Theiling Online    Sitemap    Conlang Mailing List HQ   

Re: USAGE: Internetese deviancy - the definite article

From:John Cowan <cowan@...>
Date:Tuesday, July 27, 2004, 15:33
Mark J. Reed scripsit:

> Well, I've certainly encountered it. In speech I first noticed it with > "the" (e.g. "That is the suck!", analogous to its antonym "That is the > bomb!", which is good even though "It totally bombed!" is bad . . .)
We now have three forms: It bombed (it failed; U.S.) It did a bomb (it succeeded; U.K.) It's the bomb (it's good) -- John Cowan cowan@ccil.org www.reutershealth.com www.ccil.org/~cowan Consider the matter of Analytic Philosophy. Dennett and Bennett are well-known. Dennett rarely or never cites Bennett, so Bennett rarely or never cites Dennett. There is also one Dummett. By their works shall ye know them. However, just as no trinities have fourth persons (Zeppo Marx notwithstanding), Bummett is hardly known by his works. Indeed, Bummett does not exist. It is part of the function of this and other e-mail messages, therefore, to do what they can to create him.

Reply

Joe <joe@...>