Comments on: What scares me the most http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/ I'm feeling pretty good about myself right about now. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:13:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Trent J. Townsend http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2039 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:15:38 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2039 LOL. I have most of the same pet peeves, and yet I violate the rules of English daily. We Humans are a funny old race ;^) LOL. I have most of the same pet peeves, and yet I violate the rules of English daily. We Humans are a funny old race ;^)

]]> by: LoeZ http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2038 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:11:43 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2038 I know, I just liked the irony... ;-) (things like that happen, especially to me, so it's nice to see it happens to others too) I know, I just liked the irony… ;-) (things like that happen, especially to me, so it’s nice to see it happens to others too)

]]> by: Eugenia http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2033 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:34:18 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2033 That's just a typo LoeZ. Of course and I know what EVOLVE is. When I wrote the above comment, I was also cooking crabcakes and I was coming in and out of the kitchen to the PC. :P That’s just a typo LoeZ. Of course and I know what EVOLVE is. When I wrote the above comment, I was also cooking crabcakes and I was coming in and out of the kitchen to the PC. :P

]]> by: LoeZ http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2032 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:29:08 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2032 Eugenia wrote: "Languages involve. And they involve EXACTLY because of such “mistakes”" OMG, I surely hope you mean EVOLVE in stead of INVOLVE... (Sorry for the capitals Thom... ;-)) Eugenia wrote: “Languages involve. And they involve EXACTLY because of such “mistakes””

OMG, I surely hope you mean EVOLVE in stead of INVOLVE…

(Sorry for the capitals Thom… ;-))

]]> by: Adam http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2030 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:27:28 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2030 You might find this interesting too: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/ You might find this interesting too:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/

]]> by: Administrator http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2029 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:24:55 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2029 Here's what I said in that comment: <i>"Well, language changes. English is particularly prone to change, because of two factors: I) There's no governing body for the English language. Other languages, like Dutch, French, and German, have national language institutes which govern language change, and set official rules. They "maintain" languages and keep them up-to-date. The fact that this doesn't happen in English, means that change will happen without control. For instance, over the past 50 years, several 'strong' Dutch verbs morphed into 'weak' verbs; they were standardised. Some of these changes were made official by the Taalunie ('Language Union', our language institute), so that everyone knew how to spell the newer variations. The older, unused variations were 'deprecated'. This way, you keep a language up-to-date, and make sure the spoken and written language remains 'in sync'. II) English is a lingua franca, meaning it is influenced by just about any other language in existence. This leads to "dutchisms', 'germanisms', and so on. Are these '-isms' wrong? Well, without an official language institute, who gets to decide?"</i> Here’s what I said in that comment:

“Well, language changes. English is particularly prone to change, because of two factors:

I) There’s no governing body for the English language. Other languages, like Dutch, French, and German, have national language institutes which govern language change, and set official rules. They “maintain” languages and keep them up-to-date. The fact that this doesn’t happen in English, means that change will happen without control.

For instance, over the past 50 years, several ’strong’ Dutch verbs morphed into ‘weak’ verbs; they were standardised. Some of these changes were made official by the Taalunie (’Language Union’, our language institute), so that everyone knew how to spell the newer variations. The older, unused variations were ‘deprecated’. This way, you keep a language up-to-date, and make sure the spoken and written language remains ‘in sync’.

II) English is a lingua franca, meaning it is influenced by just about any other language in existence. This leads to “dutchisms’, ‘germanisms’, and so on. Are these ‘-isms’ wrong? Well, without an official language institute, who gets to decide?”

]]> by: Administrator http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2028 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:19:41 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2028 Eugenia, I KNOW. Look at the comment I left on Adam's blog entry. I study language, so I really need not be lectured on this. The thing is, as I clearly said at the beginning of this post, despite all that, I still get annoyed. I *know* why it happens, but that doesn't mean it cannot annoy me. Eugenia, I KNOW. Look at the comment I left on Adam’s blog entry. I study language, so I really need not be lectured on this.

The thing is, as I clearly said at the beginning of this post, despite all that, I still get annoyed. I *know* why it happens, but that doesn’t mean it cannot annoy me.

]]> by: Eugenia http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2027 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:08:18 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2027 Thom, I have news for you. Languages involve. And they involve EXACTLY because of such "mistakes". People use the *same* wrong language over and over again exactly because their brains find them to be more logical/faster/easier that way. And that's ok. Even if for linguistic purists this is like the sky is falling, it is how languages evolve. It is how languages simplify. The English language for example is much more simplified than ANY ancient language. Even modern Greek is greatly simplified compared to its ancient version. If through the years "wrong" words/syntax/grammar were not allowed to eventually be included in official language guides/dictionaries, you and me would still all be speaking Hindo-European from 4,000 years ago. And that would be nasty to learn to read and write. So, lighten up. I know that you are taking pro English lessons, so this might have gone a bit into your head. I never had proper training in English, and it shows. And I don't care. Thom, I have news for you. Languages involve. And they involve EXACTLY because of such “mistakes”. People use the *same* wrong language over and over again exactly because their brains find them to be more logical/faster/easier that way. And that’s ok. Even if for linguistic purists this is like the sky is falling, it is how languages evolve. It is how languages simplify. The English language for example is much more simplified than ANY ancient language. Even modern Greek is greatly simplified compared to its ancient version.

If through the years “wrong” words/syntax/grammar were not allowed to eventually be included in official language guides/dictionaries, you and me would still all be speaking Hindo-European from 4,000 years ago. And that would be nasty to learn to read and write.

So, lighten up. I know that you are taking pro English lessons, so this might have gone a bit into your head. I never had proper training in English, and it shows. And I don’t care.

]]> by: Adam http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2026 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:55:09 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2026 Kernal is kernal when I talk about popcorn, just to be clear. MAC is also an acronym for "Media Access Control," which all OSI weenies know. But in all seriousness, I have a minor in English (I was just 2 classes shy of a double major) and I have to raise some issues with your points. Writing styles are highly debated, and some of your points, while valid, are not as steadfast as you'd suggest. As an above poster mentioned, the final comma of a list is not always required and some Grammar professors wil insist you leave off the last comma. That one is really a nitpick, anyway, since it doesn't change the meaning or mislead you. Your abbreviation point is also contestable in that students are taught to use the period in that case; I think you'll find most Americans do because it is the accepted norm here in the US. Overall, I agree that English is generally abused on a daily basis, but the stupid, avoidable, careless, ignorant mistakes definitely weight heavier for me than specific grammar style tips. English is a young and moving language. It makes me sick to see the "AOL speak" that u c these dayz, u no wut Ima sayn? But you have to admit - it's alive, and it's evolving. Kernal is kernal when I talk about popcorn, just to be clear. MAC is also an acronym for “Media Access Control,” which all OSI weenies know.

But in all seriousness, I have a minor in English (I was just 2 classes shy of a double major) and I have to raise some issues with your points. Writing styles are highly debated, and some of your points, while valid, are not as steadfast as you’d suggest.

As an above poster mentioned, the final comma of a list is not always required and some Grammar professors wil insist you leave off the last comma. That one is really a nitpick, anyway, since it doesn’t change the meaning or mislead you.

Your abbreviation point is also contestable in that students are taught to use the period in that case; I think you’ll find most Americans do because it is the accepted norm here in the US.

Overall, I agree that English is generally abused on a daily basis, but the stupid, avoidable, careless, ignorant mistakes definitely weight heavier for me than specific grammar style tips. English is a young and moving language. It makes me sick to see the “AOL speak” that u c these dayz, u no wut Ima sayn? But you have to admit - it’s alive, and it’s evolving.

]]> by: David http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2025 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:34:17 +0100 http://cogscanthink.blogsome.com/2007/07/30/what-scares-me-the-most/#comment-2025 I'm afraid I'm not sure I agree with your point 7. This is known as the Oxford or serial comma. It's apparently mandatory in American English, but in British English it's optional (at least according to "Eats, Shoots &amp; Leaves" by Lynne Truss, p. 84). A search for "Oxford comma" will bring up lots of references. Of course I wouldn't normally be so pedantic, but I believe it's a law that anything written about grammar on the interweb must be corrected recursively. I'm just doing my bit. I’m afraid I’m not sure I agree with your point 7. This is known as the Oxford or serial comma. It’s apparently mandatory in American English, but in British English it’s optional (at least according to “Eats, Shoots & Leaves” by Lynne Truss, p. 84). A search for “Oxford comma” will bring up lots of references.

Of course I wouldn’t normally be so pedantic, but I believe it’s a law that anything written about grammar on the interweb must be corrected recursively. I’m just doing my bit.

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