Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#110674 08/22/03 05:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
I was taught to make a distinction between "wake" and "awake", that "awake" was intransitive. My dictionary does not support this.
Comments, please.


#110675 08/22/03 05:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
AHD4's usage note has some comments on this:

http://www.bartleby.com/61/13/W0011300.html


#110676 08/22/03 09:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
mmm, useful note on Northern / Grits differences too.


#110677 08/23/03 11:03 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Whoever thought I'd get a chuckle out of a dictionary!
Extrapolating the meanings gives an interesting twist to the movie title "Waking Ned Devine" wherein a man in an isolated Irish village wins the lottery and dies of shock so villagers decide to "wake" (bring to consciousness) Ned by having another assume his identity and claim the prize which will be divided equally among the villagers. Meanwhile they hold a "wake" (a pre-burial vigil) for dear old Ned who brought prosperity to the village.



#110678 08/23/03 11:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
vigil

Interesting euphemism(?) for party.


#110679 08/23/03 12:45 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
wachet auf!



formerly known as etaoin...
#110680 08/24/03 03:04 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 475
D
addict
Offline
addict
D
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 475
cos i is well ignorant an stuff i never nyoo wot intransitive ment so i tried to find out an i got noewair, if yoo can werk owt wot i just roat maybee yoo can werk owt wot dis meens

The basic definition of an intransitiveverb is a verb, utilized in a sentence, with no compliment. This definition holds true in many instances, but is not true in all cases. To explore any subject one must find the basis in rules and to find the exceptions, which makes rule necessary. The ways that a verb is used in transitory situations does not necessarily set the limits of the intransitive verb. A closer look at the limits and definition will help to find the distinction between uses of transitive and intransitive verbs, but will involve exceptions as a gray area between the standard definitions. It is a necessity to start with a good definition of terms to discuss variances within the definition of an intransitive verb.

Definition of the term intransitive must necessarily exist because of the defined precepts of a transitive verb. A transitive verb can have many complements and can serve the main function intended in verb usage. The sharp, short exchange of the language today has changed the rich, flowery prose and the necessity of an intransitive verb to function, as a demonstrative act, rather than a definitive purpose, has been required. The intransitive verb is most often used in a no complement sentence. A few examples of the intransitive style are as follows: 1. He exists. 2. Tom grew. 3. Jack waited. (Williams 216). The preceding examples are uses of intransitive verbs with no complement, however this is not the entire story.

The intransitive verb...
noe it is noe yoose i carnt taik it enee moor sumwon just tel mee pleese beefour i throe up



#110681 08/24/03 03:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
dody, it can't be made any more simple* than this:
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/linguistics/Conferences/EastNusantara/ValenceQuest.html

where simple has a very high valence coefficient.
-ron o.


#110682 08/24/03 04:04 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
from the tsuwm's cited site:

Where exactly does a 'word' end and becomes a 'phrase'?

becomes?



formerly known as etaoin...
#110683 08/24/03 04:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Well, Michael, I read quite a bit of that site and I have now lost all will to live.


#110684 08/24/03 05:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
From tsuwm's site, an interesting word:
deixis
n : the function of pointing or specifying from the perspective
of a participant in an act of speech or writing; aspects
of a communication whose interpretation depends on
knowledge of the context in which the communication
occurs


#110685 08/24/03 06:25 PM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
M
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
I had not previously come across this component of the expression, but became familiar with 'deictic expressions' in linguistic studies. It's the sort of context-sensitive mannerism we'd all recognise which becomes well-nigh meaningless if the speech act is recorded - for example, someone says "I'm going to drink that". Superficially this seems close in structure to sentences like "I'm going to drink milk", but it depends for a crucial aspect of meaning on a physical action (pointing, nodding etc) which indicates the referent of "that".


#110686 08/24/03 07:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
After I posted about "deixis", into my mind unbidden popped the word "apodeixis".
"Rhetoric has borrowed from dialectic several terms relating to argumentation, including pistis (proof), apodeixis (logical demonstration), and enthymeme (informal reasoning)."
The word "pistis" is also interesting. I wonder if French "piste" which my dictionary defines as "a ski run of hard packed snow" but I remember as meaning "the track of a hunted animal" (or crimial).
Another corny joke. Railroad dick stops a man for walking on the tracks. Man says he is looking for the railroad president. "You won't find him here." "No, but I'm on his track."


#110687 08/25/03 02:30 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 95
V
vbq Offline
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
V
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 95
After I posted about "deixis", into my mind unbidden popped the word "apodeixis"

deixis ex machina



#110688 08/25/03 11:06 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
pistis from Greek, pisteuo - believe, trust

Bingley


Bingley
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,318
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 781 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,535
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5