English language

[bitingmidge]

And lots of guys, at some point, would like a vending machine in their man cave

So when she asks ..."a penny for your thoughts?.." No....this thread is now seriously in danger of becoming something that was not envisaged four days ago.

Which brings me to my own particular question

How is it that a thread which is basically about the death of, or as some sad creatures would argue, the evolution of the English language, can attract 400 hits and 80 posts in four days in a WOODWORK forum?

Vocabulary; the thinking man's spokeshave?

Cheers,

P

[AlexS]

Good link, silent. See also "cybervigilantism" - particularly applicable to a recent post about an Ebay scam.

[Bob Willson]

How is it that a thread which is basically about the death of, or as some sad creatures would argue, the evolution of the English language, can attract 400 hits and 80 posts in four days in a WOODWORK forum?

Maybe woodies really care about the language.

No, I think that the real reason is closer to the idea that many people have their own pet hates when it comes to the spoken and/or written word. Don't youse.

[silentC]

... or as some sad creatures would argue, the evolution of the English language ...

Interesting that you should say that. The English language that we speak today is a very different beast to that which was spoken a couple of hundred years ago. The pronunciations and spellings of many words have 'evolved' over the years and would be unrecognisable to someone hearing them in 1704.

I have a copy of Webster's dictionary from 1898 and it has a definition for the word 'Computer' which is "one who computes".

[Barry_White]

If this thread keeps going it's going to catch up "Not a Joke - Just a bit of Fun"

[craigb]

Try this site:

http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/Shaker/

[silentC]

"Thou clay-brained guts, thou knotty-pated fool, thou whoreson obscene greasy tallow-catch!"

See, that's my point. It's English but what does it mean?

[craigb]

See, that's my point. It's English but what does it mean?

Umm, he didn't like the other guy?

[echnidna]

Just shows you how superior the aussie english is, we have one word that replaces that whole paragraph
.

[RETIRED]

Hmm, interesting that the views to this thread equals the date of the battle of Hastings (when I looked)

[Larry M]

With far fewer raised voices and much less blood spilt!

[Pete J]

Evenin' all

Following Craig's lead, there are many useful Shakespearean insults at your command and many sites which produce them. An example is -

members.iinet.net.au/~jaherne/bitspieces/insults.html

While I don't describe myself as a language nazi or worry too much about others spelling or expression on the bulletin board (largely because it attracts attention to one's own inadequacy - particularly typing!) I am concerned about my own children. What everyone else does is their own concern, but if your kids can't communicate well, they start well behind those who can. In some respects, we have a lot to learn from the Yanks, who value the capacity of their children to communicate without hanging their heads, mumbling, using monosyllabic replies, etc.

I rekin simportint

So there. I'm off to read my dictionary.

[Iain]

Would not a Thesaurus be a better option with the option of more options?

[rodm]

In some respects, we have a lot to learn from the Yanks, who value the capacity of their children to communicate without hanging their heads, mumbling, using monosyllabic replies, etc.

Hi Pete,
I think it is the American music (?) that is influencing the way that our teenagers talk, act and dress (or undress if your surname is Jackson).
Must admit that when I was a lad I was influenced by music and surfing idols. I used to think I was an individual by using the "in words", long hair, panel van, and dressing in cords, black teeshirt and thongs. Somewhere along the way you realise you are not so individual and are still conforming to a set of standards.
I acknowledge that you are probably referring to American middle and upper class with your comment rather than the commercial music video images.