You know what I don't like?

[conuly]

People who say "don't use this or that construction because it's not a word".

If it's not a word, you'd better damn well be prepared to tell me what, exactly, it is. Because the people saying that don't ever say it for real non-words (like gosht for ghost, or wahooni), only for neologisms that they, personally, don't like. Don't argue. Just smile and nod unless you have a decent rebuttal. Thank you.

*sits and waits*

Comments

[conuly]

Ain't was originally amn't (am not). It's perfectly valid, in the am not place. I loves me my etymology!

Please note that, as a linguisticly minded individual, I eschew prescriptivist linguistics as the tool of the oppressor (7)*, and thus cannot complain about lexicographers doing their job and recording English as it is spoken. Please also note that my moral stand against prescriptivism does not, in any way, hinder my ability to tell other people how not to speak. I'm a person of many contradictions.

I agree with you---'because I say so' isn't good enough. Just because it's spoken means nothing.

*shifts* Well. Um. *glances* You're a new friend. I don't want to be my normal self until you know me better. Some people get upset. *buries herself in her sociolinguistics text for this term*


*_{I'm keeping a running count of how many times I've said that since I adopted it as my motto.}

[toastedtuna.livejournal.com]

What are you TALKING about? It's your journal, be yourself!

Honestly, if we have to censor ourselves in our own journals, then what's the point of keeping one?

[conuly]

*grins* No point, I guess. But I hate being upsetting on the first day, especially when I ought to be in bed.

[literalgirl.livejournal.com]

*chuckle*

:-)