Post B4Pnvto5tbqZtmaaRc by Dianora@ottawa.place
 (DIR) More posts by Dianora@ottawa.place
 (DIR) Post #B4PnceP0wfvScWgDDs by Dianora@ottawa.place
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       One of my favourite quotes.'When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean- neither more nor less.""The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things.""The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master-that's all." 'prescriptive or descriptive eh? #Linguistics #English
       
 (DIR) Post #B4PnceaiFBHdCo9YSO by mwl@io.mwl.io
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       @Dianora one of the hardest lessons I had to learn to become a pro writer:Words mean what the reader wants them to mean. I don't get a vote.
       
 (DIR) Post #B4Pnvto5tbqZtmaaRc by Dianora@ottawa.place
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       @mwl Prescriptive vs. Descriptive dictionaries. A Prescriptive dictionary would make sense for ESL but I'd defy anyone not to notice certain words have changed meaning in the last 100 years even. 'gay' is an easy example. Yes we furiously agree.