Kaimani Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 True. Actually, people who actually say "actually" all the time, literally get on my nerves, actually me too, basically, if you're basically going to say actually all the time you should basically not speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splodgeyAl Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 me too, basically, if you're basically going to say actually all the time you should basically not speak. Basically, I'm actually, like, totally in agreement with you there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadingNorth Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 do words only ever mean one thing. is the dictionary definition of a word only ever the only valid one? In fact the precise opposite of that is true. Dictionaries update themselves to reflect how words are being used; they do not prescribe what words must be used to mean. There is no English equivalent of the Academie Francaise which dictates language and meanings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaimani Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 In fact the precise opposite of that is true. Dictionaries update themselves to reflect how words are being used; they do not prescribe what words must be used to mean. There is no English equivalent of the Academie Francaise which dictates language and meanings. Dictionaries update themselves to reflect how words are being used; they do not prescribe what words must be used to mean. that has always been my belief. many words in history started life meaning one thing only for popular use with a different meaning to cause them to change. and, as you say, dictionaries always reflect this. always, more or less, playing catch up, as so to speak. and, even in 'informal' use the same words shift meaning from group to group. referring a person, always, to a dictionary to say that word means this is not always the 'right' thing to do as most dictionaries, esp paper ones are not always current. i would say age and geography is the main driving force behind this fluidity in use and meaning. don't know about the Academie Francaise. will look into that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strix Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 which is the perfect place to interject my annoyance at 'woot'. It's got into the dictionary as an expression of delight (or somesuch) Well, no. The dictionary is wrong 'Whoop' or 'whoot' are expressions of delight, WOOT is an abbreviation of 'Want One Of Those', so can only be an expression of the thrill of a product for example. It cannot be used to expressed how pleased you are somebody passed their driving test I think we should have a government department to stamp out illiteracy, and they should start with the Maclaren (buggy) website! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaimani Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 which is the perfect place to interject my annoyance at 'woot'. It's got into the dictionary as an expression of delight (or somesuch) Well, no. The dictionary is wrong 'Whoop' or 'whoot' are expressions of delight, WOOT is an abbreviation of 'Want One Of Those', so can only be an expression of the thrill of a product for example. It cannot be used to expressed how pleased you are somebody passed their driving test I think we should have a government department to stamp out illiteracy, and they should start with the Maclaren (buggy) website! valid points, all these. but for the people who use it as an expression of delight, are they wrong, if they and those they're speaking to understand what's meant? can it, like many other words, have two or more meanings? i do hate it when people ask me to 'borrow' them a pen though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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