tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post6517917326116558516..comments2023-09-21T08:53:42.554+01:00Comments on blethers: Thinking about languageChristine McIntoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14198224025775398453noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-12354873900318643472007-10-19T23:49:00.000+01:002007-10-19T23:49:00.000+01:00Right. All day I have been seeing, in the blatts &...Right. All day I have been seeing, in the blatts & on the BBC website, that one result of their being 2 billion short (Awwww!) is that they will produce "10% less original programmes". I invite readers to parse that phrase.<BR/><BR/>Please comment on (a) the possible meanings of it; (b) whether or not the reason for the demise of "fewer" is that it has more than one syllable; and (c) whether or not a strategically placed hyphen would have added to the gaiety of nation-shall-speak-peace-unto-nationdom.<BR/><BR/>Write on only one side of the paper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-80217022447327683332007-10-18T11:59:00.000+01:002007-10-18T11:59:00.000+01:00I shall now abandon this delightful conversation t...I shall now abandon this delightful conversation till Monday, and go and teach the class which occasioned the post in the first place. <BR/><BR/>Please feel free to enjoy yourselves till my return ....Christine McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198224025775398453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-40562293788738870462007-10-18T11:48:00.000+01:002007-10-18T11:48:00.000+01:00Possibly my teeth are wearing down!Possibly my teeth are wearing down!An Honest Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737317978687717195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-66772691678945557622007-10-17T23:47:00.000+01:002007-10-17T23:47:00.000+01:00Dear AHM (or, since the penny has now dropped, BA)...Dear AHM (or, since the penny has now dropped, BA)<BR/><BR/>The fact that you are blogging disproves your last statement. And your bark is still worse than your bite!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-55583345842853910372007-10-17T18:42:00.000+01:002007-10-17T18:42:00.000+01:00It was deliberate - not to antagonise, but to emph...It was deliberate - not to antagonise, but to emphasis. I was taught to consider that acceptable on <I>very limited</I> occasions. {And you can't teach old dogs new tricks - deliberately to add fuel to the fire!}An Honest Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737317978687717195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-25433899543820568732007-10-17T18:38:00.000+01:002007-10-17T18:38:00.000+01:00Mrs H.M. is horrified!Mrs H.M. is horrified!Bunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09199316679271938919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-18416211206699995012007-10-17T14:26:00.000+01:002007-10-17T14:26:00.000+01:00You and me both, between you and I.You and me both, between you and I.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-76222829894192799412007-10-17T10:43:00.000+01:002007-10-17T10:43:00.000+01:00I suffered in silence. Such moments are second onl...I suffered in silence. Such moments are second only to the misuse of personal pronouns in my scale of sensitivity....Christine McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198224025775398453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-32141500989054319522007-10-17T00:21:00.000+01:002007-10-17T00:21:00.000+01:00Did An Honest Man put in "to effectively communica...Did An Honest Man put in "to effectively communicate" as bait for the pedantic or those taught a silly rule when they were impressionable? Let us be guided by our ear: sometimes it's right, sometimes it's wrong. I couldn't <I>possibly</I> comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-73519234053238129592007-10-16T20:57:00.000+01:002007-10-16T20:57:00.000+01:00--Do people who have not spent--their lives teachi...--Do people who have not spent<BR/>--their lives teaching others how<BR/>--to communicate effectively, ....<BR/>--think about the effect of .....?<BR/><BR/>I suppose it depends on what you mean by 'think'. Anyone who wants to effectively communicate must take cognisance of such effects, but whether this is instinctive (ingrained from previous tutoring) or consciously considered is a different matter. Personally, such little skill as I have results from considerable effort expended by others in driving as set of 'rules' into my skull.An Honest Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03737317978687717195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-38194932738567227072007-10-16T12:51:00.000+01:002007-10-16T12:51:00.000+01:00Robin, I've already been asked if I'd run one on C...Robin, I've already been asked if I'd run one on Cumbrae, perhaps as part of a retreat/study session. I'm conceited enough to feel that the materials on their own aren't much good!<BR/><BR/>I'm not really looking at hymns, because they're different again, with additional requirements which I became very aware of when I wrote a hymn for Cumbrae.Christine McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198224025775398453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-91836173867417507062007-10-16T12:05:00.000+01:002007-10-16T12:05:00.000+01:00Sorry I can't get to this. Is there any chance of...Sorry I can't get to this. Is there any chance of your making the materials available afterwards, or even running the workshop again on some other occasion?<BR/><BR/>One other question: will the examples of prayers include hymns?<BR/><BR/>I don't think I can be much help on the matter of what background knowledge you can assume. I <I>was</I> slightly surprised the other day when a fairly clueful member of the choir told me she had no idea what "CM" at the top of a hymn tune meant.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100508988636577299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-75787633311563499072007-10-15T23:48:00.000+01:002007-10-15T23:48:00.000+01:00I think I'll leave room for the sensible people. A...I think I'll leave room for the sensible people. Any more, and you'll have had surfeit of it. No more cakes and ale tonight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-49550320595312198072007-10-15T23:36:00.000+01:002007-10-15T23:36:00.000+01:00To join this foray into the confusion that is the ...To join this foray into the confusion that is the English language would demonstrate my inadequacies as a guide in such matters! I am currently trying to "squeeze" my little behind (!) into this workshop and would love to be taught by one as passionate as yourself about poetry and prayer xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-42403977500901272982007-10-15T21:21:00.000+01:002007-10-15T21:21:00.000+01:00Remember to hang up the yellow stockings by the to...Remember to hang up the yellow stockings by the toe, then!Christine McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198224025775398453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-42680482818300928722007-10-15T19:05:00.000+01:002007-10-15T19:05:00.000+01:00An Agony Aunt of yore in the USA.Jove and my stars...An Agony Aunt of yore in the USA.<BR/><BR/>Jove and my stars be praised - I hope not. And now I'm off to uncross my garters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-89167611059772263312007-10-15T18:59:00.000+01:002007-10-15T18:59:00.000+01:00And now I realise how much I have missed you! But ...And now I realise how much I have missed you! But why, pray, Abby? Am I being dense?<BR/><BR/>And I enjoyed that metaphor mix - aimed at people just like you, for your delectation. But soft ... <I>are</I> there any people just like you?Christine McIntoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198224025775398453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191002.post-5405660946183747662007-10-15T18:40:00.000+01:002007-10-15T18:40:00.000+01:00Dear AbbyI'm back.I have this problem: when walkin...Dear Abby<BR/><BR/>I'm back.<BR/><BR/>I have this problem: when walking through a wood, I tend to see only the trees. So, while I cannot help you with your overall request for help, could I suggest that you have indulged in an unsettling crasis (if not an actual mixture) of metaphors? I mean, your granny may well have found things easy to do standing on her head (however undignified that Father-William-like posture may have been in someone so venerable); but I doubt that she would have assumed that posture to suck eggs. For a start, there would be the danger of the contents dribbling into her eyes. One or the other image would suffice.<BR/><BR/>I wish I could be of more help, but it's not in my nature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com