#prescriptivist

[allthatimplies]

“I will drink prescriptivist tears out of my grammar-themed mug!” — another great quote from my grammar professor.

[worldwithoutmiracles]

annual request that we course-correct and start saying "you can't eat your cake and have it too" so that the phrase actually makes sense

[howtopolyglot]

Linguists

Does anyone else question the fact that most linguists are descriptivists in their native language, yet prescriptivists in languages they learn? For example: I don't care a lot about English grammar because I know language changes and it is all relative to socioeconomic class etc. HOWEVER, in my target languages, I feel as if I have failed if I don't construct grammatically flawless and syntactically beautiful sentences. Just a thought.

[lhaasiri]

HAHAHAHAHA I DON’T KNOW WHO BISHOP LOWTH IS BUT THIS IS HILARIOUS (source)

[migolomaniac]

[thesociologicalcinema]

Know Your Linguistic Philosophies! Prescriptivist: "Language is like gymnastics. There are rules and standards and those who fail to follow them should be chastised." Descriptivist: "Language is like gymnastics! There are lots of forms and none is preferable to any other." Pragmatist: "Language is like gymnastics. There isn't a best gymnastics, but most of you are really, really shitty at gymnastics." Follow this link to find a bundle of videos and analyses related to the study of language and linguistics Artist: SMBC Comics

[jessie-menken-blog]

you're laying in bed? really? how are the eggs?

The thing about being currently unfandomed is that I end up reading fic from all over the place, and the latest round has been plagued by a grammatical bug that is driving me up. the. wall. 

"To lie" is an intransitive verb. "To lay" is a transitive verb. And when they're mixed up, I start wondering where the chickens are. 

Which is why I feel compelled to borrow pushdragon's excellent PSA. Suggestive HP-themed examples ahead. 

Lend me your ears, I've a few words to say To clear up the difference between "lie" and "lay", For the simple confusion between "lay" and "lie" Causes more pain than a stake in the eye. One simple rule can relieve all the sting: You lie all alone but you must lay a thing You lie on a bed, it's as simple as that, But you lay down your weapons, your wand or your hat. Draco lies tied to the bedposts, I beg. (If he lays on the bed then he pops out an egg.) Aberforth lays down his formal black coat And lies nude beside his inflatable goat.  So if there's an object, you have to use "lay" And that includes body parts, so you would say: So Harry lies down next to Ron on the grass And lays a bold hand on his muscular arse. 

* They're two separate words, lay and lie. Clear as day ... In present at least. In the past ... that word "lay", What a slut! Its own meaning does not satisfy So it also gets round as the past tense of "lie".  * Lie, lay, lain, lying – that's all the one word In two different tenses. No, don't be deterred! I'll explain. Present tense could begin: Harry lies On Lucius's pillow with blindfolded eyes.  In past: Harry lay there. He struggled and kicked. He'd lain there for hours getting sucked, stretched and licked.  And lastly: Then, lying tied up on his front, Harry felt the first stroke and cried "Malfoy, you malicious, insensitive, in-bred Death Eater bastard!"  * Lay, laid and laying - the other one goes. Use this with objects and spruce up your prose.  Present: He lays his drunk guest on the couch. Out cold, Charlie thinks, Draco's not such a grouch.  Past: Draco laid down the lube, knees spread wide.  "Please-" He had long ago laid down his pride.  And lastly: And, laying it all on the line, Charlie said, "Stay with me. Live here. Be mine."  * See? Lay and lie need not really confuse you. Friends they can be – willing slaves, if you choose. You Have seen them in dutiful order displayed. Here endeth the lesson.  Now go and get laid.

Original here

[honeyandonions]

Mixed Berries

04.07.2014