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#21
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[OT] Word Rant
"CatNipped" wrote in message ... When precisely did the word "conversate" become a word (apparently a verb)? I've heard it used a lot lately, it's even used in a song I otherwise like. The president is on TV and was just asked by a senior White House reporter "why haven't they conversated....". What was wrong with the word "converse" ("conversed" being the past tense)? Was it that "Converse" is now a brand of tennis shoe???! Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with adding words to our language - a language *should* be a living thing, especially in the face of our fast-paced, technological world. But it irks me when perfectly fine words are *******ized as the byproduct of ignorance! I was thinking about this after picking up my double double on the way to the cube farm. So I know what you mean, eh! A few more annoyances for you: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/language/ -- Hugs, CatNipped See all my masters at: http://www.PossiblePlaces.com/CatNipped/ |
#22
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Word Rant
Dan M wrote: On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 10:03:36 -0600, CatNipped wrote: When precisely did the word "conversate" become a word (apparently a verb)? I've heard it used a lot lately, it's even used in a song I otherwise like. The president is on TV and was just asked by a senior White House reporter "why haven't they conversated....". What was wrong with the word "converse" ("conversed" being the past tense)? Was it that "Converse" is now a brand of tennis shoe???! What can you expect from a man who can't pronounce "nuclear"? ROFL!! I really shouldn't comment at all on this thread....Southern US English can be pretty dreadful and I'm probably the worst with colloquialisms, even though I *know* how to speak properly. (OTOH, I only recently learned that the "h" is silent in the word "vehicle". Sherry |
#23
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[OT] Word Rant
I haven't heard "conversate" yet, either. But given the way words spread
rapidly thanks to TV, radio, and the internet, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I do encounter someone using that word. My own personal pet "Arrrgh!" words are "orientated" and"disorientated "(instead of "oriented" and "disoriented"), and "obligated" (instead of "obliged"). Like "conversated", they have an extra syllable in the middle that doesn't reeeeeally belong there. IMO, if any of those three words I'm objecting to has found its way into a dictionary, it's because frequent use over time has caused it to be adopted. But in all cases, I think the problem is caused by the fact that when we convert the verb (converse, orient, disorient, oblige) to a noun, that extra syllable is added: conversation, orientation, disorientation, obligation. Then, when people try to convert the noun back into a verb, they're just dropping the -tion without realixing that they need to drop the extra syllable as well. I'm glad I'm not the only one who hears things like this and thinks, "Argh!" ;o) Donna, and the kitties who never make grammatical errors because purrs are ALWAYS correct, Captain and Stanley P. S. Hey, Meowmy! Cats are always correct, too! Yours truly, Captain and Stanley |
#24
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[OT] Word Rant
In article , CatNipped
wrote: When precisely did the word "conversate" become a word (apparently a verb)? I've heard it used a lot lately, it's even used in a song I otherwise like. The president is on TV and was just asked by a senior White House reporter "why haven't they conversated....". What was wrong with the word "converse" ("conversed" being the past tense)? Was it that "Converse" is now a brand of tennis shoe???! Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with adding words to our language - a language *should* be a living thing, especially in the face of our fast-paced, technological world. But it irks me when perfectly fine words are *******ized as the byproduct of ignorance! I shall never forget a staff meeting, at which the VP of marketing apologized for his late arrival, saying "I was dialoging with my staff about their efforting about strategicizing." He moved on, into complete incoherence. |
#25
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Word Rant
CatNipped wrote: When precisely did the word "conversate" become a word (apparently a verb)? I've heard it used a lot lately, it's even used in a song I otherwise like. The president is on TV and was just asked by a senior White House reporter "why haven't they conversated....". What was wrong with the word "converse" ("conversed" being the past tense)? Was it that "Converse" is now a brand of tennis shoe???! Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with adding words to our language - a language *should* be a living thing, especially in the face of our fast-paced, technological world. But it irks me when perfectly fine words are *******ized as the byproduct of ignorance! -- Hugs, CatNipped You're right. It was a perfectly fine word to begin with!! I know a journalism law professor, now retired, who is probably having a cow over that one. I must call and get his opinion.....I remember when he was likewise having a cow over the word "prioritize." (long, long time ago) Sherry |
#26
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[OT] Word Rant
[[If I am correct there are several versions of the English language in
UK]] I think we've got multiple, regional dialects of English coexisting in the US, too. Which could account for why only some of us have encountered the word "conversate", so far. I think that acclimate/acclimatise is probably a US vs. UK dialect difference. Kind of like we say "aluminum" (four syllables) but in the UK the word is "aluminium" (five syllables and slightly different spelling). I guess if these alternate forms of words are used widely enough and long enough, they become part of the language. But I hope that "conversate" doesn't go mainstream... even if it does, I'm sticking with "converse". ;o) Donna |
#27
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[OT] Word Rant
Son of a gun! I checked out that link on conversate, and then looked at the
list of errors. And there, on their list, was one of the pet-peeve words I mentioned: orientate. http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/orientate.html According to this, "orientate" is standard in British English, but is considered to be an error in US English. Hmmm. This explains why it drives me bananas, but probably won't faze the posters on here whose native dialect of English is not the US version. The article went on to add, "See also: interpretate". Eeeek, I think I'd rather not! ;o) Donna Cats don't need separate dialects. Everything we say is always correct. -- Captain and Stanley |
#28
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[OT] Word Rant
Bill Stock wrote:
I was thinking about this after picking up my double double on the way to the cube farm. So I know what you mean, eh! A few more annoyances for you: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/language/ And here's mo http://www.buzzwhack.com/ They even have a rant section: http://www.buzzwhack.com/rants/ -- Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki |
#29
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Word Rant
On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 19:18:54 -0800, sriddles wrote:
CatNipped wrote: When precisely did the word "conversate" become a word (apparently a verb)? I've heard it used a lot lately, it's even used in a song I otherwise like. The president is on TV and was just asked by a senior White House reporter "why haven't they conversated....". What was wrong with the word "converse" ("conversed" being the past tense)? Was it that "Converse" is now a brand of tennis shoe???! Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with adding words to our language - a language *should* be a living thing, especially in the face of our fast-paced, technological world. But it irks me when perfectly fine words are *******ized as the byproduct of ignorance! -- Hugs, CatNipped You're right. It was a perfectly fine word to begin with!! I know a journalism law professor, now retired, who is probably having a cow over that one. I must call and get his opinion.....I remember when he was likewise having a cow over the word "prioritize." (long, long time ago) Sherry ...........and then there is that expression "having a cow"!!!! Seriously, if you manage to understand what is meant why bother "having a cow"? MLB |
#30
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[OT] Word Rant
On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 22:14:21 -0500, Gabey8 wrote:
I haven't heard "conversate" yet, either. But given the way words spread rapidly thanks to TV, radio, and the internet, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I do encounter someone using that word. My own personal pet "Arrrgh!" words are "orientated" and"disorientated "(instead of "oriented" and "disoriented"), and "obligated" (instead of "obliged"). Like "conversated", they have an extra syllable in the middle that doesn't reeeeeally belong there. IMO, if any of those three words I'm objecting to has found its way into a dictionary, it's because frequent use over time has caused it to be adopted. But in all cases, I think the problem is caused by the fact that when we convert the verb (converse, orient, disorient, oblige) to a noun, that extra syllable is added: conversation, orientation, disorientation, obligation. Then, when people try to convert the noun back into a verb, they're just dropping the -tion without realixing that they need to drop the extra syllable as well. I'm glad I'm not the only one who hears things like this and thinks, "Argh!" ;o) Donna, and the kitties who never make grammatical errors because purrs are ALWAYS correct, Captain and Stanley P. S. Hey, Meowmy! Cats are always correct, too! Yours truly, Captain and Stanley Many, many years ago the Readers' Digest had an article entitled "Shirt sleeve English". I wonder if there is any way to find it now? It must have been 30 years or more. MLB |
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