tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194969924649415384.post1960997786081027297..comments2021-07-17T16:38:32.858-07:00Comments on smart, sexy, supernatural fiction: In Defense of LanguageA. J. Larrieuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13880636157146909387noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194969924649415384.post-31749976958650526442012-06-15T20:15:12.570-07:002012-06-15T20:15:12.570-07:00Hi Nikki, I think you make a good point. If langu...Hi Nikki, I think you make a good point. If language is going to evolve (and it should), we have to tolerate a certain amount of instability. It's probably a good thing not everyone is as anal-retentive as I am...we'd still be speaking like Chaucer. ;) I guess what I struggle with is this: Which changes are helping us gain functionality and precision (new words, verbifications), which are neutral and inevitable (a lot --> alot, all right --> alright, the regularization of verbs), and which blunt the precision of our language? It's the latter that I have trouble with. But perhaps if we're going to have the first two, we have to have the third one as well, and that's just the way things work. As you say, it's not so much laziness as a natural "relaxation" of language. Lots for me to think about, too :)<br /><br />By the way, have you seen <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html" rel="nofollow">The Alot is Better Than You at Everything</a> on Hyperbole and a Half? I go back and read it when I'm feeling extra-twitchy about this stuff.A. J. Larrieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880636157146909387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194969924649415384.post-83355729317244147702012-06-15T12:09:47.773-07:002012-06-15T12:09:47.773-07:00Interesting post A.J. Although I understand where...Interesting post A.J. Although I understand where you're coming from, I think if we view language as a living, growing thing where new words are added, we also have to understand that the use of other words might change. <br /><br />It always drives me crazy when I see "alot" instead of "a lot" ... but I also know that in a hundred years, no one will spell it as 2 separate words. But that's okay, that's evolution ... the word will change. I guess I don't see it as laziness so much, as just the way it naturally evolves.<br /><br />But I can see where it becomes difficult to determine where the line between naturally evolving (comprise) ends and just being lazy begins ... like I said ... interesting post! Lots to think about ...Nikki McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13380138850192595010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194969924649415384.post-53597635683110599032012-06-07T19:27:59.274-07:002012-06-07T19:27:59.274-07:00Thank you! :) And I've read your excerpts. N...Thank you! :) And I've read your excerpts. Not a word out of place. "Accessible but intentional": I love that. A good goal for many of us, I thinkA. J. Larrieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13880636157146909387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9194969924649415384.post-64737530605369347732012-06-07T07:23:26.106-07:002012-06-07T07:23:26.106-07:00This post is brilliant, and I don't say that l...This post is brilliant, and I don't say that lightly. (Ha.) I've never thought of writers as being caretakers of language, but you're right. And I don't think it's hyperbole for you to say so, either.<br /><br />This makes me glad I am taking my good old time to put out a book that is accessible but intentional, full of thought. A book that people could understand a hundred years ago (minus the mention of cell phones) and people will understand a hundred years from now. At least I hope so.Jaimie Teekellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07845537262456320501noreply@blogger.com