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Pedants' corner

The word 'off' is not synonymous with the word 'from'

45 replies

Twiglett · 30/11/2007 22:11

harrumph

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legalalien · 07/12/2007 14:07

my pet peev is "bored of". think I read somewhere that on the internet, this is now used more than "bored with". Shudder.

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OrmIrian · 07/12/2007 14:08

You can get both in the same phrase, as in 'him from off of the telly'

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UnquietDad · 07/12/2007 14:08

And then of course we get into "usage" arguments, where people want to argue that something is becoming "correct" simply because people who don't know any better are using it wrongly.

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EffiePerine · 07/12/2007 14:11

Hello! Can anyone hear me?

THERE ARE NO RULES FOR ORAL ENGLISH. NOONE WROTE IT DOWN. THERE IS NO BIBLE.

The key is: can you communicate? Can you make yourself understood? Does your language help you present yourself socially in the way you wish?

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EffiePerine · 07/12/2007 14:13

For example, do you say 'hOWse' or 'hOOse'? Which is 'correct'? Well, 2 regional variations, obviously. Interesting fact: hOOSe is in some cases more correct because that would be the original pronunciation before a really interesting vowel shift (honest) that didn't take place in northern dialects - so you could say 'hOWse' is the corrupted version.

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EffiePerine · 07/12/2007 14:14

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Habbibu · 07/12/2007 14:19

Effie! I have found my MN descriptive linguist soulmate!

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Habbibu · 07/12/2007 14:20

UQD - you do know I love debating this stuff with you , so:
And then of course we get into "usage" arguments, where people want to argue that something is becoming "correct" simply because people who don't know any better are using it wrongly.

How do you feel about double negatives? Or the split infinitive...

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EffiePerine · 07/12/2007 14:21

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Habbibu · 07/12/2007 14:21

And Effie - did you get out your MEOSL notes as well?

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EffiePerine · 07/12/2007 14:23

Diclaimer: I have done little on medieval phonology since graduating a decade ago. But it was fun . And my modern linguistics info is a bit more up to date (though not much)

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EffiePerine · 07/12/2007 14:24

and I still have Strong Views on the Norman Conquest (the bastards)

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Habbibu · 07/12/2007 14:26

Cool. Between us, we have a fair amount covered. Bring it on, prescriptivists!

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EffiePerine · 07/12/2007 14:26

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UnquietDad · 07/12/2007 14:27

I feel I have Been There And Done That with all of this, and will only end up repeating myself.

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EffiePerine · 07/12/2007 14:34

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Habbibu · 07/12/2007 14:43

No, I don't want a row, UQD, just an acceptance that language does evolve. Of course you don't have to like it, and there are things which are stylistically foul, or communicatively poor. Have you read any Jean Aitchison's books? I'd be geuinely interested to know what you think of her arguments.

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Dinosaur · 07/12/2007 14:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Twiglett · 07/12/2007 14:47

@ 'fuck from'

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Swedes2Turnips1 · 07/12/2007 17:12

Shouldn't the usage argument be called the abusage argument?

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