Use of English

[Govangirl]

You're not the only one SARID and what does it matter? We all knew what you meant. But watch out because those polis' are going to be knocking on your door in a minute or two and I reckon you've had enough of uniforms!

[EMDEE]

Surely there has to be a good logical reason for change in use of language, e.g. certain words may have lost their distinctive meaning, and have become interchangeable or redundant. "Younger" and "youngest" mean the same today as they always have, and to say "youngest" of two siblings is to give the wrong message. It suggests that there are three or more. Change in use of language should make meanings more understandable, not less understandable.

I appreciate that there are a lot of influences on use of language, now more so than ever, but that is not a reason to allow grammatical rules and spelling to fall by the wayside. As I suggested last week on another thread, am I turning into a boring old fart? (I don't want anybody to answer that, it's a rhetorical question!)

[£3.73]

all I can say is ... thank god for progress !!!

now I can watch gaelic tv ...

agis agis agis mobile phone, agis microwave agis agis Homer Simpson agis internet ......

now that's progress !!!! newspeak anyone ?

[Bobbie En Tejas]

I agree that language evolves, but the evolution should be natural and should withstand the test of time before it is considered a real part of the language, even if widely used at the moment. Hep cat, hip, gag me with a spoon. Thats not a groovy, far-out thing. Just like fashion, there are classics that will stay with us, and there are those that are hot today, gone tomorrow.

As far as commas, one little comma can change the meaning of everything.

One little example: Let's eat, people! Let's eat people.

Commas are our friends

[Govangirl]

I so agree with you Bobbie. We need punctuation to avoid ambiguity. My favourite is:

A woman without her man is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing.

It's perfectly clear you need punctuation within the sentence to make the meaning clear!!!!!!!

[£3.73]

GTF !

G,TF ?

GT, F !

... like, far out man ! Commas are like, ummm, a total trip baby ....

[Bobbie En Tejas]

So, you see my point then, 3.73, (probably poorly made) that what seems like part of language at the moment may be ridiculous the next, so better to let time tell if it has a real place in the language.

Great example Govan! Another example:

No woman, no cry.

No, woman, no cry.