English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
The increasing confusion between "uninterested" and "disinterested" is irritating.
It is robbing us of a useful word, which is often the case with these solecisms.
It is robbing us of a useful word, which is often the case with these solecisms.
It's the same the whole world over
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
It's the poor what gets the blame
It's the rich what gets the pleasure
Isn't it a blooming shame?
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
The historical overlap goes further back than often thought, but I agree... the distinction is useful.Mike Sales wrote: ↑3 Jun 2022, 4:15pm The increasing confusion between "uninterested" and "disinterested" is irritating.
It is robbing us of a useful word, which is often the case with these solecisms.
Jonathan
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Definitely.
- simonineaston
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Why are so many folk gifted an object instead of plain-old-fashioned given?
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
I'd guess that's because it sounds as if it might be posher or more formal. Would that fit with what you've heard, especially around context?simonineaston wrote: ↑8 Jun 2022, 1:42pm Why are so many folk gifted an object instead of plain-old-fashioned given?
This isn't a hypercorrection but the reason might be similar to some of those, for example myself in public speaking where I would be more usual.
Thanks
Jonathan
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
My current Fowler says that "folk" as an ordinary word for people in general is tending to fall out of use in British English, except in northern England and Scotland, where it is standard. If that was so in 2015 when that was published, it no longer seems the case. I seem to see more of it than ever.
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Because our beautiful language has many words with similar meanings, but subtle differences?simonineaston wrote: ↑8 Jun 2022, 1:42pm Why are so many folk gifted an object instead of plain-old-fashioned given?
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
I saw a van the other day with caution horses in it.
So ............ we have a caution site, we have caution lorries, and we have caution horses too. I am reliably informed that we have caution children as well.
Mick F. Cornwall
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
When you give the bus driver your fare, is that a gift ?simonineaston wrote: ↑8 Jun 2022, 1:42pmWhy are so many folk gifted an object instead of plain-old-fashioned given?
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
According to Fowler "gift" as a verb has 500 years history ie it's not some recent creationsimonineaston wrote: ↑8 Jun 2022, 1:42pm Why are so many folk gifted an object instead of plain-old-fashioned given?
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
This is discussed upthread. There's no reason why warning signs should contain sentences or be written as if they were essays.
Do those signs cause any misunderstanding?
Thanks
Jonathan
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Thankyou for illustrating how language evolves in practice.DaveReading wrote: ↑8 Jun 2022, 10:36pmWhen you give the bus driver your fare, is that a gift ?simonineaston wrote: ↑8 Jun 2022, 1:42pmWhy are so many folk gifted an object instead of plain-old-fashioned given?
More recent examples of gifted/given, please.
Thanks
Jonathan
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
I don't have a specific example to hand but something that is gifted need not be deliberately given. A frequent usage would be along the lines of:
Fulchester Rovers were gifted a goal when Uptown City's central defender failed to clear the pass and, with the goalkeeper off his line... etc.
Fulchester Rovers were gifted a goal when Uptown City's central defender failed to clear the pass and, with the goalkeeper off his line... etc.
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Good example. Thanks.Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑9 Jun 2022, 11:30am I don't have a specific example to hand but something that is gifted need not be deliberately given. A frequent usage would be along the lines of:
Fulchester Rovers were gifted a goal when Uptown City's central defender failed to clear the pass and, with the goalkeeper off his line... etc.
Their action turned something that wouldn't normally be described as given into something that was gifted or a gift.
Jonathan