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0 pointsdefined9y ago0 comments

Yeah, look, I'm aware of language evolution (or devolution, as it may be), and that there's no formal authority for the language. I mean, there are already at least two major dialects of English (British and American), and there's enough of a difference between the two to cause problems for the unwary.

What I'm railing against is more that there appears to be little interest, in general, even to try to get things right. I see this not just in human language, but in business, software development, publishing, pretty much everywhere.

I'm really tired, so I'm not expressing myself as well as I should, so perhaps I should just wrap this up and get some sleep. An iPad is also not the best UI for writing on HN.

Thanks for your thoughtful and thought-provoking response.

0 comments

aidenn09y ago

> What I'm railing against is more that there appears to be little interest, in general, even to try to get things right.

Language is a means to an end. If my entire audience understands what I am saying, and is not put-off by how I say it, then I did, in fact, get things right.

Angostura9y ago

Language is a set of tools. In the same way it can be annoying to watch someone hammer in a nail with the end of a wrench, it can be annoying to watch someone sort through their linguistic toolset, ignore the finely-honed implement meant for the job and grab another.

tremon9y ago

But when you're writing something down (especially for publication), you can not know your entire audience. Not using reasonable care in your written language communicates exactly that: that you care not for your audience.

vidarh8y ago

Or that you care for a specific audience. I, for one, do not care about any audience members who get up in arms if I use "begs the question" in the sense of "raises the question", for example. The use has become so common, that I expect anyone who finds that offensive will not be worth the trouble for me to try to cater to.

You need to draw a line somewhere, or you will end up spending your life obsessing over unimportant details of what you write instead of actually communicating.

1 more reply

thaumaturgy9y ago

Well your right their.

NoahTheDuke9y ago

You think you're being cute, but if spoken aloud, there is no difference. It's only for historical reasons that homophones have different spellings.

adrianN9y ago

If someone posts a link to correct you, there is at least one person put off by your language.

aidenn09y ago

Oh absolutely; the ethos of one's argument could be greatly damaged with something like:

OMG u shuld see wat they do in germanny its so different their!

But at some point you do start to get diminishing returns, so there are practical limits to how worried one should be about pedants.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsdefined9y ago0 comments

I'm really tired, so I'm not expressing myself as well as I should, so perhaps I should just wrap this up and get some sleep. An iPad is also not the best UI for writing on HN.

Thanks for your thoughtful and thought-provoking response.

0 comments

aidenn09y ago

> What I'm railing against is more that there appears to be little interest, in general, even to try to get things right.

Language is a means to an end. If my entire audience understands what I am saying, and is not put-off by how I say it, then I did, in fact, get things right.

Angostura9y ago

tremon9y ago

vidarh8y ago

You need to draw a line somewhere, or you will end up spending your life obsessing over unimportant details of what you write instead of actually communicating.

1 more reply

thaumaturgy9y ago

Well your right their.

NoahTheDuke9y ago

You think you're being cute, but if spoken aloud, there is no difference. It's only for historical reasons that homophones have different spellings.

adrianN9y ago

If someone posts a link to correct you, there is at least one person put off by your language.

aidenn09y ago

Oh absolutely; the ethos of one's argument could be greatly damaged with something like:

OMG u shuld see wat they do in germanny its so different their!

But at some point you do start to get diminishing returns, so there are practical limits to how worried one should be about pedants.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse