# For bitching about language pedantry, other posters' language, and language in general **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 16, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135 "2024-06-16T22:40:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/81 "2024-06-18T14:26:29Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > If you end a sentence with a preposition I have no difficulty understanding your meaning, but if your whole sentence structure is mangled or you throw in pronouns with unknown referents, then I may genuinely not know what you’re trying to say. Correct, but that’s not because of dictionaries and usage guides. Prescriptivists have cause and effect backwards. Communities define their speech through speaking. Authorities determining what’s correct or not are completely unnecessary. If someone doesn’t follow the usage of a community, then they will not be understood by that community. And descriptivists record what the usage is for the community they’re studying. > [@wolfpup](#): > > If you think that there’s a parallel between the colour of someone’s clothing and my ability to comprehend what the hell they’re saying, then you’re entirely missing the point. Communities define their clothing through wearing clothes. Authorities determining what’s correct or not are completely unnecessary. If someone doesn’t follow the styles of a community, then they will not be dressed like someone of that community. And anthropologists record what clothing is worn by the community they’re studying. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/82 "2024-06-18T14:31:37Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Authorities determining what’s correct or not are completely unnecessary. English Teachers, please step forward and get your box. Jones from Security will see you out. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/83 "2024-06-18T14:47:54Z")
well, this got dull. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/84 "2024-06-18T15:11:17Z")
Since you are so serious about this discussion, you’re keeping a large chunk of the board away by doing so in the Pit. You could always ask the mods to review to move it to it’s own thread, where people who mute the Pit on principle could participate. Or, otherwise, you may need to Pit-it up a bit. Some jocular insults, a snide curse or three, otherwise this place will lose all respect! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/85 "2024-06-18T15:36:52Z")
What you sayin’? He should, talk the talk or walk the walk? 🤭 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/86 "2024-06-18T16:15:00Z")
I dunno if I like this here talk about talkin’, it ain’t nothing we shoulda brang up. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/87 "2024-06-18T16:44:26Z")
Y’all just said a mouf-full! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/88 "2024-06-18T18:10:47Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > well, this got dull. This _became_ dull. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/89 "2024-06-18T18:25:32Z")
This am _definitely_ dull. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/90 "2024-06-18T18:27:52Z")
> [@saje](#): > > Way to be irritating and endearing at the same time! Speak for yourself! Nothing endearing, this is boring as fuck! Wait, will the nitpickers come in and scold be for not wording it as boring AF? Probably. Pedants gonna pedant. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/91 "2024-06-18T19:55:21Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Even our bitching is erudite. It is definitely what won me over in 2020. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/92 "2024-06-18T21:27:23Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > And can we turn back the polluted, sludge-filled tide of people using the verb “lay” when it should be “lie”? Listening to the Melanie song _Lay Down_ yesterday, and it really grated on me. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/93 "2024-06-18T21:54:05Z")
How’s about reading a book. Yeah. What’s boring is people saying how boring everything else is. Reminds of my 6 yo grandkid. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/94 "2024-06-18T22:09:23Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Speak for yourself! Nothing endearing, this is boring as fuck! Wait, will the nitpickers come in and scold be for not wording it as boring AF? Probably. Pedants gonna pedant. Pedantry is one of my pet peeves. It’s a miracle I don’t go insane 'round these parts, but then I don’t post a ton in Great Debates for this reason. It’s also one reason I eventually ditched philosophy as a college major, despite being genuinely interested in the material. I grow weary when people argue about things that aren’t important to the main discussion. I think the variation in human language and how it changes over time is beautiful. I think code switching is fascinating. I code switch a lot, from my rural upbringing to academic and professional/technical speak. I remember my college roommate lecturing me for using “ain’t” - can’t remember the context - but it pissed me off. I was a top tier academic, if I wanted to use fucking “ain’t” on my own time that was my prerogative. I had a linguistics class where I did a presentation on L33T speak. I dunno if they still call it that but basically gamer’s lingo and how that evolved from the necessity of rapid communication via keyboard. And it was in that class I decided that, despite my strong English and literature roots, I am a descriptivist. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/95 "2024-06-18T22:35:26Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I had a linguistics class where I did a presentation on L33T speak. I dunno if they still call it that but basically gamer’s lingo and how that evolved from the necessity of rapid communication via keyboard. And it was in that class I decided that, despite my strong English and literature roots, I am a descriptivist. My brother gave me this book for Christmas, because he knows me and loves me. It’s a great read! > **[Book: Because Internet](https://gretchenmcculloch.com/book/)** > > Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language From Riverhead Books (Penguin, US) and Harvill Secker/Vintage (Random House, UK), available in hardcover, audiobook, ebook, and paperback! … ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2024, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/96 "2024-06-18T22:39:40Z")
Runs off to see if I can get this in the library system! ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/97 "2024-06-19T00:17:30Z")
I love it! Added to list. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/98 "2024-06-19T00:37:49Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’ll put Orwell aside for now, but I think “legalese” is definitely a highly formalized language that the ruling class (lawyers) uses to keep themselves on top of the heap. Objection. Impermissible lay opinion. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/99 "2024-06-19T00:53:37Z")
Bless your heart! How’s about that? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135/100 "2024-06-19T00:57:02Z")
Aww. Thx. Love all blessings. (I’m southern, immune to snarky “bless your hearts”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-bitching-about-language-pedantry-other-posters-language-and-language-in-general/1003135.md?page=6)