Yeah, so I am in Anthropology... that's why I argue the party line :P

quote:

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The ability of
language to change is a group decision and
individuals aren't able to make stuff up willy
nilly, just because they feel like it.

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All I have to say to that is: Fo' Shizzle My Nizzle.

See? I have no idea what that means.

...and I'm not sure I want to.

You're not the anthropologist here, vec. Gentle reminder.

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Originally posted by Pauline:
Can we officially retire "meh"?

Last night in class, instructor asked "So how'd you do on the exam?" and one person fairly shouted "Meh!".

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i rather like meh. i write it as well as speak it.
it's another one of those words that popped up simultaneously in different parts of the world. i admit to being quite surprised to see it used here when i was sure some close friends and i had made it up.
perhaps someone knows an origin that may have contributed to our "original" word creation?

I dunno, I just thought it was something my cat said.

Maybe all cats say it.

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Originally posted by Pauline:
You're not the anthropologist here, vec. Gentle reminder.

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Huh? What? Who is then? I would never say I am THE anthropologist... but the focus of my studies is in anthropology.

I'm not sure if I should be offended by Pauline's comment or not. I'll hold off on being offended. Takes too much energy :P

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Originally posted by Marshdrifter:
See? I have no idea what that means.

...and I'm not sure I want to.

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Well, thousands or millions of people DO know what that means You should keep up! (and it was an illustration of how one singular individual can 'create' new words... not so much a group 'decision' on that one...)

Oops, I meant to say, "you're not the ONLY anthropologist here". That's me (though not professionally), and also we have an archaeologist floating around somewheres....

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Originally posted by vecna:
not so much a group 'decision' on that one...)

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Really? I'd be willing to wager that its supposed
breadth of use is from the group willing to use
it.

quote:

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Originally posted by Pauline:
Oops, I meant to say, "you're not the ONLY anthropologist here". That's me (though not professionally), and also we have an archaeologist floating around somewheres....

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I float!

/me makes bobbing sounds...

In any case, I'm not one to discount new usage, but I do take exception to "anything goes" . Sure, language is flexible, but if we just accept that any word can mean anything we want, language loses precision. Loss of precise, nuanced meaning that everyone understands means bad communication.

Related note, how about "nasty"? Why not "bad" or "unpleasant" or "tedious" or "smelly" or "ugly"?

Now listen up people - this is Rome and it's C.E. 500. Do you really want our language to splinter into a bunch of different and somewhat silly ones? Do you? Hello...I'm talking about French here!?

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Originally posted by Marshdrifter:

quote:

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Originally posted by vecna:
not so much a group 'decision' on that one...)

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Really? I'd be willing to wager that its supposed
breadth of use is from the group willing to use
it.

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This is a difficult question to address. For instance, I am not sure that anyone that uses words commonly necessarily makes a conscious decision to consistantly use ANY word... people just USE them, you know?

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Originally posted by vecna:
This is a difficult question to address. For instance, I am not sure that anyone that uses words commonly necessarily makes a _conscious_ decision to consistantly use ANY word... people just USE them, you know?

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Bingo! And that would be culture.

quote:

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Really? I'd be willing to wager that its supposed
breadth of use is from the group willing to use
it.

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quote:

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And that would be culture.

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I feel like a victim of rhetorical jujitsu. I think we need to start this conversation over. You should qualify your position with a short exposition, then I will do the same. Then we can move on. Flerg.

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Bingo! And that would be culture.

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..and BINGO would be culture-o.



...izzle.

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Originally posted by vecna:
I feel like a victim of rhetorical jujitsu.

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(i've avoided this thread like the plague it is. i'm a serial abuser and i'm proud of it.) (actually as i've avoided it i have no idea of what actually goes on her.)


any aussie "media watch" viewers should have had a laugh on monday with the research into "judo-christianity".

I think I sense a mixed martial arts cage match coming on: rhetorical jiujitsu vs judo-christianity... FIGHT!