Best known in some place names, like Derby and Shrewsbury.
Language is dynamic and transient, as are we, but there is a difference between
natural shifts in language and errors caused by sheer ignorance . No-one would
suggest that 'could of' should become the accepted form! But the return from
'programme' to 'program' is a correction of a pointless affectation which would
have been inconceivable thirty years ago.
But meanings do shift, strong words are devalued by overuse and metaphors decay
into common speech. Thus 'literally', despite Chris' rearguard action, may well
become a mere emphatic modifier and the verb 'to impact' (argghhh!) may replace
'to affect', simply because people can no longer distinguish affect/effect.
It's not right but once those changes have been made, the erroneous
substitutions do tend to fade away.
Andrew Fildes
afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 15/12/2011, at 7:59 AM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> "But all is transient"... including us! :-)
>
> Chuck Norcutt
>
> On 12/14/2011 3:35 PM, Chris Barker wrote:
>> It's a bit obscure, and it doesn't spoil my main gripe, that the current
>> "evolution" is due to ignorance or cheap education.
>>
>> But all is transient, so not worth worrying about. All will be well, all
>> will be well . . .
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> On 14 Dec 2011, at 20:20, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
>>
>>> Hmmm! Even I know what that is. I'm not sure how. I must have read it
>>> in "The Story of English". :-)
--
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