![Thanks](https://www.renovateforums.com.au/dbtech/thanks/images/thanks.png)
![Likes](https://www.renovateforums.com.au/dbtech/thanks/images/likes.png)
![Needs Pictures](https://www.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/happy/photo4.gif)
![Picture(s) thanks](https://www.ubeaut.biz/wave.gif)
Results 1 to 15 of 17
Thread: ABUSE of the English Language
-
25th September 2005, 06:06 AM #1
ABUSE of the English Language
Originally Posted by rick_rine
I believe we are all guilty, at some time.
My pet hate is the incorrect use of 'Hard' when 'Difficult' should be used.
It came to light during the time when I was working FIFO.
When I got home I was Difficult,
because I was hard :eek: :eek:
I know of the Wood/ Timber one,
and 'May I' / 'Can I'
Any others?Navvi
-
25th September 2005, 07:11 AM #2
I never understood the "She is the cat's mother" business that my mum went on about.
So I ignored it until I went away....
I am sure its another example of the abuse of the English language.Last edited by Clinton1; 25th September 2005 at 07:25 AM. Reason: personal pronoun usage where impersonal pronoun would suffice
-
25th September 2005, 01:14 PM #3
You aint seen nothin yet... :confused: :confused:
Bit like the question what colour is God.
White boy said he asked him and he told him he was white, did you see him, no but he told me.
How do you know he is white?, he said "I am what I am, if he was black he would have said 'Ah is what ah is'Stupidity kills. Absolute stupidity kills absolutely.
-
25th September 2005, 02:50 PM #4
Chics dig me!!!
- Join Date
- Aug 2005
- Location
- Dallas Texas USA
- Age
- 51
- Posts
- 0
I use the hard / difficult one quite a bit but I also think they are somewhat interchangeable.
The can I / may I bothers me.
Another one that is not used correctly is the who/whom.
Please explain the wood/timber one to me..... (this is not flame bait) I honestly haven't heard the reasoning behind calling it timber vs wood.
In another thread I used the word lumber and I am used to calling the wood supplier the "lumber yard" although I think lumber in my mind is more of a construction type wood....2x4s and the like.
Anyway, I am sure this will be a interesting thread.
-
25th September 2005, 03:26 PM #5
"Lumber' is not a word in use here, seems to be more USA, Canada and I have heard it used in the UK.
Stupidity kills. Absolute stupidity kills absolutely.
-
25th September 2005, 03:35 PM #6
Deceased
- Join Date
- Jun 2003
- Location
- ...
- Posts
- 1,460
Originally Posted by Firewalker
The phrase " Can I " is asking someone if they believe whether I am able to do something whereas " May I " is asking permission to do it.
Please explain the wood/timber one to me..... (this is not flame bait) I honestly haven't heard the reasoning behind calling it timber vs wood.
In another thread I used the word lumber and I am used to calling the wood supplier the "lumber yard" although I think lumber in my mind is more of a construction type wood....2x4s and the like.
Trees are made of wood but here when they are cut into planks they are called timber not lumber. Hence we go to a timber yard and buy timber and also we use the larger size first so we would buy 4 * 2 and not 2* 4. Neither do we use the phrase 5/4 or 8/4 but 1 1/4 and 2. Similarly nails are described by their lenght and not their pennyweight.
Just cultural differences I suppose but it is handy to know these differences.
-
25th September 2005, 05:10 PM #7
Chics dig me!!!
- Join Date
- Aug 2005
- Location
- Dallas Texas USA
- Age
- 51
- Posts
- 0
That's interesting to know the differences in terms.
I did know the can I / may I ........just agree that it's irritating when used wrong.
I originally typed a long winded reply but my browser froze and it erased......screw it........will just drink another beer instead of retyping.
Cheers!
Scott
-
25th September 2005, 05:30 PM #8
-
25th September 2005, 06:45 PM #9
Registered
- Join Date
- Aug 2003
- Location
- .
- Posts
- 4,816
Originally Posted by Ivan in Oz
Al :confused:
-
25th September 2005, 07:00 PM #10
A phrase that REALLY annoys me is one that you hear a lot by financial analysts and politicians and that is "going forward". Why not use "the future".
It seems that most industry sectors are developing into sub-cultures with their own words, phraseology and industry specific acronyms. I surpose wood working can be included in that as well.Last edited by Mulgabill; 25th September 2005 at 07:01 PM. Reason: spelling
Russell (aka Mulgabill)
"It is as it is"
-
25th September 2005, 07:03 PM #11
Eins, zwie, drie feir!!!! <Achung!!!>
At the risk of offending you lot who have goosetepping tendancies re language, swearing, spelling and such... I venture the following ; Is not the purpose of language/s to convey meaning, express thought, profess opinion, laud poetry and song ?? if so who cares if I use difficult instead of hard ? so long as the meaning of the intention of the sentance is expressed without missunderstanding theoretical right or wrong grammer, pronunciation and spelling is TOTALLY irrelevant.
Everyone gets it wrong; politicians, judges, winos, grunt, frank zappa, , you, me. why burden your life with the hating of the irreconcilable ?
wars have started due to misunderstandings in inflection, grammer and pronunication - what a waste!
Alfred Einstien was right when he said (If you allow me to paraphrase his quote here and twist it to my argument as a descriptor) "Nationalism is the bane of civilisation, the scourge of humanity" What am I trying to say here ? The sooner we have a common language the better. I hope my being difficult wasnt too hard for you goosteppers.Last edited by Zed; 25th September 2005 at 07:05 PM. Reason: deliberatly inserted spelling and grammatical mistakes!!!
Zed
-
25th September 2005, 07:10 PM #12
I love the smell of difficultwood, but it's a basterd to machine.
Last edited by Caliban; 25th September 2005 at 07:11 PM. Reason: to get around the auto censor.
Cheers
Jim
"I see dumb peope!"
-
25th September 2005, 07:30 PM #13
I agree with Zed (could be a first!
)
I have some other thoughts on the subject but they're difficultly worth peopletioning.Driver of the Forums
Lord of the Manor of Upper Legover
-
25th September 2005, 07:47 PM #14
I've never cared much for correct 'grammer'. I can see how its important, in so far been understood. But thats as far as it gets with me.
But what I think is a little worse, is letting oneself worry about it. For me, the question is.......'do I know what the guy's talking about ? ' .....and most of the time the answer is 'yes' even if he's writen/spoken it the wrong way.
And then what do you do about it, when somebody annoys you with poor english ? ...tell him so ! Like bloody hell I would. The last thing I would wish to resemble is some kind of vigilante,....the bloody grammer police.
well ..ahhh, actually, thats ' Difficult,,,,not hard' <- most people would tell you, or at least think, 'get stuffed' after hearing you say that. ...
Each to their own , Ivan, of course,....some people probably think my pet peeves are bloody ridiculous as well.
p.s. ......sorry about my poor english...bound to be a lot in my ravings
-
25th September 2005, 08:05 PM #15
Similar Threads
-
GW Bush and the English Language!
By hexbaz in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH RENOVATIONReplies: 1Last Post: 27th August 2004, 09:13 PM -
English language problems
By Bob Willson in forum JOKESReplies: 0Last Post: 7th June 2004, 04:21 PM -
English language
By Bob Willson in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH RENOVATIONReplies: 58Last Post: 3rd April 2004, 12:37 PM -
Why English is hard to learn
By DaveInOz in forum JOKESReplies: 3Last Post: 26th April 2003, 10:14 PM -
EU Language (better than the last couple!)
By Eastie in forum JOKESReplies: 0Last Post: 13th March 2003, 10:39 AM