Now, there are two distinct elements to my opinion on modern English usage.
On the one hand, my rational side, Stephen Pinker reader that I am1, agrees with the article in that "language is normative, not prescriptive". English is the thing (or things) that people speak. Any 'rules' which don't reflect actual, live, usage, are bunk.
But, on the other hand, I'm a total pedant, and the 'grocer's apostrophe' drives me insane whenever I see it.
I am quite unable to reconcile these two opinions. Ho hum.
Via Something.
1 I'm reading The Blank Slate right now, and it's totally fascinating. Not quite as jaw droppingly awesome as The Language Instinct, but then, what is?
Posted to Rants by Simon Brunning at July 15, 2003 02:55 PMHello. As ever I'm intrigued how you stumbled across my site, but thanks for the 'via' anyhoo!
Posted by: Gordon on July 15, 2003 04:09 PMThe Language Instinct's a great book. ;-)
There was another book I picked up before The Language Instinct called Language Myths where the authors debunk the usual attention-grabbing "they speak Old English in my home town" and "street talk isn't grammatical" kind of stuff.
The whole subject area is very interesting indeed.
Posted by: Paul Boddie on July 15, 2003 05:04 PMWell, I think I might go to Yates's or is it Yates' or is it Yateses wine lodge to ponder the question init.
Posted by: Stevan Rose on July 16, 2003 12:19 PM...but I love the pickiness of those Brits!
Posted by: Ahmed Elnaggar on July 22, 2003 10:48 PMI see that a few of you are Pinker fans. If you would be interested in attending a free chat session with Pinker on Sept. 4th at 9:00pm eastern shoot me an email. I'll fill you in on the details. We will be discussing "The Blank Slate," and yes, you can interact with Pinker.
Chris@booktalk.org
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