Re: [discuss] Off topic, a diatribe in agreement: Re: [discuss] 3.3 in standard English

2011-01-30 Thread Robert Derman

David B Teague wrote:

On 1/29/2011 7:17 AM, Zaphod Feeblejocks wrote:

When (for example), an interface tells me about spreadsheet 'formulas'
and not 'formulae', I think the people responsible have forgotten the 
user.
Off topic, a diatribe, in agreement with the position of Zaphod and 
others.


The so called "Americanisms" mentioned here are not Americanisms. They 
are BARBARISMS, committed by poorly educated USians who do not care 
about the language.


I have an ongoing, albeit losing, war with "indexes" (indices) 
"maximums" (maxima) "minimums" (minima) along with the words you mention.


Another annoyance: I note that /America/ is more than just the US. Too 
many people, here and abroad, use /America/ as a synonym for the 
UNITED STATES of America. There needs to be a word other than American 
for a citizen of the United States (of America).


Little made me more angry when a student at the University of Glasgow 
than the telephone response when I called the Consulate in Glasgow: 
"American Consulate." It was not and is not the "AMERICAN Consulate".


America includes Canada. America also includes Mexico, the Central 
American Isthmus nations, and the South American nations. There, 
English, where it is spoken, is a second language.


But I digress.

I agree with you entirely. There is a need for less US English 
centered language references in OO.o.


David Teague
a US Citizen, who is annoyed by
lazy and poorly educated US usage.
David, you complain about poorly educated U.S. people, unfortunately 
that is a situation that is unlikely to improve in the forseeable future 
due to a lack of funding for education here in the U.S.A..  I have 
always felt that our constitution should be amended to require that 
public schools be funded by statewide taxes and NEVER by local property 
taxes.  As long as Schools are funded by property taxes only the rich 
will receive a quality education!  As for the rest of us, we should 
consider ourselves lucky if we learn to read and write at all.


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Re: [discuss] Off topic, a diatribe in agreement: Re: [discuss] 3.3 in standard English

2011-01-30 Thread Brad Rogers
On Sun, 30 Jan 2011 10:32:53 -0500
David B Teague  wrote:

Hello David,

> The so called "Americanisms" mentioned here are not 
> Americanisms. They are BARBARISMS, committed by poorly 

Oh, FFS!  Nobody says;  prithee, ye, thee, thine, verily, or forsooth any
more.

In England we wouldn't have disco(theque), chicane or cul-de-sac had
we not adapted, adopted or stole words from elsewhere.

*ALL* languages change over time.  Deal with it.

-- 
 Regards  _
 / )   "The blindingly obvious is
/ _)radnever immediately apparent"
The stakes were high but the danger low
Charade - Skids


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