i listened to that one direction song and now i know i’m beautiful but does that mean i’m not beautiful anymore because what made me beautiful before was not knowing? HELP
My thesis is that purgatory consists of a bunch of angelic-looking boys standing on a deck and all yelling “You don’t know you’re beautiful!” at passers-by.
From the first time we step into an English class, we’re told that the rules matter, that they must be followed, that we must know when it’s appropriate to use a comma and what it means to employ the subjunctive mood. But do these things really matter? Outside of the classroom, what difference does it make if we write “who” instead of “whom” or say “good” instead of “well”?
Ryan Bloom breaks down the language wars in his post, “Inescapably, You’re Judged by Your Language”: http://nyr.kr/M2IOWy
NO. NO HE DOESN’T.*
If you’re interested in the language wars, you can skip right over the post in question, where Ryan Bloom erects a straw man, sets it on fire, and then stands around giggling. While you’re at it, don’t read Joan Acocella’s similarly misinformed drivel of last week - the only good thing about it was the miffed letter Steven Pinker wrote in response to a ridiculous characterization of some work of his in it. And in fact, you can also just ignore that old David Foster Wallace essay in Harper’s about usage that was very prettily written and also completely idiotic. And I like David Foster Wallace. And I hate Steven Pinker.
Just go read Language Log. Okay? Don’t let a dance critic, a writer who in his actual work displayed no particular regard for language shibboleths, and whoever the hell Ryan Bloom is tell you anything about English. There are people who have obtained graduate degrees in studying language, and for the most part they came by them honestly. They are called linguists, and they know better. Unlike the New Yorker, apparently.**
*If you can successfully parse my use of all caps here here, you and I can be friends. In fact - dare I say - hopefully, you can parse it?
**SENTENCE FRAGMENTS HAVE THEIR PLACE OKAY.
herb, why do you do this to me, making me reblog things like you do
(Source: lovelylops, via herbisbored)
It’s just so dull. Sadly, I just, ugh, God.
— California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, on life at the Capitol. (via officialssay)
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Famous women pilots preparing to take part in the 1934 Memorial Day air races at Dycer Airport. In front row kneeling is Gladys O’Donnell, who last year entered seven races and won six. Seated is Ruth Elder, famous flying beauty. Standing left to right: Kay Van Doozer, Myrtle D. Mims and Clema Granger.
