Posted on 02/25/2005 11:29:26 AM PST by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
There are some things I just do not understand, and I am at a point where I have given up on figuring out many of these puzzlers.
But there are still some conundrums I am determined to solve.
For the life of me I cannot understand how it is that we have reached this level in our academic careers and we still cannot speak proper English.
We have all taken at least seven years of secondary English classes prior to coming to Penn State, and once we are here, we must take a minimum of two more classes. These courses, in addition to the primary schooling we receive and the out-of-class interaction we have with other people, should provide ample opportunity to learn, if not master, this language of ours.
I have to admit, I do find it humorous when people try to speak correctly and fail miserably. I had a friend who would say phrases such as, "If you have problems, come see Heather or I."
At the time, I never had the guts to correct her, but now in a public forum I will.
My friend should tell people to see "Heather and me," because if we were to remove Heather, my friend would not say "come see I," she would say "come see me."
I also hear people say, "Heather and me went to the movies."
Once again, without Heather, I doubt "me went to the movies." While you may think I am just an anal grammar prick, I am just tired of hearing Penn Staters sound like morons.
Critics will say students here are highly intelligent.
Yet on a daily basis I am inundated with examples proving otherwise.
For example, take the word "ignorant."
Now those who have actually picked up a dictionary know the word means lacking education or knowledge.
Chances are, if you have made it to college you have picked up a dictionary at least once, which is why I cannot understand for the life of me why people insist on using this word to mean "rude."
I hear phrases such as, "Gosh, he is so ignorant.
How could he even say that to you" all the time, but now that everyone is clear on the true meaning of the word ignorant, the next time I hear this statement, the "he" in question better be showing a lack of knowledge.
As much as I do not like misuse of the word ignorant, there are several things that irk me more. One of them includes our good friend, Mr. Supposedly. This guy just tries to live a normal life like any other word and then we come along and try to hook him up with Ms. Supposebly.
Now this would be great if "supposebly" were actually in the English lexicon. In fact, it is not, and it is a sorry excuse for the pronunciation of Mr. Supposedly.
And there is no convincing me that I am wrong or that this mistake is not that big of a deal; Chandler broke up with a girl for doing the same thing.
The common problems I hear do not always have to do with people making up words or mispronouncing ones that actually exist.
One thing to which I have really taken a notice lately is the overuse of the word "like."
It is one thing to "like" a boy or live "like" royalty, but it is quite another to, "Like, oh my gosh, did you like, hear like, what like he said to her?"
Now let's examine this for a second. Would anyone ever actually write that out on paper? No. So if you wouldn't write it out on paper, why would you say it aloud?
Amy Heckerling's 1995 hit Clueless introduced our generation to this horrible word, and ever since we have not been able to let go of it.
While it may have been trendy to use "like" in between each word back then, now it just makes the speaker look like a fool.
Imagine this: You graduate from Penn State and go out into the real world to a job interview.
The interviewer begins by asking you a few questions about your background and previous experience.
Now, do you honestly think the interviewer will hire a perceivably ditzy chica who used the words "like" and "you know" as often as it rains in State College?
Or will he or she choose a perceivably intelligent young lass who is well-spoken and articulate.
I think the answer is clear.
While this hypothetical situation may be several years off for many students here, it really is never too early to start looking to the future. Old habits have the tendency to die hard, and it will take a while to shake those old ways.
The future will look brighter though, and I am sure your professors and anal retentive English geek friends will appreciate the effort, too.
When I converse with journalists via e-mail, it is much different from when they actually write pieces. Short, no capitalizations even most of the time.
I apparently am the only person that actually composes well-thought, paragraphed e-mails.
As for calculators..they are lifesavers. I am horrible at doing math in my head since no teachers ever really taught how.
This thread has been fun but the time has come to start the weekend!
So heres a little cartoon and catchy song that expresses much of how I feel to get off-line and go home.
Later Freepers!
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/~pcxee/pig_flash.htm
I am awful at doing stuff in my head and couldn't figure that one out unless I thought about it for 15-30 seconds.
But, I could grab a piece of paper and figure it out quickly...and that guy couldn't even do that?
At least that makes me feel better...
Unique has no comparative. Something is either unioque or it isn't. Something is not more unique than something else. It might be very close to being unique but it is not "very" unique.
Unique has no comparative. Something is either unique or it isn't. Something is not more unique than something else. It might be very close to being unique but it is not "very" unique.
Something so important in our society today and kids not being taught this very important function. They are slaves to the battery operated calculater, or registure. Heaven help them when their batteries die and their electric goes out. They will flounder like a fish out of water.
I'm glad you instructed them how to count and give change. I made sure all my kids could do it as well.
The people who were with me thought I was nuts to have that as my "beach reading".
Shaggy from Scooby-Doo talked like that in nineteen SEVENTY-five. I bet it started with the beatniks in the 50's, if not before.
Most things we thing of as modern affectations have a very long ancestry in certain subcultures. I think "cool" has been used in the modern sense since the days of the flappers and the Cotton Club back in the 1920's.
-ccm
Why do we ship things by truck, but never truck things by ship?
Why can noses run and feet smell?
Why are a slim chance and a fat chance the same?
If my teacher has taught, has my preacher praught?
A writer once wrote; has the biter once bote?
Finally, boxing rings are square, quicksand kills you slowly and Guinea Pigs aren't from Guinea and aren't pigs!
LOL! She sure did, didn't she? By my count, the other people said it 8 times themselves.
I wonder if Hillary was especially nervous or something?
No he couldn't, my son told him the change off the top of his head and this boy was impressed.
I have a difficult time retaining numbers in my head myself. But put a pencil in my hand and I'm an ace.
My son went to school with this boy. He asked him how he got a job that requires math and can't subtract. He just smiled at my son.
Our public schools are a hoot, huh.
I also hope that though I might be nauseated from time to time, I am not normally nauseous.
You have made me hopeful again and happy to see that others are equally ill at ease with the misuse of that word.
When did commentors become commentators?
The word has always made me want to become a regurgitator.
Ironically, you may be right (assuming you are being sarcastic). I believe we pick up our bad habits from the TV and radio. Tons of clichés and overused phrases. My favorite is "each and every."
Should have a grammar-cliché beer party sometime.
Why are they called 'apartments' when they're all stuck together?
Is Congress the opposite of progress?
You have to admit that Bush is amusing. My wife and I snicker whenever we hear him say "nuculer."
Because, though in the same building, they are apart from each other, being separated by walls and doors
I'm going to quit this thread now, while I am ahead or at least even.
If I keep writing I am going to screw up royally.
My personal peeves (which are legion) include "anyways."
"Supposably" (as the author notes but misspells) is equally obnoxious.
Worse is the use of "incidences" for "incidents." It sounds like the speaker is saying "incidentses," which always reminds me of Gollum.
If it's Hillary using the broom it's called "driving to work."
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