wrong! “They told my wife and I”...survey says...XXX. Give it up, folks. Think it thru!

 

[ofafeather]

Well we don’t have a government agency that regulates language like Germany and our dictionaries are all independently published. There is no standard other than the ones we literally create.

But we have Urban Dictionary...

 

[Chasing Embers]

I think that these younger folks just have a hard time reasoning the differences in the subtle uses of the language.

Just imagine what speakers of Middle English would have to say about what we've done to their language.


Always wanted to learn to speak Middle English. Coarse and elegant all at once.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

My biggest language pet peeve is the misuse of “I” instead of “me” because people think it sounds more proper but half the time is literally wrong! “They gave my wife and I free tickets”. Wrong! “They told my wife and I”...survey says...XXX. Give it up, folks. Think it thru!

There was a local morning radioshow where the DJ would start off his shift as I would drive to school with, “GOoooood morning, the sun is shining on you and I!!”
So, in response to a discussion in my English class, I called in and told him he was misusing “I” in thay sentence. He was very nice and seemed concerned, so the next day he started his shift with, “GOOooood morning! You and me are basking in the sun today!”
::?::
Sometimes a little knowledge is dangerous, ha ha!!

 

[BrokenRecord]

Just imagine what speakers of Middle English would have to say about what we've done to their language.


Always wanted to learn to speak Middle English. Coarse and elegant all at once.

I like the flexibility of middle and old English. There was never consistent spelling. No real rules.

 

[ofafeather]

Just imagine what speakers of Middle English would have to say about what we've done to their language.


Always wanted to learn to speak Middle English. Coarse and elegant all at once.

Yeah, and no standard spelling!

 

[ofafeather]

I like the flexibility of middle and old English. There was never consistent spelling. No real rules.

Just saw that and made the same comment. Lol.

 

[BrokenRecord]

I like the flexibility of middle and old English. There was never consistent spelling. No real rules.

Just saw that and made the same comment. Lol.

Lulz. We can call a pipe a pype.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Lulz. We can call a pipe a pype.

Just don't call me a pyper. Never played the pipes, not a plumber, don't bake cakes, and don't have feathers.

 

[edger]

I don't see anything wrong here. Languages can change, they are not set in stone.

Yeah, and they can degrade too. I'll take the stone tablets.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yeah, and they can degrade too. I'll take the stone tablets.

+1

 

[edger]

Where is Bill Buckley when this world so badly needs him. There was a wordsmith, and if you sometimes needed a dictionary or a thesaurus at hand, you knew EXACTLY what he meant. Precision in language is one of the pillars of a great society. Rant over.

 

[BROBS]

Where is Bill Buckley when this world so badly needs him. There was a wordsmith, and if you sometimes needed a dictionary or a thesaurus at hand, you knew EXACTLY what he meant. Precision in language is one of the pillars of a great society. Rant over.

We are not part of one and haven’t been for quite a while. ?

 

[sallow]

Yeah, and they can degrade too. I'll take the stone tablets.

So some language is 'better' than other kinds? What makes it better? I'm not sure how a language can degrade.

Try to read Chaucer. He didn't even know how to spell his first name.

 

[edger]

So some language is 'better' than other kinds? What makes it better? I'm not sure how a language can degrade.

Try to read Chaucer. He didn't even know how to spell his first name.

Oh please, do you want laws, contracts, etc, written by a millennial? How about
Important political discussions and debates conducted by people who can't agree about the meanings of words. Everyone and his mother talk about all of us being "on the same page", but the fucking page is made up of words. We are fast becoming an illiterate society. This subject gets my dander up. Sorry if I have offended anyone.

 

[BrokenRecord]

Oh please, do you want laws, contracts, etc, written by a millennial? How about
Important political discussions and debates conducted by people who can't agree about the meanings of words. Everyone and his mother talk about all of us being "on the same page", but the fucking page is made up of words. We are fast becoming an illiterate society. This subject gets my dander up. Sorry if I have offended anyone

I must not talk politics. I must not talk politics. Uuufda

 

[jpmcwjr]

And, "We're all in this together" Well, some are getting hosed, and some are not. So, not really together.

We're still a long way from our population being decimated. (That's 10%, not annihilation!)

 

[Papamique]

English language criticisms from Kentucky, coming up at 5pm. Don’t touch that dial.

You, sir, are hilarious in a world that desperately needs it. I enjoy reading your posts!