Archive for March 14th, 2007

Millstein won!!!! Take a look at this video towards the end.

Hi! I like words. Your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to read this:

www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/books/chapters/0311-1st-yago.html?_r=3&ref=firstchapters&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

If you make it this far…I commend you. While I find linguistics fascinating, I remember dozing in many a semantics class. I will never forget the week we spent debating the true meaning of certain prepositions. “Is the fly ‘on’ the wall or ‘at’ the wall?”
Anyhoo, I find word-usage to be most interesting. The English language is pretty neat-o all by itself. Many of our rules don’t make a lot of sense and don’t have much consistency. However, it is the way we choose to string words together to convey a thought that is intriguing.
One doesn’t have to speak in mechanically accurate English to be understood. I employ silly English rules to make up my own words all the time (see previous posts). How about Mary Poppins, people for whom English is a second language, and three-year-old children? What about gangsta-rap…did i spell that right? Then there’s Bush with “I’m the decider.” You get the idea.
In reference to the article, I enjoy when authors use obscure words to enhance the description of their work. Yes, I keep Webster’s handy as I am not the brightest crayon in the public school system. I much prefer interesting and new words to monotonous and overused ones
.
1) How is our word-usage a reflection of our culture, our society? Is it a reflection at all?
2) What are some of your favorite words (any part of speech)
3) What word do you wish wasn’t so popular?

Ok, if this is too lame, I won’t hold it against you for not posting:)

disclaimer: linguistics permanently impaired my ability to spell.