Musings on Wording

[Scrappydoo]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

A decade or three ago, when someone wanted to append an additional affirmative clause or descriptor to a thought, the word that most folks used was "too," as in, "Me, too," "I'd like to go, too," or "we have a dog, three cats, and a three-legged gopher, too."

A while ago, folks started using "as well" in place of "too." That always grated on me; to me, it came off sounding pretentious and affected. Years went by, more and more people adopted it, and now I hardly ever hear anyone use "too;" everyone uses "as well" now. I even find myself using it as well (CRAP!).

What happened to "too?" Why use two words when one "too" can be used?
Perhaps to convey increased smartment?

Smartment

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by finch1750

I tend to use the shortest words possible, but if I'm writing for something (academic, whitepaper, article, etc) I will use all forms of a saying to avoid sounding repetative.

One of my biggest pet peeve is using complex words in everyday conversation. It just bugs the hell out of me because I do feel people do it to show off.

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Why the hell can't you just say "Not me. My kids are millenials and I love em".

This isnt a novel so why be so formal about it?

Because wry, semi-ironic humor? That was my intention when I wrote the statement that, unintentionally, got under your skin.

Conventions of speech and writing, of course, change with time, context, and intent. When I was in HS, undergrad, and graduate school, I hated to write papers. I mean, HATED to write papers. I enjoyed the learning part, but once I had researched and learned the material, I viewed the onerous task of regurgitating it and assembling it into formal writing a complete waste of time. Fortunately, I had excellent professors (especially Dr. Hughes in grad school.. thanks, Doc!) and I've always had a voracious love of reading, so I learned to write and developed at least a borderline serviceable vocabulary in the process.

Now, I love to write, because I write when I feel like it, about things I care about, or just for the sheer pleasure of sharing stupid thoughts and musings. The purpose of vocabulary is to convey thoughts and impressions in an increasingly specific and accurate manner. There are plenty of things that can be expressed monosyllabically, and I'm not adverse to doing so. When a concept requires more than "Bro, chill rims!" then it's nice to have some backup phraseology.

I get what you're saying; nothing drives me crazier than pretentiousness. On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE unintentional malapropisms. I had two borderline illiterate colleagues at one of my previous places of employment, and they were incredibly hillarious without realizing it. One one occasion, one of them (who viewed himself as a great sage and consummate educator, and he was far and I mean FAR from being either) introduced a guest artist that he revered (but was not equally respected by the rest of the faculty) who had offered to wave his honorarium as appearing "Persona non grata." I had to bite the inside of my lip until blood flowed to keep from laughing hysterically. I was not alone. He actually thanked the audience for a "tremendous ovulation" on another occasion.. and he wasn't kidding. Sooo... sometimes it's fun to let people be pretentious.

Yes, I could have written "I dig millenials; I raised three of'em." What I wrote better conveyed, or so I thought, the sort of wise-guy, playful attitude that I was feeling when I started the thread. Sorry if it came across differently. You mentioned your pet peeve is having to listen to folks using complex words in everyday conversation. I'll mention mine; it's using profanity in place of wit or vocabulary or just to fill up space. You wrote "why the hell" etc... when you could have conveyed exactly the same thought without "the hell." Why the hell did you feel the need to do that, as well?

Just havin' fun.

Best,

Barry

[radroach]

Albert Einstein would write papers that would be mostly unintelligible to people who weren't PhD's, and is often critiqued on that. Check it if you haven't tried reading one. To me it made me upset because of (lack of better drunken word) the haughtiness of his use of language, was not understandable even though I've been versed in honors English classes and attended college.

[radroach]

And if you want an amusing look on wording, take a look at how men used to say "no homo" after complimenting another guy. Ex: "You look good in your facebook pic, no homo." Now everyone says "hey those jeans look good, love you, full homo". Funny how things change.

[bcj]

Sorry, I've been perusing Wodehouse.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

Now, I love to write,
Barry

LOL We have noticed!

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

LOL We have noticed!

Is that the royal "we"?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JD001

Is that the royal "we"?

Nope. Just the plural.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Nope. Just the plural.

No musings then??

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by JD001

No musings then??

Musing? That would be madness!
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek0SgwWmF9w"]Muse - Madness - YouTube[/ame]

[finch1750]

Why you should say as well

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Why you should say as well

So far, that's the best reason I've seen by a long shot. It also illustrates my point about the benefits of using precise vocabulary.

And, FWIW, none of this has anything to do with a desire to "seem" or "feel" anything, referencing the ban thread. I was, and still am, geniunely curious about the changes in speech idioms as the years roll by, as evidenced by the switch from "too" to "as well" in relatively recent history. I wasn't aware that such curiousity was purely the providence of smart people. If so, then I guess that makes me smart. Who knew? I sure wasn't aware of it...

"Hey, gimme a tool" or "could you please hand me that 13mm flare nut wrench?"... I'm pretty sure which statement most of us would rather make (or hear) when working on our cars. Why not use colorful, precise language in other parts of our lives?

In any case, a very Happy New Year to all.

Best wishes,

Barry

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

LOL We have noticed!

ROFL.. Yeah, I know... I've gotta get some Imodium for my fingers.

[Captain Snooze]

I am often asked when I am paying for my coffee at a favourite coffee shop "How was everything?". I understand it is not meant to be taken literally; I am being asked how was my coffee. I have often considered going into a tirade of questions trying to determine what they mean by their question.

Me: "Was" past tense. "Everything" encompasses.... well everything. Are you referring to my early childhood, the state of the universe, the history of Poland?
Coffee shop staff: Huh?