The official language thread

[PiecesOfKate]

@Guga

I heard a store clerk in Zurich telling a customer “you become 100 euros”. It was very funny.

[milanfahrnholz]

Guys, it is really all not that heard.

(the joke is mostly that he translates words the way they sound to the german ear.)

And I just realised this version is missing a risqué political line from the original script(the reference to Hans Filbinger).

[Sushi]

@PiecesOfKate

It’s a bit old-fashioned (and lazy) to use them in standard writing these days.

Lazy? As in OMG, WTF, AFAIK, it’s just stupidy of avoiding it due to not knowing the correct use, imo.

[ZakPhoenixMcKracken]

Oh my *BEEP*, What the *BEEP*, as far as I know, in my humble opinion, using or not the acronyms doesn’t hurt anyone. Laughing out loud.

[PiecesOfKate]

@Sushi

@PiecesOfKate

It’s a bit old-fashioned (and lazy) to use them in standard writing these days.

Lazy? As in OMG, WTF, AFAIK, it’s just stupidy of not avoiding it due to not knowing the correct use, imo.

I wouldn’t compare it to those since they’re more internet/SMS-borne abbreviations that people tend to use for impact - but it’s lazy in the sense that it takes longer to write ‘for example’ or ‘such as’.

People use it incorrectly too, yeah, but I was talking about when people use it in the correct sense, unnecessarily.

[milanfahrnholz]

@PiecesOfKate

but it’s lazy in the sense that it takes longer to write ‘for example’ or ‘such as’.

But using latin makes you look smartypants.

You should check some german forums. Full of show-offs…

[Someone]

@PiecesOfKate

I wouldn’t compare it to those since they’re more internet/SMS-borne abbreviations that people tend to use for impact - but it’s lazy in the sense that it takes longer to write ‘for example’ or ‘such as’.

Another thing is, that you can read and understand “for example” much faster than “e.g.”: The brain first stumbles over the dots and then it has to think about the meaning of the characters.

(This is at least valid for German brains… )

[PiecesOfKate]

@Someone

Another thing is, that you can read and understand “for example” much faster than “e.g.”:

Yeah, that’s one of the reasons we use it in our house style.

[Gffp]

Oh I like them 'cause they’re in latin:

id est (i. e.)—> that is,
exempli gratia (e. g.) —> in order to make an example
anno Domini (A. D.) —> in the year X of the Lord (after Lord sent Christ on earth)
post scriptum (P. S.) —> after I wrote (all I wanted to wrote in a consistent unity)
et cetera (etc…) —> and other (related) things
ante meridiem (a. m.) —> before noon
post meridiem (p. m.) —> after noon

but also
data: (things) that have been given (informations that go from one place to another one, from one person to another one)
medium (singular)/media(plural): something that stands in the middle, (between the two ends of communication)
verbatim: (exactly) with the (same) words
non sequitur: ‘it does not (logically) follow’ , basically our off-topic motto!
post mortem: (examination) after death
pro and con(tra): (things) for and against

There are many, above I wrote only those ones that I bumped into more.

Check out also this article if you are interested: http://www.humanities.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/2711228/Latin-Expressions-used-in-English.pdf

[Someone]

Great list, thank you!

We use some of them in German too. For example “pro” and “contra”, et cetera/etc. and “A.D.”.

[milanfahrnholz]

@Gffp

verbatim

Red Letter Media - Mr. Plinkett Defines Verbatim

[Gffp]

@PiecesOfKate

Urban Dictionary: F.N.A.R
(this is one of my favourite dictionaries)

@Gffp

It’s almost impossible for me to survive in the english speaking internet without that!

@milanfahrnholz

That and know your meme.

I didn’t know the last one. Interesting.

[milanfahrnholz]

@Gffp

I didn’t know the last one. Interesting.

Yes, because by the time I hear something for the first time, people already call it old and tired. That´s how fast the internet works, today.

[Guga]

Should we spend some words on those who insist on using TP as an acronym for Thimbleweed Park?

[ZakPhoenixMcKracken]

@Guga

TP as an acronym for Thimbleweed Park?

There was a poll, after all, created by @cvalenti on the blog, and the official answer was “TWP”.

[Someone]

Do you have a link?

[ZakPhoenixMcKracken]

@Someone

Do you have a link?

@Nor_Treblig please help!

[milanfahrnholz]

@Guga

Should we spend some words on those who insist on using TP as an acronym for Thimbleweed Park?

[ZakPhoenixMcKracken]

One of the most difficult things of the English language, for me, it’s the correct use of the phrasal verbs.
Sometimes their meaning looks obvious, but frequently can lead me to confusion.

So, please, can you make some example of the correct use of phrasal verbs?

i.e.:

• Get + …
• Put + …
• Set + …
• Keep + …

Thank you!

[tasse-tee]

@ZakPhoenixMcKracken

Sometimes their meaning looks obvious, but frequently can lead me to confusion.

Yes, sometimes a phrasal verb can have multiple meanings, literal and figurative. There isn’t always logic to it, you juat have to learn them by heart. Adding a preposition can change the meaning entirely, so keep a close eye out for those when you are reading a text. Here are some examples:

put up - place on a wall / raise an object, thing / show a level of skill or ability
I put up a sign on the wall.
He put up the hood on his jacket because he was cold.
The boxer put up a good fight.

put up with - tolerate
He put up with the constant in-jokes in Thimbleweed Park.

put down - place on a lower surface / insult / euthanise an animal
She put the glass down on the table
Ray quickly put him down for his stupid idea.
They had to put down the hamster because it was very ill.

put down to - think that an event, or situation, is caused by something specific
Ransome put his success down to his great sense of humour.

These aren’t the only meanings of these phrasal verbs, but a few common ones. I’ll post some examples of other phrasal verbs later.