Words in/not in the dictionary

[doe_witch]

I think this recent edition of Dinosaur Comics wonderfully sums up why linguistic creativity is awesome and prescriptivism is made of fail.

Comments

[un_sedentary]

Haha, awesome. I particularly like "sexplosive".

I have a love-hate relationship with prescriptivism, though... my linguistics prof called me a prescriptivist on the first day of the course, because the topic was linguistic pet peeves and I complained about a friend of mine "abusing the English language" by misusing grammar. And I hate chatspeak (I can't even bring myself to use it when texting and definitely never when IMing). If that makes me one, then fine. (Although I do like internet slang like "made of fail" and the like. It's simply that I don't think chatspeak serves any creative purpose - it's pure laziness in my eyes.)

But I am all for the advancement and evolution of language, forming and using new words, etc. Linguistic creativity is awesome. There's quite a lot of grey area between total prescriptivism and total descriptivism.

[muckefuck]

If you need convincing that chatspeak embodies linguistic creativity, you should read David Crystal's txtng: the gr8 db8. (Sure, there's plenty of "pure laziness", too, but ask yourself: How much of my routine speech acts is fresh and creative rather than rote and lazy?)

[doe_witch]

This.

[akamaru]

I agree... I always use full words in texting, and fairly proper sentences in IM/in-game chat. My brain doesn't even operate in txtr slang. I still like net slang and neologisms. I'll creatively abuse the language when it's appropriate. I just don't like slang or misuse that only comes across as... inarticulate and uneducated.

(I'm also not some jerk who'll jump on someone for moderate misuse or mistakes if they're unintentional, but I do tend to notice it... I'm certainly not perfect myself so who am I to criticize?)

[sushimustwrite]

I don't know what T-Rex is talking about. Mathemagicians are real.

[thekumquat]

A main character in The Phantom Tollbooth, for starters.

Now there's a good book for linguistics fans!

[doe_witch]

That was my favorite book of all time for a good long while.

[zepooka]

This one is still my favorite: http://www.qwantz.com/comics/comic2-855.png, just for the last panel.

[doe_witch]

You win the game of How To Remind Me Of My Favorite Dinosaur Comics Comic. The prize is that within the bounds of propriety I nearly piss myself laughing and trying not to wake up everyone else in the house.

[primroseburrows]

That one made my week, truly.

[champagnesheik]

LOVES IT

(always loves dinocomix)

[madmouth]

I think we're about 5 years past needing to declare 'prescriptivism boo-erns'

[doe_witch]

Well, ideally we'd be about 100 years past it, but judging from some of the replies here and probably a good 50% of people I know, I'm surprised myself.