BS: Use of the English language

Subject: RE: BS: Use of the English language
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 04:54 PM

As for proof-reading, I failed to close a double inverted commas in that last post. (after "Understand")

Subject: RE: BS: Use of the English language
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 04:53 PM

Wan-fukkit funlings, all of you.

Subject: RE: BS: Use of the English language
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 04:38 PM

From: Steve Shaw - PM
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 03:34 PM

You don't really get closed threads, do you, Nige? Stop being so defensive. If you really want to discuss the use of English, start a general thread, not one in which you want to snarl at someone who said something to you in a thread that was closed (thankfully, I'd say, considering the bad behaviour of your close ally during its dying gasps).

I'm no mod and this isn't my gig, but if I was one I'd consign this ill-starred attempt at a thread to the dustbin here and now. And do attend to your proofreading, Nige. I'm watching! Only one error in your opening post, so well done for that!

You seemed, in the past, to support Jim Carroll's view about use of people's names. Is it so difficult to type the five digits of "Nigel"? I will avoid referring to you as "Ste", as that might be considered unsuitable.
You state I made a mistake in my use of English. It might be interesting to know what you believe was wrong.
One day I may find myself conversing with someone who has a better grasp of the English than I have. I'm sure it won't be you.

I'm assuming that "You don't really get closed threads" is using "get" to mean "understand. I do 'get' closed threads. they appear on the Mudcat frequently.

As for my "ally" in the closed thread, I had none. I speak for myself only. You may see all of this as opposing groups, but that is just paranoia on your part.

Subject: RE: BS: Use of the English language
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 04:16 PM

"Gotten" is okay in Scots. Burns used it, though maybe not as enthusiastically as some Americans do.

Subject: RE: BS: Use of the English language
From: akenaton
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 04:03 PM

I think this could be an interesting thread especially the "Americanisms", my favourite being "gotten".
It appears to be widely used, but sounds incongruous to a relatively uneducated Scot.

Subject: RE: BS: Use of the English language
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 03:59 PM

"Back in the grades" (as one professor used to call elementary school), I was taught that "synonyms" are words that mean the same thing. As I matured (i.e., hit 40), I became aware that synonyms rarely mean exactly the same things - they have different tones and different shades of meaning. "Cut-price" and "cheap" and "bargain" all have different shades of meaning. I like buying discounts and bargains, but I don't like to buy things that are "cheap."

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Use of the English language
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 03:34 PM

You don't really get closed threads, do you, Nige? Stop being so defensive. If you really want to discuss the use of English, start a general thread, not one in which you want to snarl at someone who said something to you in a thread that was closed (thankfully, I'd say, considering the bad behaviour of your close ally during its dying gasps).

I'm no mod and this isn't my gig, but if I was one I'd consign this ill-starred attempt at a thread to the dustbin here and now. And do attend to your proofreading, Nige. I'm watching! Only one error in your opening post, so well done for that!

Subject: RE: BS: Use of the English language
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 03:13 PM

The previous thread was The essence of England

Subject: BS: Use of the English language
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 03:10 PM

Initial quote is from a closed thread where I didn't get an opportunity to respond to Steve Shaw, who seems to have a superiority complex (undeserved) about the use of the English language.

From: Steve Shaw - PM
Date: 06 Oct 17 - 12:44 PM

Well you need to get out more, Nigel. You move away from hyphens if you want to. I shall continue to use them where I think they make things clearer. And there's not a lot wrong with my grasp of English and I don't like remarks of that kind. I've got my eye on you now, you silly lad. I should hire a proofreader from now on if I were you.
I have no objection to the use of hyphens when they add to the clarity of the English language.

But I have no need of a proof-reader when discussing whether “Cut-price” means the same as “cheap”.
Your argument Cut-price is a perfectly good synonym of cheap or bargain displays a total ignorance of what a ‘synonym’ is.
According to the OED: Synonym: A word or phrase which means exactly the same, or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.

The point of dictionaries of synonyms (thesauruses, or thesorai) is that they give you a number of alternatives to a given word, to allow you to select the one closest in meaning to what you intend. This does not mean that any word within the same heading is totally interchangeable.
If you wish to ‘deconstruct’ my comments to show where I’m in error, please go ahead. You have stated in the past that you have done so with others, but I feel that I will meet, and negate, any challenge you choose to make.

And there's not a lot wrong with my grasp of English and I don't like remarks of that kind
You fail to state what kind of remarks you don’t like.

Your turn!