this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2024
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Linguistics Humor

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Do you like languages and linguistics ? Here is for having fun about it


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spoileralt text: A two panel comic. In the first panel there are two buttons labeled "I don't believe in prescriptivism" and "'Literally' cannot mean 'figuratively'". A finger hovers between the buttons. In the second panel, the finger's owner is sweating and wiping his brow, unable to decide.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Take the utilitarian position: the word "literally" is more useful if it is distinct from the word "figuratively", but in most other cases descriptivist definitions are more useful.

[–] Tar_alcaran 11 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I take the pessimist position, which is similar to yours, but I still hate people who don't do what I want.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

I just get annoyed when people use it in ambiguous context and it creates confusion.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Counterpoint: raw utility is overrated and goofy vibes are much more enjoyable.

[–] Classy 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This is why English is such a linguistically fucked language now lol

[–] [email protected] 0 points 11 months ago

How is English any more or less linguistically fucked than any other natural language?