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Eg
Rugger v Rugby
Flak v Grief
Crab or krab v Binner (this seems to be evolving now)
Any suggestions as to why language changes like this? Other examples?
Rugger v Rugby
Flak v Grief
Crab or krab v Binner (this seems to be evolving now)
Any suggestions as to why language changes like this? Other examples?
1
1
1
In reply to Trangia:
It's timidity on the part of those who know better. For example, I should shoot anyone I hear saying "train station", but I don't.
It's timidity on the part of those who know better. For example, I should shoot anyone I hear saying "train station", but I don't.
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2
In reply to Trangia:
Biner is a much more elegant abbreviation than crab IMHO. I will continue to use it.
In the absence of air raids over England recently, the understanding of the word flak may be declining.
Biner is a much more elegant abbreviation than crab IMHO. I will continue to use it.
In the absence of air raids over England recently, the understanding of the word flak may be declining.
6
In reply to Trangia:
Some word usage is closely linked to our identity. Certain words will become associated with certain groups in society. How many people over the age of 30 would say something is 'sick' when the mean something is 'cool', 'insane', 'mad'? We might use 'wireless' ironically - but our parents didn't.
People may create or adopt new words to carve out new social space for themselves, differentiate themselves from that other group over there, or the previous generation. Slang, like 'krab' and 'biner' is characteristicof a subculture (climbers). We say mobile (and railway station). The Americans have cell phones (and train stations), the Germans 'handies.'
'Righteous' was a popular word in the 60s fell out of use in 70s and made a come back with teenagers in 80s. 'Spaz' was another popular one - and rightly fell out of use when it dawned on people what it really meant.
Some word usage is closely linked to our identity. Certain words will become associated with certain groups in society. How many people over the age of 30 would say something is 'sick' when the mean something is 'cool', 'insane', 'mad'? We might use 'wireless' ironically - but our parents didn't.
People may create or adopt new words to carve out new social space for themselves, differentiate themselves from that other group over there, or the previous generation. Slang, like 'krab' and 'biner' is characteristicof a subculture (climbers). We say mobile (and railway station). The Americans have cell phones (and train stations), the Germans 'handies.'
'Righteous' was a popular word in the 60s fell out of use in 70s and made a come back with teenagers in 80s. 'Spaz' was another popular one - and rightly fell out of use when it dawned on people what it really meant.
Post edited at 15:22
2
In reply to Trangia:
It's middle-aged people: middle-aged people make words go out of fashion by selfishly continuing to use them well into their forties. This obviously tarnishes the words and forces cool people to invent new ones. Which isn't always easy.
Once a person, such as yourself, reaches the age of about 60, cool people can't actually hear what you're saying any more, so you may speak more freely. Indeed, linguists argue that old people may serve a useful function in the verbal ecology, because while cool people can't actually hear you, they are able, subliminally, to pick up the words you are using and can thus recycle them as replacements for all the words worn out by middle-aged people.
It's middle-aged people: middle-aged people make words go out of fashion by selfishly continuing to use them well into their forties. This obviously tarnishes the words and forces cool people to invent new ones. Which isn't always easy.
Once a person, such as yourself, reaches the age of about 60, cool people can't actually hear what you're saying any more, so you may speak more freely. Indeed, linguists argue that old people may serve a useful function in the verbal ecology, because while cool people can't actually hear you, they are able, subliminally, to pick up the words you are using and can thus recycle them as replacements for all the words worn out by middle-aged people.
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2
In reply to Wicamoi:
My 16-year od son and his friends have stated adopting my rather arcane vocabulary as a countercultural blow against anyone over 18. I did it by forcing them to listen to Viv Stanshall.
My 16-year od son and his friends have stated adopting my rather arcane vocabulary as a countercultural blow against anyone over 18. I did it by forcing them to listen to Viv Stanshall.
2
In reply to Trangia:
It's an interesting topic. Especially how the meaning of words change or are corrupted by views of one society. Goth and vandal spring immediately to mind. Just goes to show history is written by the winners.
It's an interesting topic. Especially how the meaning of words change or are corrupted by views of one society. Goth and vandal spring immediately to mind. Just goes to show history is written by the winners.
In reply to Greasy Prusiks:
Yes, language is an interesting subject and it is constantly evolving and changing, but it's always surprising when something which seems to be deeply entrenched just drops out of use in less than a generation.
How many of us could these days read The Canterbury Tales out loud, let alone understand it?
Anyway I shall carry on taking flak on this thread even if I'm the only one who understands what I mean by that, but I haven't played rugger since my school days, although I've still got a rack of crabs rather than biners.
If they are that old, maybe it's time to replace them?.......
Yes, language is an interesting subject and it is constantly evolving and changing, but it's always surprising when something which seems to be deeply entrenched just drops out of use in less than a generation.
How many of us could these days read The Canterbury Tales out loud, let alone understand it?
Anyway I shall carry on taking flak on this thread even if I'm the only one who understands what I mean by that, but I haven't played rugger since my school days, although I've still got a rack of crabs rather than biners.
If they are that old, maybe it's time to replace them?.......
Post edited at 16:43
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In reply to Pedro50:
Yet we haven't had food served up to us on square wooden plates since Nelson's days nor do we stack cannon balls on brass rings on the decks of ships these days, yet we still understand what is meant by a square meal or brass monkey weather.
That's what I find interesting - some phrases stick over the decades or centuries, others die out rapidly.
>
> In the absence of air raids over England recently, the understanding of the word flak may be declining.
> In the absence of air raids over England recently, the understanding of the word flak may be declining.
Yet we haven't had food served up to us on square wooden plates since Nelson's days nor do we stack cannon balls on brass rings on the decks of ships these days, yet we still understand what is meant by a square meal or brass monkey weather.
That's what I find interesting - some phrases stick over the decades or centuries, others die out rapidly.
1
In reply to Trangia:
Neither of those are completely certain as to their origins. In both cases there is a good case to be made for the two explanations you gave been retrofits.
It is strange though to see how it changes. I guess get a few influential people saying it and it goes from there.
> , yet we still understand what is meant by a square meal or brass monkey weather.
Neither of those are completely certain as to their origins. In both cases there is a good case to be made for the two explanations you gave been retrofits.
It is strange though to see how it changes. I guess get a few influential people saying it and it goes from there.
In reply to Trangia:
'Trad' is a new one that I can't bring myself to use. Where did that come from? There's nothing traditional about my climbing....
'Trad' is a new one that I can't bring myself to use. Where did that come from? There's nothing traditional about my climbing....
In reply to Trangia:
I think most of us on here could do a pretty good job with the Canterbury Tales:
" Whilom (once), as olde stories tellen us,
Ther was a duc that highte (if you know German, think laterally for that one) Theseus;
Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
And in his tyme swich (think of the w as 'double u' and say aloud (no - it's not 'sewage', more Scots 'sich')) a conquerour,
That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne,
What with his wysdom and his chivalrie;"
By this time, English was becoming more simplified and codified, although pronunciation was still quite different from today.
Old English, on the other hand, is pretty tough going for us these days:
"Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,
monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas."
I think most of us on here could do a pretty good job with the Canterbury Tales:
" Whilom (once), as olde stories tellen us,
Ther was a duc that highte (if you know German, think laterally for that one) Theseus;
Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
And in his tyme swich (think of the w as 'double u' and say aloud (no - it's not 'sewage', more Scots 'sich')) a conquerour,
That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne,
What with his wysdom and his chivalrie;"
By this time, English was becoming more simplified and codified, although pronunciation was still quite different from today.
Old English, on the other hand, is pretty tough going for us these days:
"Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,
monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas."
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In reply to Trangia:
Telephone. I.m old now but I insist on calling my Apple device my "iTelephone"......
University. Apparently, people go to "Uni", or even "Uni?" with a rising intonation, now.
Polytechnic. See above. They're all "Uni's" now.....
sigh.....
Telephone. I.m old now but I insist on calling my Apple device my "iTelephone"......
University. Apparently, people go to "Uni", or even "Uni?" with a rising intonation, now.
Polytechnic. See above. They're all "Uni's" now.....
sigh.....
Post edited at 17:22
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In reply to alan moore:
Well if you are going down that route, what about "sport"? Bolted is more logical.
What about other forms of climbing are they not "sport"? Whereas "trad" climbers might regard the use of fixed in situ gear as definitely "unsporting" - almost as sacrilegious as shooting foxes......
Well if you are going down that route, what about "sport"? Bolted is more logical.
What about other forms of climbing are they not "sport"? Whereas "trad" climbers might regard the use of fixed in situ gear as definitely "unsporting" - almost as sacrilegious as shooting foxes......
In reply to Trangia:
It's not trendy to say "trendy" any more.
It is, however, trendy to say "on-trend".
It's not trendy to say "trendy" any more.
It is, however, trendy to say "on-trend".
2
In reply to Phil Murray:
Yes, this is definitely a post-Blair thing. We just went to college, or did physics at Birmingham or biochem at Bristol, the 'University' was just understood.
> University. Apparently, people go to "Uni", or even "Uni?" with a rising intonation, now.
Yes, this is definitely a post-Blair thing. We just went to college, or did physics at Birmingham or biochem at Bristol, the 'University' was just understood.
In reply to Dave Garnett:
No, it's not. People were going to uni when I was a student, in the late 70s.
Once upon a time, one went up to Oxford or Cambridge read a subject, preferably Greats or PPE.
> Yes, this is definitely a post-Blair thing.
No, it's not. People were going to uni when I was a student, in the late 70s.
Once upon a time, one went up to Oxford or Cambridge read a subject, preferably Greats or PPE.
In reply to Trangia:
Probably social changes. Especially changes in general understanding of words (e.G. electrocuted-see other thread)
E.G. rugger was used as a colloquial term, but the derogatory "rugger bugger" was coined at some point, and became used more widely, therefore people who liked a bit of rugger reverted to using rugby.
Probably social changes. Especially changes in general understanding of words (e.G. electrocuted-see other thread)
E.G. rugger was used as a colloquial term, but the derogatory "rugger bugger" was coined at some point, and became used more widely, therefore people who liked a bit of rugger reverted to using rugby.
1
In reply to Trangia:
Everything goes out of fashion sooner or later.
> ....Any suggestions as to why language changes like this?
Everything goes out of fashion sooner or later.
In reply to Trangia:
That reminds me of beer vs craft beer. A craft brewer I know is lambasts that it should be industrial beer vs beer. I try and call it industrial beer now too
That reminds me of beer vs craft beer. A craft brewer I know is lambasts that it should be industrial beer vs beer. I try and call it industrial beer now too
1
In reply to Trangia:
Not sure.
Let's just hope that 'Poons' doesn't get used again this winter though!
Not sure.
Let's just hope that 'Poons' doesn't get used again this winter though!
1
In reply to tony:
One still does, but one never heard of anyone going up to Uni in the late 70s! Univ, perhaps, but that's different.
> Once upon a time, one went up to Oxford or Cambridge read a subject,
One still does, but one never heard of anyone going up to Uni in the late 70s! Univ, perhaps, but that's different.
In reply to Dave Garnett:
Do you want the good news or the bad news?
> My 16-year od son and his friends have stated adopting my rather arcane vocabulary as a countercultural blow against anyone over 18. I did it by forcing them to listen to Viv Stanshall.
Do you want the good news or the bad news?
In reply to Dave Garnett:
This is interesting but doesn't account for context:https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Uni&year_start=1800&y...
This is interesting but doesn't account for context:https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Uni&year_start=1800&y...
In reply to Trangia:
More relevant to OP:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Rugger%2C+rugby&year_star...
More relevant to OP:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Rugger%2C+rugby&year_star...
In reply to Oldsign:
That is an analysis of written usage in published books. Uni might well have been used as a written abbreviation, but I don't recall hearing it said.
Unless it was in dialogue in David Lodge novels.
That is an analysis of written usage in published books. Uni might well have been used as a written abbreviation, but I don't recall hearing it said.
Unless it was in dialogue in David Lodge novels.
1
In reply to Wicamoi:
Well, it confirms I'm still audible and under 60.
On the other hand, they go around saying "All crime is due to incorrect breathing" and "if I had all the money I've spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink"
> Do you want the good news or the bad news?
Well, it confirms I'm still audible and under 60.
On the other hand, they go around saying "All crime is due to incorrect breathing" and "if I had all the money I've spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink"
1
In reply to KevinD:
"been"?
JW
> Neither of those are completely certain as to their origins. In both cases there is a good case to be made for the two explanations you gave been retrofits.
"been"?
JW
In reply to Dave Garnett:
Wrong: it confirms the good news (that your son is normal, healthy and loves you), but also the bad news (that you are being recycled early).
PS. "Uni" was widely used in speech amongst my peer group in the early 90's.
> Well, it confirms I'm still audible and under 60.
Wrong: it confirms the good news (that your son is normal, healthy and loves you), but also the bad news (that you are being recycled early).
PS. "Uni" was widely used in speech amongst my peer group in the early 90's.
In reply to Trangia:
"I was with it once! And then they changed what it was! And now what I'm with isn't it and what's it seems weird and scary to me! And it'll happen to you!" - Grampa Simpson
"I was with it once! And then they changed what it was! And now what I'm with isn't it and what's it seems weird and scary to me! And it'll happen to you!" - Grampa Simpson
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In reply to alan moore:
The term "trad" comes from an article in Mountain magazine (not long before its demise) titled "Tricksters and Traditionalists" which looked at the old and new ways of establishing routes (primarily in Yosemite). "Trad climbing" wasn't bolt free but placing bolts on the lead whereas 'tricksters" abseiled down and placed bolts.
In this country "trad" became a synonym for bolt free climbing but for some reason bolted climbing never got called "trick"
As for University and "uni", we were using the short version at school in the mid 1970s so it certainly isn't post Blair!
The term "trad" comes from an article in Mountain magazine (not long before its demise) titled "Tricksters and Traditionalists" which looked at the old and new ways of establishing routes (primarily in Yosemite). "Trad climbing" wasn't bolt free but placing bolts on the lead whereas 'tricksters" abseiled down and placed bolts.
In this country "trad" became a synonym for bolt free climbing but for some reason bolted climbing never got called "trick"
As for University and "uni", we were using the short version at school in the mid 1970s so it certainly isn't post Blair!
In reply to Wicamoi:
I wish. They can't recycle me for another 5 years at least, unfortunately.
OK, OK, it obviously just didn't percolate into the various ivory towers I've occupied in half a dozen tertiary education establishments (terts).
Edit: actually, now I think about it I did hear it used by South African and Australian students and academics.
> ...but also the bad news (that you are being recycled early).
I wish. They can't recycle me for another 5 years at least, unfortunately.
> PS. "Uni" was widely used in speech amongst my peer group in the early 90's.
OK, OK, it obviously just didn't percolate into the various ivory towers I've occupied in half a dozen tertiary education establishments (terts).
Edit: actually, now I think about it I did hear it used by South African and Australian students and academics.
Post edited at 09:21
In reply to Trangia:
There never were racks of brass hoops or rings on sailing vessels to hold the shot. The racks holding shot were wooden and called "shot garlands". You can see them on HMS Victory. So that one's definitely a retro-fit/ urban myth!
> Yet we haven't had food served up to us on square wooden plates since Nelson's days nor do we stack cannon balls on brass rings on the decks of ships these days, yet we still understand what is meant by a square meal or brass monkey weather.
There never were racks of brass hoops or rings on sailing vessels to hold the shot. The racks holding shot were wooden and called "shot garlands". You can see them on HMS Victory. So that one's definitely a retro-fit/ urban myth!
In reply to Dave Garnett:
Er, nope....at Leicester, we called it "Uni" in the early 70s.
> One still does, but one never heard of anyone going up to Uni in the late 70s! Univ, perhaps, but that's different.
Er, nope....at Leicester, we called it "Uni" in the early 70s.
In reply to Rob Naylor:
Yes, I'm sure the term 'Uni' was around when I was at Cardiff University in 1969-72.
Yes, I'm sure the term 'Uni' was around when I was at Cardiff University in 1969-72.
In reply to Trangia: words can get lost or changed overtime..pronunciation errors can be a reason
Umpire, adder and apron all used to begin with an "n"...a nadder, a numpire...etc. Wednesday was Wodens Day, we have lost the "l's" in talk, walk, folk (they used to be pronounced) we now use a "w" instead (tawk, wawk, fowk).Tune was pronounced tyune, whereas now usually chune..similarly tutor (tyutor, chuter). In Norwegian, "sk" is pronounced "sh" so your great grandparents correctly went "shiing"...but we lazily now go skiing...
will be loads more
(that lot came from a great article in the Guardian a few years ago)
Umpire, adder and apron all used to begin with an "n"...a nadder, a numpire...etc. Wednesday was Wodens Day, we have lost the "l's" in talk, walk, folk (they used to be pronounced) we now use a "w" instead (tawk, wawk, fowk).Tune was pronounced tyune, whereas now usually chune..similarly tutor (tyutor, chuter). In Norwegian, "sk" is pronounced "sh" so your great grandparents correctly went "shiing"...but we lazily now go skiing...
will be loads more
(that lot came from a great article in the Guardian a few years ago)
In reply to Dave Garnett:
Actually you're right with regard to the graph I posted. I had a delve into the software and most of what it pulls up in the older entries is Latin, index codes, or hyphenated usage.
Actually you're right with regard to the graph I posted. I had a delve into the software and most of what it pulls up in the older entries is Latin, index codes, or hyphenated usage.
In reply to damhan-allaidh:
"We might use 'wireless' ironically - but our parents didn't"
But their parents did! (depending on your age of course)
The radio was generally called the wireless. When I first joined the RN as a radio operator in the 1960s the room we operated from was called a Wireless Office, then it became a Radio Office and eventually when the scope of communicating involved much more than simply using radios (think data link ,RATT, Encryption, Navigational aids, internal communications and so on) it eventually became the Communications office.
"We might use 'wireless' ironically - but our parents didn't"
But their parents did! (depending on your age of course)
The radio was generally called the wireless. When I first joined the RN as a radio operator in the 1960s the room we operated from was called a Wireless Office, then it became a Radio Office and eventually when the scope of communicating involved much more than simply using radios (think data link ,RATT, Encryption, Navigational aids, internal communications and so on) it eventually became the Communications office.
In reply to Bjartur i Sumarhus:
That's interesting. There is a village about 6 miles north of where I live called Netherfield.
The area was and still is well known for the large adder population in the surrounding woods and fields. I've seen adders more often when walking in the area than anywhere else in the UK.
The village history shows that in the Middle Ages this village was called Nadderfield
>
> Umpire, adder and apron all used to begin with an "n"...a nadder, a numpire...etc.
> Umpire, adder and apron all used to begin with an "n"...a nadder, a numpire...etc.
That's interesting. There is a village about 6 miles north of where I live called Netherfield.
The area was and still is well known for the large adder population in the surrounding woods and fields. I've seen adders more often when walking in the area than anywhere else in the UK.
The village history shows that in the Middle Ages this village was called Nadderfield
In reply to Dave Garnett:
I loved the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and spent hours trying to understand their wide ranging cultural references - Viv Stanshall was a genius.
I loved the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and spent hours trying to understand their wide ranging cultural references - Viv Stanshall was a genius.
In reply to keith-ratcliffe:
Have you heard his rather bizarre solo 'comedy' albums? (Keeping Viv's posh pop art impact alive has got to be a good thing)
Have you heard his rather bizarre solo 'comedy' albums? (Keeping Viv's posh pop art impact alive has got to be a good thing)
In reply to Offwidth:
No but I was a great fan of this programme http://therawlinsonendudioarchive.blogspot.co.uk/
No but I was a great fan of this programme http://therawlinsonendudioarchive.blogspot.co.uk/
Post edited at 17:36
In reply to MG: > I should shoot anyone I hear saying "train station", but I don't.
Heavens, yes. The in-laws have, thankfully, become self-correcting about this after I had a small but perfectly formed rant about it.
T.
Heavens, yes. The in-laws have, thankfully, become self-correcting about this after I had a small but perfectly formed rant about it.
T.
In reply to keith-ratcliffe:
They're on tour, apparently (if not now, then soon). My other half saw something about them playing in Bristol, presumably as part of their 'We're getting on a bit and didn't think of pension plans when we were younger" tour. The Rutles are also playing with them.
I did consider buying tickets but the thought of sitting at the back and looking down on row upon row of bald or grey-haired blokes trying to relive the good old days rather put me off.
T.
> I loved the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
They're on tour, apparently (if not now, then soon). My other half saw something about them playing in Bristol, presumably as part of their 'We're getting on a bit and didn't think of pension plans when we were younger" tour. The Rutles are also playing with them.
I did consider buying tickets but the thought of sitting at the back and looking down on row upon row of bald or grey-haired blokes trying to relive the good old days rather put me off.
T.
In reply to Pursued by a bear:
What's wrong with train station?
We have loads of items refering to the stationary vehicle rather what is underneath the vehicle. Examples include bike stand, bus stop, car park and bus station rather than something else stand, road stop, asphalt park and concrete station respectively.
What's wrong with train station?
We have loads of items refering to the stationary vehicle rather what is underneath the vehicle. Examples include bike stand, bus stop, car park and bus station rather than something else stand, road stop, asphalt park and concrete station respectively.
In reply to elsewhere:
It's a new-fangled malarkey and a bit of a rum do. No good will come of it.
T.
> What's wrong with train station?
It's a new-fangled malarkey and a bit of a rum do. No good will come of it.
T.
1
In reply to elsewhere:
You are trying to use logic with English? The term is railway station. There is no need for further discussion, really.
However, if you insist, here is proof it is an neologism, and a US one at that.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=train+station%2Crailway+stati...
You are trying to use logic with English? The term is railway station. There is no need for further discussion, really.
However, if you insist, here is proof it is an neologism, and a US one at that.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=train+station%2Crailway+stati...
Post edited at 18:21
In reply to MG:
Hah! I'm on the winning side of history!
Actually it's bouncing back your way 2000-2008 ish.
Hah! I'm on the winning side of history!
Actually it's bouncing back your way 2000-2008 ish.
Post edited at 21:19
In reply to Bjartur i Sumarhus:
The pronunciation of the letter t in the middle of a word seems to be out of fashion in this neck of the woods. Heard recently in a cafe " I'd like a chip bu'y and a fan'a for Ani'a" in Queens English "I'd like a chip butty and a fanta for Anita". Tattoos have become ta'oos with just a nod to the pronunciation of the double tt.
The pronunciation of the letter t in the middle of a word seems to be out of fashion in this neck of the woods. Heard recently in a cafe " I'd like a chip bu'y and a fan'a for Ani'a" in Queens English "I'd like a chip butty and a fanta for Anita". Tattoos have become ta'oos with just a nod to the pronunciation of the double tt.
In reply to keith-ratcliffe:
That was one of them!
All detailed here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Stanshall
That was one of them!
All detailed here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Stanshall
Post edited at 15:34
In reply to MG:
To my mind 'station' is the default reference to the railway/train station. The prefix 'bus' can be added if necessary, to clarify. Or 'police', but if one of HMC is escorting you to 'the station' it should be clear from the context what they mean.
I'd like to have heard 'Persued's' rant on the subject, to see if it provided ammunition I could use
> The term is railway station. There is no need for further discussion, really.
To my mind 'station' is the default reference to the railway/train station. The prefix 'bus' can be added if necessary, to clarify. Or 'police', but if one of HMC is escorting you to 'the station' it should be clear from the context what they mean.
I'd like to have heard 'Persued's' rant on the subject, to see if it provided ammunition I could use
In reply to nufkin: I am trying to stop my wife complaining at me whene...
Sorry, I'll try that again. I am trying, with my wife's encouragement, neither to badger the earnest* nor get on a soapbox and go off on one with the slightest provocation about stuff that, though minor, really grips my shit; so I'll not repeat the rant here. Well, not yet.
T.
* I do find it difficult to resist replying to people in the street selling Socialist Worker though.
Sorry, I'll try that again. I am trying, with my wife's encouragement, neither to badger the earnest* nor get on a soapbox and go off on one with the slightest provocation about stuff that, though minor, really grips my shit; so I'll not repeat the rant here. Well, not yet.
T.
* I do find it difficult to resist replying to people in the street selling Socialist Worker though.
In reply to Pursued by a bear:
*Nervously raises hand*
Why shouldn't you say train station?
> > I should shoot anyone I hear saying "train station", but I don't.
> Heavens, yes. The in-laws have, thankfully, become self-correcting about this after I had a small but perfectly formed rant about it.
> T.
*Nervously raises hand*
Why shouldn't you say train station?
In reply to Timmd:
It's not so much that you shouldn't, just that you don't need to. Save the unnecessary wear-and-tear to your vocal cords.
> Why shouldn't you say train station?
It's not so much that you shouldn't, just that you don't need to. Save the unnecessary wear-and-tear to your vocal cords.
Post edited at 11:36
In reply to Trangia:
The 'May I have, can I get' thing drives me up the wall. The 'kids' do it all the time. My sarcastic 'Why are you asking him/her' is beginning to piss them off, so maybe I'm getting somewhere.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=may+I+have%2Ccan+I+get&ca...
However, according to Google, 'trousers' is increasing in popularity against 'pants', which seems not to be the case on UKC.
The 'May I have, can I get' thing drives me up the wall. The 'kids' do it all the time. My sarcastic 'Why are you asking him/her' is beginning to piss them off, so maybe I'm getting somewhere.
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=may+I+have%2Ccan+I+get&ca...
However, according to Google, 'trousers' is increasing in popularity against 'pants', which seems not to be the case on UKC.
In reply to nniff:
It increasingly annoys me as well. I have to try to convince myself that it's just people trying to avoid the impression that they're imposing on the actual getter, rather than just thoughtless mouth flapping.
> The 'May I have, can I get' thing drives me up the wall. The 'kids' do it all the time. My sarcastic 'Why are you asking him/her' is beginning to piss them off, so maybe I'm getting somewhere.
It increasingly annoys me as well. I have to try to convince myself that it's just people trying to avoid the impression that they're imposing on the actual getter, rather than just thoughtless mouth flapping.
In reply to Pursued by a bear:
Many years ago I was walking into Uni when I was approached by a paper seller. 'Morning Star' he said, 'Morning' was my reply. He was not impressed but I felt good all day!
Many years ago I was walking into Uni when I was approached by a paper seller. 'Morning Star' he said, 'Morning' was my reply. He was not impressed but I felt good all day!
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