Sick of seeing things like 'prizing' (instead of 'prizes') and 'suiting' (instead of 'suits') and 'gifting' (instead of 'giving'). Not trying to be a grammar-geek here, but its enough to make you pull your hair out. Is this another sign of the apolcalypse or simply 'faux sophistication' writ large?
2007-01-20 12:26:47 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It's probably mostly insecure people trying to gain recognition by being different. They might not realize that they are projecting an image of ignorance (of the language) in their quest to gain that much needed recognition. But then, they may very well know what they are doing (could speak and write correctly if they wanted to), but choose not to in order to be different or to be considered part of a group that is different.
I don't know whether there any people around now who speak like the California Valley Girls did. Don't think so. And I'm asuming that those who are currently prizing, suiting, and gifting the world will eventually suffer the same fate the valley girls did.
I would recommend looking on this as a spectator rather than someone who is troubled by it. You don't need the stress that comes with the fear that the language might disintegrate as a result of this new set of language abusers. There were many before them, and there will be more after them. Not to worry. Enjoy the latest chapter, wonder what happened to the last, and look forward to seeing what the future chapter might hold. You may even want to try predicting what might be next.
Be thankful that you are who you are, and that you haven't been sucked into joining those who find language abuse to be a means to satisfy a strong need for recognition of some kind.
2007-01-20 12:57:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is a linguistic process known as "conversion" and has been happening in English at least since Middle English times. It is an extremely common process whereby we expand our vocabulary where needed. "surf" (n) (The surf is up) > "surf" (v) (Let's go surfing), "run" (v) (I ran away) > "run" (n) (I had a good run), "good" (adj) (I had a good dinner) > "good" (adv) (I ate good). This process is common in other languages like English where both nominal and verbal morphology are minimal or are highly agglutinative rather than fusional, but even in languages where these characteristics are not the case, it is still possible. The process is perfectly natural. Every language is in a constant state of adding new vocabulary, this is just one of the many tools available to languages to accomplish that task.
2007-01-20 22:10:17 · answer #2 · answered by Taivo 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well first I would analyze your question...
Your examples tell me that you are tired of people using NOUNS as VERBS, not the other way around.
It is a trend. I usually don't support it, but I do like the occasional new word that comes out....PLUTOED - to demote or devalue someone or something.
Good luck fixing society.
2007-01-20 20:32:23 · answer #3 · answered by Lori S 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are a lot of nouns being used as verbs, like in the sentence "Have you googled it?" I've only ever heard of "gifting" as in "re-gifting." I like the sound of that.
2007-01-20 20:30:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that since the age of Internet people have no patience with each other. This has been partially brought about due to "instant"messages and acronyms such as lol. It seems to be easier to sound stupid via Internet verses face to face.
2007-01-20 20:35:55 · answer #5 · answered by Linda B 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I agree it's maddening, although as pointed out above, you're talking about nouns being used as verbs.
I hate "incentivize."
2007-01-20 20:35:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I hate nouns as verbs. Like itching not scratching
2007-01-20 20:34:35 · answer #7 · answered by ~~0o0~~ 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am not certain whether it is part of the continual evolution of a language or just sloppy usage. My pet peeve is the incorrect use of adverbs; or rather the lack of use of them. I constantly hear things like. "It's real good" "They are real easy to use", etc.
2007-01-20 20:32:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
My favorite is "Paint Stiping Ahead". Shouldn't it be Stripe Painting?
2007-01-20 20:29:23 · answer #9 · answered by TiM 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I ba don'tba underbastandba eitherba manba.Hey,hey,hey!
2007-01-20 20:30:29 · answer #10 · answered by one10soldier 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋