  Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 115 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 69.221.37.173 |
Livernoisyard posted a link to a site devoted to "eggcorns," and I want to thank him for that. Very amusing. Rather than having me try to explain it, best to look it up yourself; his link is on the "New Member--Woooo!" thread. I don't know how old he is, but he would have loved the work of 60's comedian Norm Crosby, who based his entire routine on language screw-ups. ("I have a friend who has reached the absolute pinochle of success.") Professional athletes, many of whom were free-passed through the educational system or skipped it altogether, are known for savagely rending our language, often to hilarious result: "We had a good run, and we can hang our heads high." (??!!) I don't mean to poke fun, in a malicious, demeaning way; the real fault is with our failure to properly educate our citizens, particularly in our public schools. A lot of people I work with (I mean, "with whom I work") are barely literate, and it's not that they are all dumb-asses; some of them are, but some are fairly bright people who got screwed by The System. But, that is for another Time & Thread. What I'm looking for, here, is some fun, not divisive social harangues. So, to wit, ergo, heretofore, henceforth, even though I can go on forever with my own examples, I'd rather hear from you all. Which (fairly common) language screw-ups cause you to grind your teeth? Let's have some fun, without giving in to any temptation to be overly mean. Fire away, gang!! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2256 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.146 |
Ravine.... (before the "what does this have to do with Detroit" police get here).... Whenever I'm on this forum I have to "regulate my vowels"... I have a buddy who works in building trade... he used "crepit" a lot to describe the condition of a building.... I told him that "crepit" is not a word... but "decrepit" is. I once overheard a shoe store manager tell one of the workers "this woman returned these here shoes... why don't you help her ratify the situation". | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 116 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 69.221.37.173 |
Gistok, thanks for the warning about the impending attack, but this thread IS about Detroit, in the sense that every region has its own dialect, and with that comes region-specific misusage. I know that's a weak defense, but I couldn't find the "Linguistics" section. Still, you're right, I should have tossed this thread into the Non-Detroit section. Oops; whatever. Anyone anal enough to get in a lather over my putting it in this section is probably anal enough to supply some fine examples of the stuff I'm asking about. | ||
Machoken Member Username: Machoken Post Number: 1277 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.85.155.145 |
<---- ...wondering when their going to move this to Non-Detroit Issues.... | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 117 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 69.221.37.173 |
I would move it, myself, if I knew how. I made a mistake, putting it here. Maybe I should start a thread about people who barely know what they are doing when it comes to computers and the Internet. Sorry!! | ||
Machoken Member Username: Machoken Post Number: 1278 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.85.155.145 |
I could care less how much you know about computers. | ||
Andyguard73 Member Username: Andyguard73 Post Number: 61 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 64.25.200.14 |
Machoken sounds a little grumpy today.  | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 121 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 69.221.37.173 |
And I could care less that he could care less. So there. Nyaaa-nyaa. I put this thread in the wrong section. So fucking sue me, fer chrissakes. | ||
Bearinabox Member Username: Bearinabox Post Number: 24 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 69.209.183.172 |
Isn't it supposed to be "I couldn't care less?" That one always bothers me... | ||
Machoken Member Username: Machoken Post Number: 1279 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.85.155.145 |
It bothers me alot to. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1686 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.221.36.73 |
"I could care less." Let's ponder the meaning of that...yes think about it. The proper saying--if you want to convey that you don't care about something--is "I could not care less." ...joining in this thread of bad spirits. | ||
7051 Member Username: 7051 Post Number: 8 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.212.37.152 |
Heard these before.. "That's a nice lookin' rockwelder you have" is often heard lately around the city (in reference to "rottweilers"). "Someone call ESM, he just fell out" has been heard for many years around the city (in reference to calling EMS as someone just collapsed or fainted. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 800 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
People in Detroit cannot say Lahser; it's always Lasher. A number of "English", err "Language Arts" teachers in Metro Detroit have trouble speaking standard English in addition to the much harder task of teaching it. | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 2995 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 136.181.195.17 |
Liver-noise Yard strikes a low blow questioning the pronunciation of street names! If you do a search on this here web sight, you'll find more than one thread about how to say "Lahser". | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6044 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
Considering how we pronounce "Gratiot" and "Goethe," we really shouldn't be criticizing how others pronounce their street names. | ||
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch Post Number: 1539 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 208.44.117.10 |
Especially considering how we pronounce Hamtramck | ||
Itsjeff Member Username: Itsjeff Post Number: 6045 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 208.27.111.125 |
Shut up, Daburch. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 616 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
Speaking of Gratiot, whilst watching The Weather Channel recently one of the gals noted a severe storm warning in "Grat-ee-ott" county. But I give her an A for effort. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1166 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.2.1.153 |
Darnit, Machoken had me going there with what appeared to be unintentional grammatical errors on his part, but when you have 3 in a row, mayhaps it is intended... "when their (they're) going to", "could (n't) care less" and "It bothers me alot (a lot) to (too)". I mean, that's just rediculous. | ||
Solarflare Member Username: Solarflare Post Number: 430 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 63.69.106.29 |
There was a guy in our office who would regularly send around emails containing the phrase "for all intensive purposes". I got too much of a kick out of it to correct him. Everyone else did too, or didn't pick it up. That's just a plain ol' mistake, as for a regionalism, does anyone else hear Michigan folk pronounce milk "melk"? That's the one that gets to me. | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 122 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 68.248.8.172 |
Yeah, Dougw, he had me there, too. I don't know how someone, on a written post, can manage to "say something with a straight face," but he did it. And-- Itsjeff gets a big star on his forehead for his comment regarding Gratiot and Goethe. I think I should award it to him while standing at a corner of Livvurnoyz. But seriously, we have been pronouncing Gratiot the wrong way for so long that it actually would feel ridiculous to say it correctly. The same with Brett Favre or Notre Dame. Screw Favre anyway, he's a Packer. | ||
Machoken Member Username: Machoken Post Number: 1280 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 207.145.38.104 |
<---- Taking a bow. | ||
Machoken Member Username: Machoken Post Number: 1281 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 207.145.38.104 |
I gotta say, Ravine, you're responses to my posts were frigging priceless. | ||
Ravine Member Username: Ravine Post Number: 124 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 68.248.8.172 |
That having been said, alls I'm sayin' is, at the end of the day, we are on a slippery slope. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 802 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
Solarflare: In Indiana, the short 'i' and 'e' sounds often get switched: "melk" for "milk" and "iggs" for "eggs". | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2259 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.183 |
Remember Emily Litella, Gilda Radnor's Saturday Night Live characterization of a hard-of-hearing commentator.... I loved her topic on "endagered feces" (instead of endangered species).... and her topic on "natural racehorses" (instead of natural resources)... A tragic end to such a wonderful and funny metro-Detroiter! | ||
Pamequus Member Username: Pamequus Post Number: 51 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 158.229.218.204 |
From Tallahassee, in north Florida (aka Southern most Georgia) I have to say.......y'all are just way too funny, ya hear??!!?? | ||
Mthouston Member Username: Mthouston Post Number: 97 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 63.77.247.130 |
How about Canadian English Dullar, I have one dullar. Aboat. It's aboat time you got here. What'cha think eh? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 340 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
What about the current state of ebonics where nothing is plural and there are no contractions- "it katrina coat", "he my cousint" | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2264 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.75 |
Anyone notice how in Canada they say.... "he is recovering IN HOSPITAL from the affliction." | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2265 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.75 |
English sign in a Rome Italy doctor's office: "SPECIALIZING IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES"... English sign in a Thailand tailor shop: "MEN HAVE FITTING FOR SUITS DOWNSTAIRS, WOMEN HAVE FITS UPSTAIRS"... | ||
Oliverdouglas Member Username: Oliverdouglas Post Number: 22 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.215.66.154 |
Chimbley, K-Marks. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 341 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
Gistok, the Canucks also say "she is at University" when descibing an acquantance in college. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1225 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.116 |
Engrish | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 342 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
People from Michigan also pronounce "mirror" as "mere", as opposed to mirr-or. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 343 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
And then there is the unnecessary pluralization of company names, "I work at Fords" | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 2997 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 136.181.195.17 |
For the last time, that is not a pluralization. We refer to them in their possessive form, referring to the company belonging to a specific person, as in "I work at [Henry] Ford's company." It harkens back to when we didn't view them as faceless corporations. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2587 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Yes, but then there is the plural of the possessive: "I worked at Fords's." | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2267 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.120 |
There are other pluralizations... Legos or Legoes (Lego is singular and plural)... Monies.... I can never figure that one out.... I thought Money is singular and plural? | ||
Mod Member Username: Mod Post Number: 41 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 192.85.50.2 |
I worked behind an auto parts counter where I was frequently asked to price a "cadillac converter". Some couldn't pronounce oil and instead requested "ool". People who shop at MEIJERS crack me up too. | ||
Mod Member Username: Mod Post Number: 42 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 192.85.50.2 |
I worked behind an auto parts counter where I was frequently asked to price a "cadillac converter". Some couldn't pronounce oil and instead requested "ool". People who shop at MEIJERS crack me up too. | ||
Mod Member Username: Mod Post Number: 43 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 192.85.50.2 |
I worked behind an auto parts counter where I was frequently asked to price a "cadillac converter". Some couldn't pronounce oil and instead requested "ool". People who shop at MEIJERS crack me up too. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1170 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.2.1.103 |
(ouch, a triple post!) HamSteve is right, though. Ford and Meijer are someone's names, so in my book Ford's and Meijer's are somewhat acceptable. Kind of like saying "I'm going over to Steve's." Some company names are officially possessive forms, such as Buddy's or Vernor's. On the other hand, if you say Kmart's, you are retarded. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 804 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
One who triple posts should be hosted on his own petard! Cease and decease in this idiotic behavior! But taken with a grain assault, from my own prospective and vintage point, one should give credit where credit is dew in that he even new how to hit the rite button three thymes and not get his nipples in a twist. But whoa is me! I shutter to think, by enlarge in lame man's terms when you cut to the cheese, how Lowell has aloud posters with skill levels that run the gambit from a jack of all traits to won mad poster like a bowl in a china shop. However, I don't no hymn from atom, so wye cut off my nose despite my face? I'll just put the cat before the horse an not bee sew sartastic. Sow without further to do, all weight till the chickens come home to roast. | ||
Gargoyle Member Username: Gargoyle Post Number: 5 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 24.192.189.109 |
Hey Livernois! Where you from? It's "credick", not credit. | ||
Pam Member Username: Pam Post Number: 229 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 4.229.72.206 |
Meijer did have an 's at the end when they started: http://www.meijer.com/about/hi story.asp | ||
Umstucoach Member Username: Umstucoach Post Number: 31 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Also, when Meijers got real popular they went under "Meijer's Thrifty Acres." | ||
Ron Member Username: Ron Post Number: 174 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 66.174.79.228 |
Livernois, despite our political differences, that was funny. Ron |
