yeah, I started to think about those... hmmm. I don't know. graphical just seems like too much. feels wrong in the mouth.

[blergh]

Couldn't "graphical" be a useful way of indicating that a mixture of pictures, diagrams, and text are used?

I agree with eta--graphical:

I think that in any of these cases, if we think about it, we'll find that there's a difference in meaning, sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle, between the two words. We'll also probably find that the longer term is often misused for the shorter term.

For example, historic, to me, carries a weight that historical doesn't. "This historic occasion…" vs. "the historical marker on Rte. 13 marking the site of…".

Good point, Faldage. Since graphic has come to be used so often as an indicator of violence/gore/nitty gritty in movies, I wonder if some people might be using graphical to differentiate from that connotation?

yeah, Faldage, that's getting to what I'm thinking. I still have to wrap my head around a few more examples before I've gotten it, though... one of those times when my brain just doesn't want to follow those paths... other thoughts keep getting in the way, won't let me concentrate.

Jackie, I hadn't thought of that, but you could be on to something.

Jackie, your reminder that we now use "graphic" to connote violence, sex, etc in movies and such, made me wonder why it
is we invent new meanings for old words, adapting the word to encompass something losely based in the original meaning.

Do we do this because there is no "single" word to convey the new meaning? So in our constant desire to shorten long phrases to a single word, we invent a new meaning? Or do we do out of boredom for the current words, and a desire to bring "freshness" into our language?

Not a deep query, just one I often think about.......

In reply to:

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For example, historic, to me, carries a weight that historical doesn't. "This historic occasion…" vs. "the historical marker on Rte. 13 marking the site of…".

---

Sounds about right. I was always taught that historical was the ordinary adjective for history (a dictionary on historical principles)or meant past not present (the historical events described in Shakespeare's plays) while historic meant important enough to be recorded as a major event in history (the historic landing on the moon).

Bingley

to me it's like "orientating"; just plain wrong.

I don't like it either, eta, but we can't call it "wrong," right?

AnnaS,

yes, you're right. it ain't wrong, jus' feels that way... gets me all burgly inside...

gets me all burgly inside

Makes you want to steal something?

Ruby, I have often wondered how these new things get started! I always want to track it down and be able to say, "There! John (or Jane) Doe was the very first person to have used/said that".

Déja vu all over again: "orientating" IS wrong, it is, it is, it IS! [stamping little foot e] Even if you are lost in the woods and checking your compass, you can still be orienting yourself. T'other is just--argh, words fail me.

Say what you will, orientate, which has a 150 year history is, and always has been, a verb and nothing but a verb. Orient is a verbed noun.

How do you feel about orienteering?

Graphic is also a noun. How did that happen I wonder? Historic is not.

Just wondering.

Graphic is also a noun

Adjectival noun?

"Adjectival noun?"

I'd say substantivized adjective, as in "Send me your poor..." And why should both "crisp" and "crispy" exist? No reason I can see. At least "crispily" hasn't overloaded our vocabulary yet. Unless you count this sentence.

substantivized adjective

Adjectival noun, substantivized adjective, iceberg…

I looked up orientate to and was quite disappointed to find out it was all correct and acceptable. It still, in spite of the 150 year history, unnecessarily buzz-wordish.

auughh! orientate a real word? how about accompaninamist?

This argument has been had in these hallowed threads before. It boils down to emotion. Shall we discuss religion as well? Politics? Now, here's a starter for ten ...

- Pfranz

how many smilies doth it take?

"...iceberg..."

Hwæt?

...And why should both "crisp" and "crispy" exist? No reason I can see. At least "crispily" hasn't overloaded our vocabulary yet...

You haven't had the privelage of meeting belligerentyouth yet, have you?

-------

We'll also probably find that the longer term is often misused for the shorter term.

I think the functionality of this thread is beyond its capacitation.

I think the functionality of this thread is beyond its capacitation.

but it was such a nice thread...

"...iceberg..."

Hwæt?

As in the old punchline "Iceberg, Greenberg Monteverdi..."

Orienteering is fine! It's a real word.
Emotion, yes--thus my stamping of my foot (the "little" was to indicate the juvenality of my reaction, not a size ref., that's for sure!). I do hope juvenality isn't a real word--I had such fun making it up!

prolly not, but juvenility is.

The quality or state of being Juvenal, Roman satirist of the late first and early second century, CE.

Spoilsport!

As in the old punchline "Iceberg, Greenberg"

No, no, no -- it's "Iceberg, Goldberg..."

Iceberg, Greenberg, Montiverdi,

I think I've been dis-mantled.

I just wish I knew the old joke...

is there a graphic representation out there anywhere?




<points to Anna for the first in-thread/on-topic use of the new paté>

So do we need a graphic graph to outline the graphics of graphical?

http://www.urc.org.uk/hotline/content/address/thename.html

haha! thanks.

Thank you