I absolutely cannot stand poor spelling and improper grammar. Not that I am free from such errors, not by a long shot. However technically improper my writing may be, I try to make it correct. My sentences are way too long and my affection for the semi colon is clear, but I do my best. What I detest the most is the consciously applied abusive treatment of our primary mode of communication: the printed English language.
My stomach churns at the sight of nite and lite; these Ad industry endorsements for the massacre of the English language. The new iPod ad boldly proclaims it to be the "funnest yet". Funnest? Funnest? Long dead English teachers are contemplating a return to the classroom in the face of such reckless disregard of the rules of grammar. "Most fun!" they shout "Most fun!"Ugh! How am I supposed to teach my son to spell and respect words when all around him are the "acceptable" abbreviations and aberrations used in modern media?
Something that is sure to come up in future posts is my political allegiance to the non-Republican parties. However, if language were at the center of a political debate I would be a full-fledged elephant. "What our country needs is a return to traditional grammar, spelling, and pride in our words", I can hear myself saying as though I were an old white Southern man. "Abominations like OMG and LMAO have no place in decent media. No respectable establishment substitutes qwik for quick or tonite for tonight!"
In fact, I do not oblige such shops with my patronage. I cannot frequent a store that tries to save a few dollars on their signage by substituting a phonetic spelling for the correct one simply because it has fewer letters.
All hail grammarians!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
What do you say in a first post?
As I am new to this blogging thing, I am relatively unaware of any "rules" which govern said medium. I am sure that there have been guidelines set down for our reference; but I have not seen them. I'm not sure I want to. Rest assured that I will not espouse any radical or extremest theologies. I am not a supremacist, a hater, or a fanatic. I am however, a pragmatist. I try not to throw effort after foolishness, and I hate putting up with idiocy just because it is veiled with politeness.
I love words, literature, and the lively conversation or clever, well-informed people. And if you are a kindred spirit, you can correctly identify the works from which my writing has been infused. It is a terrible fault of mine, but I can't seem to help it. When, in the course of watching a film, you come across the perfect collection of words to identify a feeling or situation, it is only right that you should remember and use them. Honor those authors and helpful screenwriters that put powerful and unexpected phrases into your repertoire. If you can blithely use Jane Austen in a discussion with the Dean, weave Oscar Wilde into your conversation with the mail carrier, and astonish a group of friends with your use of the word "distasteful" instead of dislike then by all means do it! Words will always retain their power. Use them as any other tool to craft the life you want.
I love words, literature, and the lively conversation or clever, well-informed people. And if you are a kindred spirit, you can correctly identify the works from which my writing has been infused. It is a terrible fault of mine, but I can't seem to help it. When, in the course of watching a film, you come across the perfect collection of words to identify a feeling or situation, it is only right that you should remember and use them. Honor those authors and helpful screenwriters that put powerful and unexpected phrases into your repertoire. If you can blithely use Jane Austen in a discussion with the Dean, weave Oscar Wilde into your conversation with the mail carrier, and astonish a group of friends with your use of the word "distasteful" instead of dislike then by all means do it! Words will always retain their power. Use them as any other tool to craft the life you want.
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