Language Peeves

Discussion in 'Evolution of Language' started by Sheldon Scott, Mar 31, 2015.

  1. Lara Moss

    Lara Moss Supreme Member
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    Student: Can I borrow a pencil?

    Teacher: I don't know, can you?

    Student: Yes, I might add that colloquial irregularities occur frequently in any language. Since you and the rest of our present company understood perfectly my intended meaning, being particular about the distinctions between "can" and "may" is purely pedantic and arguably pretentious.
    :D:p:rolleyes:
     
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  2. Terry Page

    Terry Page Supreme Member
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    health-beauty-pedant-pedantics-pedantry-geeks-nerd-cman654_low.jpg
    6350-pedantshumor.jpg
    6352-bonus joke.jpg
    2010-09-13-Pedantic-Semantics.png
     
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    Last edited: Feb 25, 2016
  3. Bonnie Thomas

    Bonnie Thomas Veteran Member
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    Mine is when you say “thank you” for something, and the response is “no problem!”

    ……was it a problem?


    And when something is .. "almost exactly"
     
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  4. Tom Locke

    Tom Locke Veteran Member
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    I'm reminded of when a former colleague, who had a habit of getting words wrong, accused me of being 'pendantic.'

    I told him that I certainly wasn't; I was just hanging around.
     
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  5. Ruby Begonia

    Ruby Begonia Supreme Member
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    VIN number
     
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  6. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    Don't be such a looser.
     
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  7. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    Please hold. Why? You called me.
     
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  8. Tom Locke

    Tom Locke Veteran Member
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    An interview:

    Me (discussing interests): I'm fascinated by etymology.

    Interviewer: What made you interested in insects?

    <sound of interviewee's head hitting desk>
     
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  9. Bonnie Thomas

    Bonnie Thomas Veteran Member
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    Past History ...


    Do they teach kids grammar anymore? ...
    "Are you for serious?" ... "Me and him went to the Mall".
     
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  10. Bonnie Thomas

    Bonnie Thomas Veteran Member
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    Insects .... words ... :D
     
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  11. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    In my younger years, I would sometimes call someone and then say, "Hello" when they answered, as if they had called me.
     
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  12. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
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    There is the phrase which has reached the degree of "silliness" in usage by service-persons: waiters, waitresses, salespeople. No matter if they are praised, or rebuked, it is always "No problem!"
     
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  13. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    I think a lot of it has to do with the time a person is growing up. Some common words or phrases seem prevalent during specific times, such as the Valley Girl phase and the word like. I tend to use a lot of fillers, especially when my mind goes blank, but I try to mix them up, so as to not be too repetitive. Constant use of the phrase 'no problem' irritates me, as well. I think many haven't been taught to use the words please, thank you, and you're welcome.

    I had a co-worker who loved to drink Absolut Vodka, and she and her friends would hint at that when they were asked a question and emphasize the word absolutely (with an accompanying smirk) as a response. I think of her when I'm watching television (this happens a lot on HGTV, for some reason), and the person emphasizes the word.
     
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  14. Lara Moss

    Lara Moss Supreme Member
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    I tired a long time ago of the phrase "Life is too short" but I do understand the point. It's not quite right since it's the longest thing we'll ever do so I try to come up with other ways of making the same point.
     
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  15. Diane Lane

    Diane Lane Veteran Member
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    I guess that's why someone came up with YOLO (You Only Live Once), it's an acronym and easy to text, too, which makes it popular with young'uns. It seems more of the recent phrases and saying fit that bill. Another is FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), and both are often used to encourage what could otherwise be considered bad or risky behavior.
     
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