~contraction chat ft. Louie~

[LordRetard]

You guys make me sad. I really do need a labcoat or something. Linguistics is a real science okay!! I was going to comment on all the things you guys got wrong but I don't really feel like bothering unless you guys insist.

I'll limit myself to saying;

The only examples I can think of at the moment are not splitting infinitives and not ending sentences with prepositions.

Linguists generally don't consider either of these rules, since they're what we call "prescriptivist"; we pay more attention to how people actually speak. So, if a normal English speaker will split infinitives or end a sentence with a preposition, then that's all we care about. As far as we care, that's how English works. They probably teach you something very different as an English or Literature major but honestly that's way different than what I do.

Where will you be?

Barcelona. I'm going there because it's a good place to learn both Spanish and Catalan.

[Edminster]

I'll keep spouting wrongwords unless you correct me so I guess it's up to you.

[LordRetard]

Noo! I can't correct you because you're a native English speaker... Aah, fuck it.

[Kovvy]

Ahh, descriptive linguists.

Edit: Oh-- and they didn't really teach any grammar in the literature classes. I did take one class where we learned a little about different dialects, which drilled into us that "there is no such thing as Standard English" and "No dialect is linguistically superior to any other," and paired up with my Chicano Lit and Asian-American Lit classes made me feel really guilty to be basically white.

[LordRetard]

Ahh, descriptive linguists.

Dude that is what my whole science is based on. As far as I'm concerned, my knowledge of linguistics and my prescriptivist writing technique are totally separate. I'd rather not even mention them together.

[Kovvy]

Hrm... despite the linguistic equality of all dialects and all that, the prescriptive rules are kind of helpful to know... most people will make assumptions about people who speak or write using 'nonstandard' English.

Ah well, it's obviously your specialty, not mine. I'm sure my head is just filled with misinformation. Can you suggest any books that might be helpful?

[LordRetard]

I won't deny that they're good to know but they're kind of independent of English as a language. That is, people know how to communicate one way, but if you want to impress people you should do "this"... I don't deny the importance of prescriptivism, but it must be known that it's a far cry from cross-linguistic study. As in not even related.

[Cirtur]

Watched Louie, it's good. It's a good show and similar to 30 rock in two ways.

1) Both funny.

2) Both about the main character getting a bit older.

[FengharTheNord]

Watched Louie, it's good. It's a good show and similar to 30 rock in two ways.

1) Both funny.

2) Both about the main character getting a bit older.