Lots of people on this site seem to openly use words they don't know the definition of, and their comments become ambiguous or they misunderstand others comments, is this just my imagination?
The ones I particularly find irritating are:
Culture: the morals, customs, values etc of a society or social group, especially at a particular time. (It doesnt mean race!!)
Awesome actually meaning causing awe; dreaded
I wont start on romantic, fantastic, fabulous...
or do you think I'm being silly?
2006-09-20 11:56:45 · 25 answers · asked by Gypsophila 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Yes, the word culture is often used to mean what is really its opposite.
This idiotic conflation is, of course, American in origin. It derives, I think, from the strange American belief that national heritage is transmitted genetically. This foolishness is especially apparrant in such terms as Black Culture. It is obvious that there can be no such thing, any more than there can be White Culture. The Bushmen of the Kalihari surely share little culturally with, say, black women such as Condaleeza Rice.
Awsome is just american school slang, and will go out of fashion one day, and is nothing to worry about. Public schoolboys used to use áwfully´in the same way: things were always áwfully nice´, for instance.
You aren´t being silly: you are responding with the despair that is the natural resonse of all civilised people.
But what can you do about in? Probably nothing, alas!
2006-09-20 12:19:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Languages, especially English, and especially within the last few decades, change over time. The meanings of words such as awesome, fabulous, fantastic and so on have shifted significantly through common usage and their new meanings are becoming more accepted. Culture being misused for race is a different matter. However, it is not people's race that others usually object to; it is their culture; so it is an understandable error.
2006-09-20 12:12:24 · answer #2 · answered by Bethany 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I find etymological accuracy very satisfying, and certainly there are words that seem to have gained new definitions as a result of popular useage. One word that springs to mind is 'decimation' which actually means the destruction of one-in-ten, but now has the popular definition of total destruction.
It's a thin-line that one walks in allowing language to develop, and the abandonment of the real meanings of words.
I hate nonsense words. 'Basically' causes me to gasp loudly. It's a horrible, pointless word used as a filler by the semi-articulate or semi-literate.
Misuse of the word 'literally' also infuriates me. I have even seen 'literally' misused on a menu in a restaurant. According to said menu 'raspberries would literally burst out of my dessert'. Very disconcerting, especially as the promised emission of raspberries didn't happen. The raspberries were there, but had no projectile properties about them whatsoever, which, on reflection, was probably a good thing.
2006-09-20 12:07:44 · answer #3 · answered by Phish 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a bit silly to be so worked up about it, but I can see your point as well. I really don't think people are using words they don't know the true meaning of in the wrong way on purpose. But... having said that, I get worked up about some of the stupid questions asked on here. Thankfully I have learned that if the title makes my blood boil, I don't need to click on it!
2006-09-20 12:08:34 · answer #4 · answered by Slam64 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find in this day and age, even those words have set meanings, they are used more freely, like using the word culture to decribe a race of people. Rather then get upset about people using wrong words in a sentence, I say try and read through their ignorence. People can be sometimes mis informed, and it's not like they do it on purpose. Forgive and forget, try not to let it get ot ya.
2006-09-20 12:00:49 · answer #5 · answered by senshii2002 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey mate chill out, don,t forget that alot of different people all around the UK and Ireland are answering questions on this site, there are different eduction levels to think of, backgrounds, slang speech and misunderstandings are all easily made, i don,t think your being silly just maybe a little uptight.
2006-09-20 12:10:10 · answer #6 · answered by moogall25 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People on this site will say just about anything. They don't even try to use the spell check. It is easy to misunderstand some of the questions when they really don't make sense.
2006-09-20 12:06:26 · answer #7 · answered by freedomchild99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, a lot of people on here can't spell, for one. I can't claim to always use words in context, but at least I try...and I try to spell correctly too. If I want to use a word, but am not sure if I am using it in the right context, I look it up. That's what dictionaries and thesaurus's are for.
Also I just try and breathe deeply. It helps when you are on here.
2006-09-20 12:06:59 · answer #8 · answered by lozzy1970 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have yet to find anyone on this site that knows the definition of 'Pagan' or 'Paganism'. It's not that difficult to look up the definition of a word. I'm with ya.
2006-09-20 12:08:23 · answer #9 · answered by sean1201 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not being silly. It annoys me as well, especially in everyday life. I have learned that ignorant people try to cover up their ignorance by trying to use words that they don't fully understand to sound smart. As I think you'll agree, it only makes them sound more ignorant.
2006-09-20 12:01:19 · answer #10 · answered by altokat24 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋