[G4] Correct English Flame War

[Robert H. Baucom]

OK, computer malfunction and jargon forgotten, you've drawn me into  
this cyber seminar.
While some of these complaints might be attributed to "Resistance to  
Change" ...  even they will have to admit to: the English language is  
a dynamic (changeable) form of communication.
In my youth it was a tidal wave, now thanks to Television, it became  
a Tsunami and it came about overnight.
There are just a few things  that cause me to rise to  my pulpit; the  
major one being the flagrant misuse of  the term "Gentleman".
Break it down, Gentle-man.
I see these policeman referring to this violent, murderous cretin as  
"This Gentleman." It never  fails to raise my hackles.
RHB
Happiness is owning a Macintosh Computer and a Triumph Motorcycle. --  
Robt Baucom
********************
On Feb 23, 2009, at 11:32 AM, keith_w wrote:

> ewood at izoom.net wrote:
>>> And here's yet another old curmudgeon who would remind you that the
>>> correct spelling of grammar does not include an "e" in place of the
>>> second "a". Also, the correct usage is "people ... who" instead of
>>> "people ... that". Since we're in a glass house, so to speak,  
>>> I'll not
>>> cast more stones.
>>>
>>> :^)
>>>
>>> Jim Scott
>
>> It's something worth study, just how America has come to let its  
>> language
>> suffer. I suppose the greatest factor is the lack of a language  
>> academy,
>> so that we lack a central authority on the subject, more or less.
>
> That statement is without meaning to me.
> How do you define a 'language academy' and of what use/authority is  
> it?
> Do you know of any other (than the U.S.) country that has one?
>
>> Our country also lacks an official language, and this might be  
>> leading to a lack of linguistic pride and identity.
>
> I think that's a path well worth pursuing...
>
>> And then we just have less reading and prose writing overall,  
>> which lends
>> our language a more utilitarian nature.
>
> This subject requires much discussion (not HERE, of course!)
>
> My daughter, whose own daughters are freshman and juniors in high  
> school, says there's no such thing as cursive writing any more. No  
> classes & no interest.
> Virtually everyone prints (or text messages, is more like it!)
> In school, we used to write notes to classmates, now our progeny  
> text messages. Everybody knows that!
>
>> Thus people type quick SMSes and
>> emails, being more concerned with the kind of rapid communication
>> associated with spoken language than with literacy and style. I  
>> think the
>> shift away from traditional literacy is eroding the written word, and
>> education would have to make great efforts to even hope to halt or  
>> reverse
>> this.
>
> Ooops! I'm not altogether sure that's even possible! I firmly  
> believe the best we can do is direct it... Add to it, provide ways  
> of teaching and devise proper classes/instruction, geared toward  
> bringing literacy back into our kids' spoken and written language...
> We've a long and bumpy road ahead of us, folks. Believe it!
>
>> Too many people just don't care enough in a society where good prose
>> is not strictly required to be respected and make a living. So if  
>> I follow
>> this line of reasoning, economic concerns take precedence over  
>> literacy,
>> and then let's not forget that people have auto-correcting word  
>> processors
>> to fix their mistakes for them, should they even choose to use those.
>
> Right, and MY auto-correcting email client-resident w.p. insists on  
> changing my "off topic" acronym in front of the Subject, from [OT]  
> to [TO]. Sighhh.
> I've developed a work-around, but it's tedious and annoying.
> Yet, I don't go into my WP Preferences to change the automatic part...
>
> keith whaley
>
> _______________________________________________
> G4 mailing list
> G4 at listserver.themacintoshguy.com
> http://listserver.themacintoshguy.com/mailman/listinfo/g4