This is a great site for in-depth clarification of grammar points - use their search bar.
Sunday, 1 September 2013
My head literally exploded...
Aargh! That is apparently now a correct use of English, according to an eminent source: my former friend, the Oxford English Dictionary (only joking, OED, we're still best buds xxx.H). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23729570
Now I wish I'd posted the Terry Pratchett quote about how when people break the rules, those rules tend to be quietly reqwritten to no longer apply to them.
Indeed! I am all for language changing and developing but based on a misunderstanding of something English teachers teach day in and day out? That hits where it hurts!
I think this story is particularly interesting because we are using the word literally in a completely opposite way to it's definition and so defeats the purpose of the words such as metaphorically because it is now acceptable to use literally in it's place. If more words end up having two opposing definitions due to misunderstanding or sarcastic emphasis, words may become extinct.
Indeed. One of the gorgeous things about English is the number of synonyms we have (mostly due to English absorbing words from other languages) that allow real precision of expression of ideas. The danger of 'literally' having two opposite meanings is that, while 'my head exploded' cannot reasonably be misunderstood to be literal, there may be other ideas that could create confusion. One's understanding of context is crucial to interpreting ambiguous expressions and that is something the person speaking/writing cannot be sure everyone does fully appreciate.
Now I wish I'd posted the Terry Pratchett quote about how when people break the rules, those rules tend to be quietly reqwritten to no longer apply to them.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! I am all for language changing and developing but based on a misunderstanding of something English teachers teach day in and day out? That hits where it hurts!
DeleteI think this story is particularly interesting because we are using the word literally in a completely opposite way to it's definition and so defeats the purpose of the words such as metaphorically because it is now acceptable to use literally in it's place. If more words end up having two opposing definitions due to misunderstanding or sarcastic emphasis, words may become extinct.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. One of the gorgeous things about English is the number of synonyms we have (mostly due to English absorbing words from other languages) that allow real precision of expression of ideas. The danger of 'literally' having two opposite meanings is that, while 'my head exploded' cannot reasonably be misunderstood to be literal, there may be other ideas that could create confusion. One's understanding of context is crucial to interpreting ambiguous expressions and that is something the person speaking/writing cannot be sure everyone does fully appreciate.
Delete