Tuesday, March 04, 2014
It's National Grammar Day!
Professor Polistra feels obliged to note this Day because it's in her sphere of influence. We're supposed to give a little extra attention to "grammatical" errors today... but in fact real grammatical errors are rare.
For instance, CNN has a little article on the subject. With one exception, none of the errors shown in the pictures or the text are grammatical problems. All are spelling or punctuation errors. The exception is a sign in Thailand that warned: "Beware slippery!"
Plain fact: It's very hard for a native speaker of English to make a true error in grammar. You have to be a learner, especially a learner whose original language is far removed from Indo-European patterns. And CNN's pictures illustrate the point perfectly.
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This plain fact is quite useful. Just after finishing the above, I noticed this typical bit of spam in my inbox:
Professor Polistra feels obliged to note this Day because it's in her sphere of influence. We're supposed to give a little extra attention to "grammatical" errors today... but in fact real grammatical errors are rare.
For instance, CNN has a little article on the subject. With one exception, none of the errors shown in the pictures or the text are grammatical problems. All are spelling or punctuation errors. The exception is a sign in Thailand that warned: "Beware slippery!"
Plain fact: It's very hard for a native speaker of English to make a true error in grammar. You have to be a learner, especially a learner whose original language is far removed from Indo-European patterns. And CNN's pictures illustrate the point perfectly.
= = = = =
This plain fact is quite useful. Just after finishing the above, I noticed this typical bit of spam in my inbox:
Notice of eviction,Might be scary if I didn't know this plain fact. It's not scary because I see "We want to hope for you cooperation" and "enclosed to this notice." A real estate agency named Alison Smith could not write those phrases because they are genuine grammatical errors. [Also, my name is not Notice of Eviction, though it would be an interesting name. Sort of like Daniel of St Thomas Jenifer. Or maybe I could Irishize it into Notice O'Eviction just in time for St Paddy's Day.]
Please be advised that your current dwelling has been condemned.
The eviction proceedings are already in process. You are hereby ordered to vacate the premises no later than 03/28/2014 or face forcible removal. Any attempt to resist is futile.
Contact our office without delay to make proper arrangements for a move out. We want to hope for you cooperation.
Our contact details and judicial statement are enclosed to this notice.
Real estate agency,
Alison Smith
Labels: Language update
¶ 3:31 AM
