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Post by alice on Apr 3, 2012 15:48:17 GMT
We all notice that standards of grammar are slipping. Are they slipping or just evolving? We no longer speak with thee and thy and such terms. In years to come will they laugh when they see we wrote 'you're' and not the ever increasing 'your'. Does it matter?
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Post by gurthbruins on Apr 4, 2012 6:18:43 GMT
I have mixed feelings about this.
On the one hand, a living language must and will continue to evolve - it could not be otherwise.
On the other hand I deplore the loading of words with dubious meanings - the theft of words which already carry a classic meaning, and using them to describe something with completely different connotations. E.g. "gay". I have nothing against "gays", but just because I disapprove of the misuse of this word, I'll call them something less flattering. I'd suggest they rather use a word such as "homo" which is seldom used in poetry.
But all such feelings are very personal and subjective at most.
It's not only in grammar or even language that we are faced with dubious innovations.
One of my pet hates is the 2 by 1 television screen, which if catered to, renders all previous screens inefficient.
Who wants a two by one frame forced on the great Spanish, French and Dutch painters?
This is in line with the adoption of new "styles" in dress, cars etc in order to create psychological "obsolescence" and so markets for unnecessary goods.
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Post by alice on Apr 5, 2012 0:02:19 GMT
Oh yes, I agree about words being 'hijacked' and with regard to 'gay' it now has ruined some very beautiful songs of the past. How strange that 'homo' is now considered an insult and yet it is far more accurate. I think 'pet hates' increase as one gets older, and you find yourself sounding like one of your parents! I particularly dislike the widespread use of 'lay' instead of 'lie' and the misplaced apostrophe, or apostrophes where there should be none i.e. banana's. Anyhow, as you say it will evolve, and I am sure I make mistakes all the time, so can't really be the grammar police.
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Post by gurthbruins on Apr 5, 2012 5:15:04 GMT
Glad to hear you dislike things too - I agree "lay" sounds very ugly. Apostrophe's annoy me too, but not so much. Usually, the culprits are at least trying to get it right.
Strange how different things irritate different people. David (one of my housemates) is practically driven berserk every time he hears or sees "99" on the telly ads: which is nearly every time a price is mentioned. He considers this the ultimate crime, but it hardly bothers me at all.
For me the ultimate crime is the mispronunciation of a certain word. It is so painful to me that I can't afford to mention it where my numerous enemies might see it... LOL
Being police is hard work, I cop out of responsibility there, I rather let the damned stay damned.
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