Writing English.

[Bill Oliver]

On Sun, 24 Nov 2013, Rolf Turner wrote:

> On 11/24/13 09:30, Robert Holtzman wrote:
>>  On Sat, Nov 23, 2013 at 10:29:19AM +1300, Rolf Turner wrote:
>
>     <SNIP>
>> > 
>> >       But wrong nevertheless.  It conflates two quite distinct ideas, 
>> >       blurs
>> >       the meaning and diminishes the language.
>>  Another English major heard from.
>    Actually not true.  Maths honours, Ph.D. maths, M. Stat.  But what is 
> your point?
>>  I assume you're aware that languages evolve over time in accordance with
>>  common usage.
>
>    This is such a tired and tiresome old cliche that it is not worth 
> responding to.
>    Read what I wrote and think, rather than glibly reacting with smug 
> conformism.
>
>    cheers,
>
>    Rolf Turner
>

I think the problem is that you are under the mistaken impression that most of us who find this so funny are people who speak English.  We don't.  We speak American, a related but very different thing.   Hell, I don't even speak Yankee.

The last time someone said "whilst" to me, I thought he had a cold and offered him a hankie.

I well remember a friend of mine from London coming to visit me at the ranch.  After the initial pleasantries, my father whispered to my aunt, "What the hell that boy sayin'?  Don't get a damn thing coming outta his mouth."  My aunt whispered back "Don't matter none.  He's Little Bill's friend.  Just smile."

The difference between "alternate" and "alternative" is a drop in the freaking bucket.  You might as well be bitching that we misspell "colour."

It's not that you are wrong about English usage.  You are wrong about American usage.  And we just don't care -- but we find it hilarious that someone would.

Listen to this guy talk (he's from Tupelo, Missisipi) and imagine telling this guy that he's using the word "alternate" incorrectly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS98llpw1L4

(BTW, this is the fight he was talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2H-7NIC2qI )

billo