Comments on: Pesky 18th Century http://www.anwyn.com/2008/01/31/pesky-18th-century/ Sometime editor, all-the-time mother, delivering facts, reviews, commentary, and rants. Occasionally in that order. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:24:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Anwyn http://www.anwyn.com/2008/01/31/pesky-18th-century/#comment-213437 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:25:38 +0000 http://www.anwyn.com/2008/01/31/pesky-18th-century/#comment-213437 I knooooow ... I bitterly dislike that process. Meaning through ignorance. Catch it! I knooooow … I bitterly dislike that process. Meaning through ignorance. Catch it!

]]> by: Xrlq http://www.anwyn.com/2008/01/31/pesky-18th-century/#comment-213431 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:20:41 +0000 http://www.anwyn.com/2008/01/31/pesky-18th-century/#comment-213431 <blockquote>But why should meanings that come into use through misuse gain legitimacy solely on that basis, even if they are perpetrated by leading lights like Abigail Adams?</blockquote> Because ultimately, there is no "right" or "wrong" language. Language is fundamentally amoral. If enough people "misuse" a term, while too few use it "properly," then it's only a matter of time before the "wrong" meaning becomes the right one, and the "right" meaning becomes the archaic one.

But why should meanings that come into use through misuse gain legitimacy solely on that basis, even if they are perpetrated by leading lights like Abigail Adams?

Because ultimately, there is no “right” or “wrong” language. Language is fundamentally amoral. If enough people “misuse” a term, while too few use it “properly,” then it’s only a matter of time before the “wrong” meaning becomes the right one, and the “right” meaning becomes the archaic one.

]]> by: Daddyman http://www.anwyn.com/2008/01/31/pesky-18th-century/#comment-205043 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:00:58 +0000 http://www.anwyn.com/2008/01/31/pesky-18th-century/#comment-205043 I, for one, favor giving these misused words legitimacy. The old rules are not workable and enforceable. We've certainly proved that over the past 200 years. Keep in mind that these misused words do the jobs that American words simply won't do. In France, they strictly enforce the purity of their language. They've got huge problems in France. They have tremendous problems. The police can't even go into certain areas in the suburbs of Paris. I don't want that in the suburbs of America. Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating linguistic amnesty. I just think we should let these words in and sort them out later. Warmest regards, John McCain I, for one, favor giving these misused words legitimacy. The old rules are not workable and enforceable. We’ve certainly proved that over the past 200 years.

Keep in mind that these misused words do the jobs that American words simply won’t do.

In France, they strictly enforce the purity of their language. They’ve got huge problems in France. They have tremendous problems. The police can’t even go into certain areas in the suburbs of Paris. I don’t want that in the suburbs of America.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating linguistic amnesty. I just think we should let these words in and sort them out later.

Warmest regards,
John McCain

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