English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

« first day (642 days earlier) ← previous day next day → last day (4573 days later) »

Robusto

23:31

Q: Can their be used as a singular possessive pronoun?

I am attempting to help wordsmith a fundraising appeal. A member of the committee reviewing the appeal has pointed out we have a grammatical issue with one of our sentences: So for $1,300 contributed directly to [University Name], you can sponsor a merit based scholarship for a top [State Nam...

Obvious dupe. Anyone have a tab open with the original?

tchrist

¡Muy duplicado!

Yep.

Voted to close, added dupe.

People simply don’t look.

Where were you when we were talking about Han Unification?

Robusto

Moi?

tchrist

Toi.

Robusto

I dunno. I think I was enjoying myself. I'm sorry, I really am.

tchrist

I don't understand the tense conflict.

Oh.

Understand now.

Robusto

23:35

As far as Han Unification goes, though, I'm all for it. Provided it accounts for all the variant characters based on original Hanzi characters.

But I don't see how that would be possible.

tchrist

No, apparently not.

There is a huge new set coming through the pipe, with lots of alternates.

Robusto

Still, how would it supplant the oceans of encodings already used in published material?

KitFox

Hiya, boys.

Robusto

Hiya, Bottles.

KitFox

There are two questions I was thinking of asking on the main site. May I run them by you to see what you think?

tchrist

23:40

Um, surely.

Robusto

Run away.

tchrist

@Robusto They’re aiming for roundtrippability with those oceans.

Robusto

By which I mean "Um, surely."

@tchrist To them I wish all the best, and I'm glad I don't have to do any of the work.

KitFox

The first was about adding -o to words in song lyrics. Day-o, town-o, valley-o. Is there a pattern to this, some sort of relationship to these words, or is it merely a device for meter (it certainly isn't for rhyming).

Or does it mean something?

And wtf is up with my 'g' key?

Robusto

@KitFox I knew it! You are a closet Harry Belafonte fan!

tchrist

23:43

Ach now, me boyo, what would you be askin us that un?

KitFox

@Robusto Busted.

Robusto

The fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o.

tchrist

Me thinky people say this sorta thingo.

KitFox

See, you've got the idea.

But I wasn't sure if the question was on-topic.

tchrist

But I can't tell you who does.

Robusto

23:44

I think it's worth an ask. I don't know the answer myself, and I'm kinda curious.

tchrist

I think it might not be as on topic with songs as it would be if you couched it in terms of spoken language.

KitFox

OK. I will ask then.

Well, I will include that as an hypothesis.

tchrist

Sounds like A Piece of the Action talk.

KitFox

Oh, and hey, you'll be glad to know I don't have cancer.

tchrist

A Piece of the Action (Star Trek: The Original Series)

"A Piece of the Action" is a second-season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series first broadcast on January 12, 1968; its repeat on August 30, 1968, was the last episode to air in the 8:30 pm time slot on Friday nights. It is episode #46, production #49, written by David P. Harmon and Gene L. Coon, and directed by James Komack. Overview: The Enterprise visits a planet with an Earth-like 1920s gangster culture, with Runyonesque dialog and costumes. Plot Stardate: Unknown; The starship USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, is exploring space near Sigma Iotia II...

@KitFox God yes.

KitFox

23:46

Yes, I am familiar with that series.

tchrist

No, that show.

They are in the 20s.

People add -o to works, especially names.

KitFox

sighs

Robusto

@KitFox Was that on the table?

tchrist

Hey Rocko, you gonna hit Cracko?

KitFox

@Robusto Yes, but not now.

tchrist

23:47

Was that the second question?

No, that wasn't.

Sorry.

KitFox

So then I also have this other question, which I'm not sure if it's a dupe or not.

Robusto

Here's a guess: It might have originated with "Ho!" — an interjection added for emphasis. Or even "Oh!"

KitFox

Oh! Emphasis! I hadn't thought of that.

That's interesting.

tchrist

Check Wodehouse.

KitFox

OK, maybe I should post the first question first, then ask about the next one.

Robusto

23:49

In all the songs I can think of (one), it always falls on the backbeat, which is the beat that gives rock'n'roll its power.

KitFox

I thought of three.

tchrist

Yes, music lyrics seem OT. Other stuff, no.

Robusto

But it's not lyrics per se, it's about a linguistic mannerism.

KitFox

Well, ima ask it. Let em close it if they donna like it.

tchrist

Well, I certainly won't close it.

KitFox

23:51

How about the title "Where does the extraneous '-o' come from and what purpose does it serve?"

Or is that too murky?

tchrist

Too long.

KitFox

Never mind. I'll write. You can edit if you want.

tchrist

But I'm one of those fussbudgets who prefers titles not to have full-formed sentences in them.

Especially when they wrap the line.

KitFox

Yeah, I come from a long line of ~~feces~~ theses.

Robusto

@tchrist You look more like a flibbertigibbet to me.

tchrist

23:54

Perhaps in my salad days.

« first day (642 days earlier) ← previous day next day → last day (4573 days later) »

all rooms

Transcript for

Aug13

Aug '1214

Aug15

English Language & Usage: Multi-Layer…

Not for the faint of heart or those easily triggered by Englis...

phrase-requests pronunciation single-word-requests synonyms

join this room
about this room

00:00

06:00

12:00

18:00

all times are UTC