# No wonder the English Language is going to hell \[b\]Astroboy\[/b\]. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2002, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148 "2002-04-01T01:46:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/61 "2002-04-02T01:40:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Ryan \* > \*\*Matt, the fact that the second syllable is longer makes me think that more emphasis is being placed on it. Of course, that’s just my opinion. But I’m sure you’ll agree that they do in fact have distinct pronunciations. \*\* Oh, certainly, they have different pronunciations - the noun ends with a voiceless consonant, the verb with a voiced one. I’m just not certain that can really be described as emphasis, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/62 "2002-04-02T06:52:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\ ***Astroboy** , this Pit thread should have been shut down when **DesertGeezer** started gushing about how wonderful you are. The Mods really ought to crack down on that sort of thing. \*\* Hey! I’m a geezer. Getting a little soft in my old age. What do you want from me? 😃 The fact is, I probably rant about nearly everything at one time or another and I’m very often wrong. ( **Riboflavin,** if you’re lurking in here, I never said that!:p) I have accepted **Astroboy** as a truly fine human being. Now I’m just enjoying the raging of all the rest of you. This pit stuff is really cool. Er…I mean…conversing intensely in what is commonly called the Barbecue Pit is highly agreeable. (Cough!) “Hello, I must be going.” --Groucho Marx ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/63 "2002-04-02T07:43:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dijon Warlock \* > \*\*I’m not as popular as **Fenris**. > > Just thought I’d mention that. \*\* Thank you for sharing your (relatively insignificant) thoughts. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/64 "2002-04-02T08:28:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Merhouse \* > \*\*For extra credit: > > Accept/Except > > I accept the fact that I’m pretty good at word usage except for affect and effect (and thank you for not asking that :)) > \*\* Hey, I’m another person checking in here with my knowledge of grammar and word usage. It’s not exactly stellar, but it’ll do for this thread. According to my copy of the _Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary_, > [@](#): > > **Affect** is a verb meaning “have an influence on:”: _Alcohol affects drivers’ concentration._ **Effect** is a noun meaning “result of influence”: \*[Alcohol as a very bad effect on drivers./i] It is also a (formal) verb meaning “accomplish”: _They effected their escape in the middle of the night._ Hope that helps! 🙂 I am not a pedant, and there is a difference between formal English and colloquial English! **Astroboy** doesn’t need to use formal English in his posts at all! Just because he chooses to use colloquial English does NOT mean that he is mangling the English languge! ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/65 "2002-04-02T08:36:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by happyheathen \* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by matt\_mcl_\*\* > > And why should I take your word over that of the dictionaries?\*\* > > \*\*Umm… > > because I’m right, and they’re wrong? \*\* I laughed so hard I nearly shat. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/66 "2002-04-02T08:40:44Z")
My Zen is running at 100% capacity, Mr. Heathen (actually, 110%… I had it overclocked). My Chi needs some fine-tuning, though. But yer still a pretentious ass. (Note that “yer” is a slang way of writing “you are”. Now, what grammatical benefits can be had from using such colorful methods of writing?) ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/67 "2002-04-02T09:09:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tansu \* > \*\*I laughed so hard I nearly shat. \*\* I wonder if creating the past tense (shit/shat, spit/spat) could be extended to a sentense like this: "Ten years ago these trousers fit, but I’ve lost weight, and last night when I tried them on they fat. Just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/68 "2002-04-02T09:09:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*My Zen is running at 100% capacity, Mr. Heathen (actually, 110%… I had it overclocked). My Chi needs some fine-tuning, though. > > But yer still a pretentious ass. (Note that “yer” is a slang way of writing “you are”. Now, what grammatical benefits can be had from using such colorful methods of writing?) \*\* As you are the one using them, I was hoping you could inform us. and, **Flamsterette\_X** - absolutely correct on affect/effect. Thank you - was beginning to worry about this group. ‘Overclocked Zen’ - a BRAND, SHINEY NEW oxymoron [sub]just what we all need[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/69 "2002-04-02T09:19:05Z")
Oops! Left off a final " in my last post. **And** I forgot to flame, so here goes…you’re all a bunch of ignorant morons (except **Astroboy,** I like him now, and **happyheathen** You da man!..Or is it WOman? Your profile doesn’t say).😃 ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/70 "2002-04-02T22:07:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by happyheathen \* > **and, Flamsterette\_X - absolutely correct on affect/effect. Thank you - was beginning to worry about this group.** **happyheathen** , I _did_ get it from the dictionary, and so far that method has never steered me TOO wrong! You’re welcome though… isn’t that what fighting ignorance is all about? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![heresiarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/71 "2002-04-02T23:23:07Z")
**Flamsterette\_X** already gave us the dope on **affect / effect** , but I’m gonna get a little pedantic and add a footnote. ‘Effect’ has a verb homonym that means, “to cause to come into being.” _This aspirin should effect a cure for your headache._ And ‘affect’ has a noun homonym that has something to do with display of feelings. _One of the symptoms of schizoid personality disorder is lack of affect._ These homonyms aren’t commonly used, so they don’t cause many problems. I’m only bringing it up because I got burned on a test once by being to quick to apply the “affect=verb, effect=noun” rule. Ain’t English great? ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148/72 "2002-04-02T23:29:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by heresiarch \* > \*\ ***Flamsterette\_X** already gave us the dope on **affect / effect** , but I’m gonna get a little pedantic and add a footnote. > > ‘Effect’ has a verb homonym that means, “to cause to come into being.” > _This aspirin should effect a cure for your headache._ > > And ‘affect’ has a noun homonym that has something to do with display of feelings. > _One of the symptoms of schizoid personality disorder is lack of affect._ > > These homonyms aren’t commonly used, so they don’t cause many problems. I’m only bringing it up because I got burned on a test once by being to quick to apply the “affect=verb, effect=noun” rule. > > Ain’t English great? \*\* I saw those in the dictionary too (and knew about them beforehand), but I figured that would be a little too much for this thread. Thanks for posting the additional uses of “affect/effect” up for our edification! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-going-to-hell-b-astroboy-b/101148.md?page=3)