L. H. Smith Offline Account Locked
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p.211 #6 · Canon 5D Mark II master thread | |
abam wrote:
might i suggest a reading of constance hale's "sin and syntax," which shows us that english grammar is a world in flux, and that school-marm adherence to rules might bind down your creativity. (not that there aren't patent mistakes to be made in english... like periods at the end of interrogative sentences.)
edit: patent mistake made in spelling
Should we, or should we not add complete indifference to capitalization to this 2-example beginning of a "patent mistake" list?
Assuming a right to an individual opinion, I opine that creativity, if/when it intereferes with sensible communication of meaning, is counter-productive to the basic function of language.
I'm guessing that "school marm"-ism suggests "blind" or thoughtless and rigid rule-following, so I agree that that is undesirable, ...but to generally(!) follow rules arrived at by a consensus understanding of how best to "say something", in order that the intended audience will be
enlightened, rather than confused, seems wise.
I also feel strongly that extra credit should be given for increased sentence-length.
Succinctness? Succinctness? We don' need no stupid succinctness! :-)
If a thing is NOT simple, and an attempt is made to express it simply, what has been expressed is a different (or incomplete) thing.
Are there other-than-English contemporary grammars that are not "in flux"?
IAC, if someone comes up with a new way to say something, with an easily discernable meaning, ...I'm down with that! ;-)
[Over and out. The OT guilt is becoming unbearable.]
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