|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
just now I made an edit to my post in the "gleaning" thread, changing my reference to the "W2" dictionary to read "W3". This is a fine but important distinction -- Webster's Second International was prescriptive and Webster's Thrid is descriptive. at the time W3 was first published there was much hue and cry because of this. this is an old and much beaten horse in these parts; just try searching for prescriptive AND descriptive. my point in bringing it up yet again is to point out that almost all modern dictionaries are descriptive (that is, they describe the way the language is used; not the way it should be used). we seem to attract folks who tend towards the prescriptive (e.g., you can't use decimate like that; orientate isn't a real word!; glean doesn't mean that; etc.). but the Truth is, when it comes to how language evolves and is ultimately used, the masses will always win out. rail away, but.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Webster's Second International was proscriptive
By which our dear tsuwm means that you are not permitted to use any word found in Webster's Second.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
yet another fine distinction (yafd). 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218
enthusiast
|
|
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218 |
One noticeable problem with description is that in trying to be descriptive, there is so much variance in use. I agree with a descriptive approach so much that, within my own mind, I've redefined prescriptive into two approaches: the strict grammarian approach, and the general usage approach (no matter how wrong it may be to strict grammarians). When in a descriptive mode, I think of deviations from the normal usage.
Thats my redefining, but not necessarily refining. I suppose I should be reining in my opinions, so I'll wait until something rings a little more true.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Descriptive grammarians are lax in their duties if they do not give a hint about the impression you are going to leave with a given usage.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Tsuwm wrote: Webster's Second International was prescriptive
Faldage quoted tsuwm: Webster's Second International was proscriptive
Though undoubtedly joking, isn't this form of misquotation a bit naughty?
P..S. Dear Mandy: you are sharper than I am. From the times of the posts, I can't tell even now. In any case, I regret having commented on it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Though undoubtedly joking, isn't this form of misquotation a bit naughty?
I think perhaps the reason it was in RED is that tsuwm edited it in response to faldage's rib.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
bill, there was no misquotation; I went back and fixed it, although I obviousized it (I thought) in order to leave some context for f's "joke"; in the same manner as you may want to [and did] go back and fix your redded text. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
our pooh pah corrects his mistakes faster than you can read them.. tsuwm went back and editted out the o and editted in a red e..
but faldage raises an interesting idea.. proscriptive dictionaries.. i can think of a few words i might want to add...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
my visual impairment makes me less likely to notice a single colored letter.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,372
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
381
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
