Writing English.

[Bill Oliver]

On Sat, 23 Nov 2013, Bill Oliver wrote:

> 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
>

That's Mississippi, of course.  Damned keyboard delay.

billo