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Grammar Gripes and Other Psycholinguistic Squawkings

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by Baraka_Guru, Aug 6, 2011.

  1. Wut y'all tryin' to say?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  2. Doris

    Doris Getting Tilted

    There's a series from New Zealand on tv daily in the mornings. I'm noticing how their accent is different, especially 'e'. Someone called Ken sounds like 'Kin'.
     
  3. spindles

    spindles Very Tilted

    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
    hmm - that's how we pronounce it in Oz as well.
     
  4. Lindy

    Lindy Moderator Staff Member

    Location:
    Nebraska
    I'm confused.:confused: The 'a' in pass is a soft a??? Is it pronounced like 'ahh'? Or like the 'a' in fat ass, or Nebraska?
    "In the past, I cooked pasta." Is the letter 'a' pronounced the same?
    Lindy
     
  5. Alistair Eurotrash

    Location:
    Reading, UK
    There is only one, Italian pronunciation of the "a" sound. Think of it being said as the "a" in "amore" is said. Depending how you stretch it, that could be heard as midway between soft and hard, but I'd say it is a hard "a".
     
  6. uncle phil

    uncle phil Moderator Emeritus (and sorely missed) Staff Member Donor

    Location:
    pasco county
    'snuck' for 'sneaked?'

    where do these news readers come from?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  7. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    Snuck sneaked in. It's legitimate now, except maybe in highly formal writing.
     
  8. ngdawg

    ngdawg Getting Tilted

    We always have said "snuck" here....

    My pet peeve: "First Annual....." There is no such thing! I wish I could go around like Johnny Appleseed, but instead of tossing seeds, I would toss rocks at anyone who says "first annual". Unless you mean it is the first time you planted a flower, knock it off!
     
  9. uncle phil

    uncle phil Moderator Emeritus (and sorely missed) Staff Member Donor

    Location:
    pasco county
    yeah, but that's 'joisey...' :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
  10. Lindy

    Lindy Moderator Staff Member

    Location:
    Nebraska
    It can be correct if referring to the beginning of a series:

    "Our first annual fishing trip was in 1998. We've gone to Leech lake every year."

    But, yeah, "This is our first annual fishing trip" presumes too much.

    Lindy
     
  11. ngdawg

    ngdawg Getting Tilted

    AND NO ONE IN NEW JERSEY SAYS "JOISEY", GODDAMMIT! Ugh, that drives me insane when you out-of-staters do that!!!

    /me takes her meds....
     
  12. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    The "first annual" thing would depend on the event's status. If an organization has officially funded and is planning for a new annual event, I can see why they'd call it "first annual." However, it would be better to call it "inaugural." But I'm fine with either.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  13. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    I think people are starting to get it.

    That thing you do when you're really busy at work is called task switching.

    Multitasking is what a computer processor does when simultaneously executing more than one program or task.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  14. Fangirl

    Fangirl Very Tilted

    Location:
    Arizona
    Sorry.
    In the specific example I cited the 'a' in pasta was pronounced as the 'a' in fat ass <giggle>.

    Years back when (then) Canadian news anchor Peter Jennings mentioned goings on at a Mazda car plant whilst doing an American newscast he pronounced the 1st 'a' in Mazda not as 'aww' but as the a in 'ass'. People did laugh their asses off at him.
     
  15. A neighbor of mine says "conversate". She has been corrected numerous times but still says it.
     
  16. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    It's not wrong; it just may be inapprope in certain sitches. I mean, I wouldn't use it in writing or when speaking with the CEO. But in casual conversation? Sure. Why not?

    It's like when people say certificate instead of certify.

    Or utilize instead of use.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. uncle phil

    uncle phil Moderator Emeritus (and sorely missed) Staff Member Donor

    Location:
    pasco county
    like billy D used to say - "eschew obfuscatory verbiage..."
     
    • Like Like x 2
  18. ngdawg

    ngdawg Getting Tilted

    My boss is from Buffalo. She says "elsewise" instead of "otherwise". She also thinks that faux is pronounced fox ( I realize that is not a Buffalo thing). So i have tried to make it a point to read out loud things like "faux leather" but she's not getting it.
     
  19. Lindy

    Lindy Moderator Staff Member

    Location:
    Nebraska
    Is sitches a barakism for situations? I love it!:D
    In fact, I'll steal it and use it myself!

    Lindy
     
    • Like Like x 1
  20. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto