JaggedJimmyJay wrote: ↑Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:17 pm
Epignosis wrote: ↑Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:06 pmI said nobody thinks about it that hard to make a linguistic point.
I didn't say that anyone does that. I would rather argue about this than play Mafia frankly.
There is no need for a person to make a conscious decision at the moment of speech
I am going to say "literally" in a context where it would not be accurate because I desire to add emphasis and levity to my commentary. Instead, it is a trend stemming from habit with
origins in that purpose. I would wager that nearly everyone who uses the term incorrectly is well aware that the topic in question is not truly "literal" if pressed. To issue corrections is therefore a waste of everyone's time and serves no greater purpose.
Yes, thank you for that, I don't give a shit, I said what I said, these commas are also incorrect, I don't give a shit about that either. "Could care less" is much the same phenomenon, and while that one drives me nuts, it's just as silly to cram corrections into a discussion when a proper interpretation was already achieved.
Linguistic precision is only useful in a world where communicators can interpret inflections, tones, and intentions.
Now, if the dialogue involves English as something other than a first language, then there's a purpose.
I agree with none of that.
People who misuse words on a regular basis often cannot tell you what the word's literal meaning is. That's why they misuse words. If we want to throw "literally" into the trash can of slang, fine. It's in that bin that words often means the opposite of what they literally mean. Cool and hot can be synonymous in the trash bin of slang.
Not even James Joyce escapes my criticism:
Lily, the caretaker's daughter, was literally run off her feet.
My problem lies in people misusing words and being baffled that they were misunderstood. That's a big problem, and they often blame the other party for it, and in the worst scenarios, I've seen fights, simply because of linguistic ignorance. Hell, I've been accused of racism because I asked if anybody knew what "ignorant" meant, and someone said, "I don't know what that means, but I know it's something you do not call a black person." The irony.
I can't tolerate that shit.
The danger in this should be apparent: If others can use words as they please and those who correct them are vilified, then the former remain ignorant, and have license to impose their definitions in other contexts.
Don't think this is a problem?
Read any English version of the Bible.