“Now there abide these three: phonemes, syntax and semantics; but the greatest of these is semantics.”
Still, phonemes and syntax are important. So this lil mini-rant touches on all three…
Drive-by Rant: ON
Not that these are gripping gripes for most folks, but does the constant pejoration of English get to anyone else the way it does me?
For example, can anyone explain to me why folks use the word “terror” (“intense, sharp, overmastering fear”) instead of “terrorism” (“the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.”) when talking about the acts of Izlamic savages, nowadays? When (and how) did that lil piece of stupidity get started? And who started it? I’d like to know, because Dr. Tarr and Mr. Fether are awaiting an introduction to that particular troglodyte.
Or how about a simpler, less blatant (to most) example of linguistic stupidity?
“There’s reasons why Osama bin Laden is still at large.”
Every time I hear some Mass Media Podperson—supposed to be professional wordsmiths, conversant in the English language—or any other person for that matter, use that fav construction of subliterate morons I want to get out a hemp necktie and get ’em measured for their tree party.
Dumbasses. “Reasons” in that sentence is plural. “There are reasons…” so it’d be “There’re reasons… ” A tongue twister, you say? Suck it up. People who’d say “there’s” when “there’re is appropriate would probably say “Feb-YOU-ary” for “February”… another inexcusable mallocution.
Heck, why get all bent outa shape about illegal aliens (or even legal ones) not learning to speak English when it seems 90% of Americans born here can’t speak—or write or read, let alone understand—the language, either?
Rant: OFF
…mostly
N.B. Is my use of the English language always grammatically perfect? No. But there’s a “but” there (note the proper use of “there’s”). Fracturing the English language ought only to be done by those who know what they’re doing (note the proper use of “they’re” instead of the common written dumbass usages, “their” and “there”–those who don’t know the differences between common homophones, are illiterate). *heh* Arrrrgggg! Just another reason why 99% of the Mass Media Podpeople, Academia Nut Fruitcakes and politicians *spit* should simply STFU.
NOW the rant is off… But have no fear; there’re (there ARE) more rants to come.