OT- Spelling is out.

[Slynky]

I think your subject title says it all.

Problem with the "keepers of the English language" is the thin skin they wear. Now, here in the US, that statement is more true than in England (where concern about the language is a bit more important).

I say "thin skin" because, rather than tell "someone" they aren't pronouncing (or spelling) a word correctly, the updates of dictionaries just go ahead and accept (and list) the growing bastardizations of the English language. (e.g., "Toward". Take a look in the dictionary and you will see an acceptable pronunciation of, "twardz", as if there was an "s" on the end of it...sheesh!)

In a writing class I attended a few years back, given by a PHD in English grammar from the University of Georgia, the instructor stated that English was an ever-changing language. He went on to state that spelling and grammar weren't so important any more so long as a person was able to convey an idea to another person. In other words, communication was the important factor, not accuracy.

Now, I don't claim to be a genius at grammar and spelling. But, I'll ride my "high horse" so long as I continue to obviously be (note the split infinitive I used to the left...on purpose) head and shoulders above 90% of the people I interact with each day.

Please note that my concern for speaking English correctly does not extend to those who use it as a second language. I salute ANYONE who HAS a second language. Well, besides Ebonics .

[Alneyan]

I had quite a few problems to actually read this few sentences, it would have been much more easier if the letters were correctly placed for me. (I do not mind a typo here and there, but when no word is properly spelled... *Shivers*)

Thanks Slynky, I am glad to see I am not the only one who cares about spelling. I am not saying that my spelling is perfect obviously, you are in fact welcome to point out any typo or mistake I make. (Especially in stories that is, but I am digressing)

And finally, isn't Towards an alternate spelling for Toward? (The latter is especially American according to my dictionary) It would explain the two different pronunciations. But I may be wrong of course.

[Slynky]

Originally posted by Alneyan:
And finally, isn't Towards an alternate spelling for Toward? (The latter is especially American according to my dictionary) It would explain the two different pronunciations. But I may be wrong of course.

NP. I "hear" you.

Towards is listed as a word. BUT, under the FIRST listing, toward, it lists as an acceptable pronunciationn as I mentioned...the "twardz" Version. This is maybe a bad example.

Let's try another of my Favorites, preventive. As in taking advance measures of protection (a rough definition). You will also find a listing of, preventitive (sp?). I think that people looked at the word and added an extra sylable. And the makers of dictionaries just added it instead of "saying", "Hey, dude, that isn't the way it's pronounced!".

[Fyron]

Dictionaries are not the arbitrators of language, but rather the reflection of it. This is not France, afterall.

[Alneyan]

Yes, your point is still valid, even if the first example is perhaps not suitable. I have to admit I still didn't get the meaning of what you said, but I take your words for that as I am myself not an American. (And that is also probably due to my natural silliness)

As for your other example, I have "preventative" in my own dictionary, which is supposedly a synonym of preventive as you pointed out. A quite weird modification there indeed.

Finally, as for the statements of this teach, sure English (and other Languages) are ever changing, a language no longer evolving is dead. But I don't believe that means we should forego spelling and grammar altogether, as these tools of the language are used to allow different individuals to communicate. Or perhaps he basically meant a few mistakes are not a big issue, as long as they don't lead to misinterpretations?

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Dictionaries are not the arbitrators of language, but rather the reflection of it. This is not France, afterall.

Hmm, are you alluding to our old academicians defending the "proper" and past French? Are we really the only country with such people? As for the dictionaries, ours are also reflecting the changes in the language, although these changes are only taken into accounts after a few years. I would also say French is evolving slower than English, but that's another subject.

[ September 15, 2003, 19:05: Message edited by: Alneyan ]

[Fyron]

I was talking about the laws and the official governemnt institution to maintain the purity and such of the French language, not just some stuffy academians.

[Alneyan]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
I was talking about the laws and the official governemnt institution to maintain the purity and such of the French language, not just some stuffy academians.

Oh, I gather you are speaking of the "rules" (not exactly laws, but desirable translations, yes it is quite the same) to use French "equivalents" of English words. These ones aren't commonly used and usually funny or ludicrous. But perhaps you are also refering to other oddities? I am not too interested in the strange instructions coming from the French government concerning the language myself.

[Fyron]

I forget what the agency is called... but it is in charge of maintaining the offical French language and determining what words are allowed in it and what words are not. I do not know if it is still around, but it was started in the 1600s or 1700s IIRC.

[Alneyan]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
I forget what the agency is called... but it is in charge of maintaining the offical French language and determining what words are allowed in it and what words are not. I do not know if it is still around, but it was started in the 1600s or 1700s IIRC.

The only thing I can think of being quite similar to your description would be the "Academy of France", but I am no expert in such areas. I would be interested to know more about that though. (French are rather proud of their language to say the least, so that wouldn't really surprise me)

[ September 15, 2003, 19:28: Message edited by: Alneyan ]

[Andrés]

Mnareil penatls are teh bset.

Hey tihs wired spnilleeg wulod mkae an inneristetg spceeh flie.

We have a similar problem with new words and deformations of existing word in Spanish.
Besides being distributed in so many countries that add their own regionalisms, we have may words imported by bad translations from English.

I suppose there are words that appear in the dictionary but are not considered correct speeching/writing in most Languages.
Well, there is a rule that says that the only Languages that don't change are dead Languages.

But of course that as Spanish spelling is phonetic, there isn't so much freedom to play with alternative spellings. And as words tend to be longer (though not as long as in German) we tend to recognize syllabes and parts instead of whole words.

No cero qeu etse raeedrnenmioto de larets fncouine tan bein en eapoñsl.