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Lol (pg. 5)
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
^^^ Point taken. I think both System-J and I are used to prescriptivist maniacs that think we'd be better off if they ruled language, and we took Jivey to be one of them for a minute. |
What "prescriptivist maniacs?" Every linguistics student I've come across seems to have undergone the "everything goes and all change is to be welcomed" enlightenment after taking a single class in the subject. Maybe things are different where you guys live. |
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| paulandrews |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
I used to say that in Portuguese myself (though we pronounce the final "l" as "w", so it sounds like "loh-w"), and wasn't in the least surprised to see some of my students saying it as well. As far as I can tell, it here means something like "I meant to chuckle because it is dumb, but I decided to vocalise it as a word instead". |
Heh. Using it in real life speak still seems awkward to me. But if it's true, that nerds are usually trendsetters and the average majority will inevitably hop on the bandwagon later, it will probably become more and more common.
Is there any other internet stuff that has influenced real world? Some memes maybe? |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| Memes are a meme. Think about iiiiiiiii........ ffFFFffFFFFFFfffFFf |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
What "prescriptivist maniacs?" Every linguistics student I've come across seems to have undergone the "everything goes and all change is to be welcomed" enlightenment after taking a single class in the subject. Maybe things are different where you guys live. |
In my defence, I used to be like that as a kid, before I even knew linguistics existed :p
We are generally opposed to what grammarians, for example, try to impose on the language (and, because that's usually taught in school, it has some widespread popularity). For example, "try not to mercilessly split your infinitives". That's an immoral law: it's never existed in the English language, and grammarians tried to enforce it because the infinitive couldn't be split in Latin (I'm in a hurry, but I can look it up for you, if you want). In the end, it just makes people think they don't speak proper English, even though they've been doing that all along.
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
Nono, I meant it as a positive thing. Everyone does it to varying degrees, but you are exceptional at it, at least here on TA. I think it's the sign of a strong ego (not necessarily an imposing one, mind you). But I guess it is what it is, take it as thou wilt. :p |
Thanks then :D
| quote: | Originally posted by paulandrews
Heh. Using it in real life speak still seems awkward to me. But if it's true, that nerds are usually trendsetters and the average majority will inevitably hop on the bandwagon later, it will probably become more and more common.
Is there any other internet stuff that have influenced real world? Some memes maybe? |
I'm not sure. The way I see it, memes are not unlike real-world fads, so they're like popular catch-phrases that enjoy some popularity and may (or may not) disappear after a while. |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
In my defence, I used to be like that as a kid, before I even knew linguistics existed :p
We are generally opposed to what grammarians, for example, try to impose on the language (and, because that's usually taught in school, it has some widespread popularity). |
Ah, so you are talking about the masses, not the members of your enlightened fraternity. Figured as much. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
Ah, so you are talking about the masses, not the members of your enlightened fraternity. Figured as much. |
Not at all. I'm saying the masses are right, and the enlightened grammarians should shut up ;) |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| The grammarians would be part of "the masses," since they are not linguists. "The masses" also include all those naive parents who send their kids to school so that they can learn to write and speak in a certain way and thereby impress future employers. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
The grammarians would be part of "the masses," since they are not linguists. "The masses" also include all those naive parents who send their kids to school so that they can learn to write and speak in a certain way and thereby impress future employers. |
Now, that's your definition - I wouldn't ever say grammarians are part of the hoi polloi (quite on the contrary). As for the masses, we're saying the language they speak is fine: does that really makes us look better than them? If there was a grassroots movement saying the very same thing we're saying (i.e. that ordinary language is all right), would it make any difference? It's the argument that counts. |
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| SYSTEM-J |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
MrJiveBoJingles' complaints should always be taken with the grain of salt nestled within the fact that he is espousing them over the internet. |
I think the fact he has tried, and failed, to quit the Internet on several occasions is a neat counter to that grain of salt.
| quote: | Originally posted by paulandrews
If I remember right, you also hardly use any smileys. Do you avoid them on purpose? Is being able to convey your mood just with words also part of this? Since communicating via text may easily create misunderstanding, it must be hard sometimes. |
I've never used a smiley in six years and probably 20,000+ posts on various forums. As someone with pretensions of being a writer, I try to express as much as possible with words alone. It's good practise.
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
The grammarians would be part of "the masses," since they are not linguists. "The masses" also include all those naive parents who send their kids to school so that they can learn to write and speak in a certain way and thereby impress future employers. |
No, that's only the middle class. Most young people, and those who don't often need formal writing, don't obey the grammarian's prescriptions. The grammarians themselves are the middle-class tastemakers who think they know how language works and are quick to condemn the felicities of the Youth Of Today. Linguistics students are a seperate minority: the ones who have studied how language actually works. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| It's not a counter when it's all the more reason why you should take what he says with a grain of salt. :p |
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| SYSTEM-J |
| Are you suggesting he's lying to himself, or his "I'm quitting the Internet for a year" announcements are merely wind-ups? |
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| lenazi |
baaaambaaaaclaaaaaat!.
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