Prompted by a few mentions in different quarters recently, I am wondering how many regulars here know just what a great set of resources and links is available on this site:

http://www.alt-usage-english.org/index.shtml

I am still scratching the surface in this feast of stuff, from Jamaican Patois to medieval pronunciation sound files, and if you have not yet fully discovered it, check it out now!

Thank you! Tanks! Much obliged! Ta! Cheers!

Thanks, Mav. Looks like a valuable alternative to AWADtalk.

Here's the list of rules for posting at the alt.english newsgroup (submitted *without comment ):


Things you may want to consider avoiding when posting here:

(1) re-opening topics (such as "singular they" and "hopefully") that experience shows lead to circular debate. (One function of the FAQ file is to point out topics that have already been discussed ad nauseam.)

(2) questions that can be answered by simple reference to a dictionary or a thesaurus.

(3) generalities. If you make a statement like: "Here in the U.S. we NEVER say 'different to'", "Retroflex 'r' is ONLY used in North America", or "'Eh' ALWAYS rhymes with 'pay'", chances are that someone will pounce on you with a counterexample.

(4) assertions that one variety of English is "true English".

(5) sloppy writing (as distinct from simple typing errors, or errors from someone whose native language is not English). The regulars are probably less willing than the general population to suffer sloppy writers gladly. Each article is written by one person, but read perhaps by thousands, so the convenience of the readers really ought to have priority over the convenience of the writer. Again, this is *not* to discourage non-native speakers from posting; readers will be able to detect that you're writing in a language that is foreign to you, and will make allowances for that.

(6) expressions of exasperation. In the course of debate, you may encounter positions based on premises radically different from yours and perhaps surprisingly novel to you. Saying things like "Oh, please", "That's absurd", "Give me a break", or "Go teach your grandmother to suck eggs, my man" is unlikely to win your opponent over.

Yeah...but...what does this mean to me?


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Sloppy Writing?

Oh, please my lady, gimme a break because that's absurd! Why would anyone know how to suck eggs in the first place? Geeez!

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Again, this is *not* to discourage non-native speakers from posting...

But, in spite of the *disclaimer following, that's exactly what *that will do!

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Musick's 5 *useages to avoid for AWAD (no, wait... 6 usages)

1 - ad nauseam
2 - simple reference
3 - pounce on you
4 - assertions
5 - make allowances
6 - suck eggs

... no, wait... 7 usages.

http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/paulfitz/spanish/script.html

Ex-cuuuuuse me, Mr Muzak, but them ain't my words. I just posted 'em for perusal.

... for perusal.

That's zak-ly whut I did.

I just can't bring myself to type "my man".

Peace

Yo, muzick, you dissing my man, the ASp?

Yo, tsuwm, *dis is whud I get fer not emoticoning.

411 ta da rest a ya.

whud I get fer not emoticoning. <http://wordsmith.org/board/images/icons/crazy.gif>

In my case what I does, is I slips into some nonstandard grammar or nother.

http://www.plinko.net/404/rndindex.ASp

()

tsuwm, I just came up for air to say thanks for the link. I'll be in there til, say, mid June...

no, wait... 8 usages.

> so rarified an atmosphere that plebs feel distinctly unwelcome...

mmm, I can entirely sympathise with that, Maximus - but hey, we *are exceptionally cuddly here :)

But there are still some great resources, even for anyone who doesn't want to participate.

we *are exceptionally cuddly here :)
Mmm, you sure are, Sugar!

In reply to:

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The Introductory documents (mini-FAQs). Newcomers to the a.u.e newsgroup should start with Intro A: Welcome and Guidelines for Posting, and will find further useful help and answers in Intros B, C, D, E, F, and G.
The large and fascinating AUE FAQ, written in 1997 by Mark Israel.
The AUE FAQ Supplement, containing additional entries from recent years.

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What a bunch of wallies ... boy, do they take themselves seriously! Didya have a look at their rogues' gallery? More beards and long hair to the square foot than bedbugs in an old mattress. Obviously, I don't even need to read their FAQs, extended FAQs, supplementary FAQs, FAQs to the FAQs, appendices to the FAQs to the FAQs, corollaries to the FAQs, extensions, additions and alterations to the FAQs and OED Supplementary FAQs to the AUE FAQs to know that I don't wanna go there ...

Nonetheless, I followed their links and found the sine qua non of economics sites. Have a giggle:

http://www.dack.com/web/bullshit.html

grammar is nowhere good enough to allow me to post there without getting flamed.

Oooh. A hotbed of prescriptivists? Sounds like they need a Fool.

Problem with prescriptivists they got no respect for the language. It's all well and good if it toes their particular line, but they just can't take it on its own terms.

Sounds like they need a Fool.

Sorry, I'm busy in 404 land.

Mav - It is a virtual cornucopia of links. Thanks.

...wallies. I can only imagine what it means, but it does sound good.

One push of the button tempted to me to reignite the whole architect stoush back here, but I decided to leave sleeping abominations well enough alone.

Very wise, Orwell, very wise ...

>stoush

btw Max, what does your usage of this word mean and derive from? It's a new one for me.

> macquarie

thanks mate - is it common usage down on the top of the bottom? - perhaps that rich vein of Scots influence agin?!