Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> So just who exactly defines what is the "correct" meaning of a word?

  Dictionaries at least. And that's not just being pedantic. If you want
to write official text which is unambiguous and understandable by everyone
who speaks the language, you'll have to stick to dictionary definitions
and avoid use parlances which only a small segment of the population might
understand (especially if the rest may understand it wrongly).

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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> What it more likely means is that native speakers, being exposed to more 
> usages of the word, are consequently more exposed to incorrect uses.

You can tell that my girlfriend is not a native English speaker only by the 
fact that she points out incorrect usage of English that no native would 
ever realise :-)

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scott wrote:
> You can tell that my girlfriend is not a native English speaker only by 
> the fact that she points out incorrect usage of English that no native 
> would ever realise :-)

Seconded!  Usually followed by me explaining that while she's right 
logically, that isn't how English works.  Usually followed by her 
muttering "fucking English" under her breath.

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

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Warp wrote:
> Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
>> So just who exactly defines what is the "correct" meaning of a word?
> 
>   Dictionaries at least. 

Especially since dictionaries, in general, *do* track normal popular 
usage over time. So it's not like by sticking to the dictionary you're 
going to be "out of date".

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

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scott wrote:
> You can tell that my girlfriend is not a native English speaker only by
> the fact that she points out incorrect usage of English that no native
> would ever realise :-)
> 
> 
Snap!

John

-- 
I will be brief but not nearly so brief as Salvador Dali, who gave the
world's shortest speech. He said, "I will be so brief I am already
finished," then he sat down.

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scott wrote:

> You can tell that my girlfriend is not a native English speaker only by 
> the fact that she points out incorrect usage of English that no native 
> would ever realise :-)

Damn. My girlfriend just smiles and tells me how fascinating I am...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:48:44 +0100, Doctor John <doc### [at] gmailcom>
wrote:

>scott wrote:
>> You can tell that my girlfriend is not a native English speaker only by
>> the fact that she points out incorrect usage of English that no native
>> would ever realise :-)
>> 
>> 
>Snap!

Double de snap!

She's Scots :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Stephen wrote:

> She's Scots :)

I misparesed that as "she's Scott's" - which would have a whole *other* 
set of implications!

OOC, does anybody here have a girlfriend who *isn't* foreign??

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:02:30 +0100, Orchid XP v8 <voi### [at] devnull>
wrote:

>
>Damn. My girlfriend just smiles and tells me how fascinating I am...

And you're a liar too :P

Sorry could not resist that (before anyone else jumps in)

Fancy a drink soon?
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:18:08 +0100, Orchid XP v8 <voi### [at] devnull>
wrote:

>
>I misparesed that as "she's Scott's" - which would have a whole *other* 
>set of implications!

ROTFL
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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