Sometimes I wish I hadn't learned the correct definition of "momentarily." Then it wouldn't make me as angry when I'm on the T stuck in a tunnel and the driver announces "We'll be moving momentarily."
I was always under the impression that the common American usage was a result of Americans not knowing what the word means.
(Please be warned: I am a descriptivist. There are few things that annoy me more than prescriptivism. I'm not annoyed at you, though; I'm annoyed at the school system, mostly, for drilling this nonsense into everyone's brain.)
If 99% of people in this country think that word X means Y, are they all wrong?
If we were talking about something like common misconceptions about science, sure, they could all be wrong. But if we're talking about language, who determines that they are wrong? What possible outside standard can there be?
Is it that the British are right about all issues of language usage? Obviously not; you don't (I assume) talk about taking the lift and putting things in the boot of your car.
Is it that etymology should determine the meaning of a word? Semantic shift happens all the time. The word "girl" originally meant "child"; the word "silly" originally meant "blessed"; the word "awful"
( ... )
I'm going to see you SOON! do you REALIZE! I think I'm going to be tired though, I'm thinking about not a lot of sleep tonight, and then a full day of work, and then a trafficy drive to the airport, and then a flight and then BED.
The guy driving the train I was on today at every stop told people not to get on because the train was late and leaving NOW. And then he shut the doors on people. Way to fight against the faceless hordes, T driver!
SO SOOOOOOOON! Also you never answered my question about contradancing and whether you wanted to. I'll be back in the 'meadow on Saturday.
What the driver says is probably true under both definitions, though. :)
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I've definitely been on trains where the definition that the driver is using is just a blatant lie.
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(Please be warned: I am a descriptivist. There are few things that annoy me more than prescriptivism. I'm not annoyed at you, though; I'm annoyed at the school system, mostly, for drilling this nonsense into everyone's brain.)
If 99% of people in this country think that word X means Y, are they all wrong?
If we were talking about something like common misconceptions about science, sure, they could all be wrong. But if we're talking about language, who determines that they are wrong? What possible outside standard can there be?
Is it that the British are right about all issues of language usage? Obviously not; you don't (I assume) talk about taking the lift and putting things in the boot of your car.
Is it that etymology should determine the meaning of a word? Semantic shift happens all the time. The word "girl" originally meant "child"; the word "silly" originally meant "blessed"; the word "awful" ( ... )
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(The comment has been removed)
I don't remember; sorry. You can look up the etymologies of those words if you want, though.
You mean to tell me that Esperanto isn't used ubiquitously?!
Esperanto isn't completely regular, actually. :)
P.S. I meant "awesome" in the earlier sense, that of "inspiring awe" (semantic shift in action again!)
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I'm going to see you SOON! do you REALIZE! I think I'm going to be tired though, I'm thinking about not a lot of sleep tonight, and then a full day of work, and then a trafficy drive to the airport, and then a flight and then BED.
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SO SOOOOOOOON! Also you never answered my question about contradancing and whether you wanted to. I'll be back in the 'meadow on Saturday.
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