This would make some BITOG members steaming mad

[ToyotaNSaturn]

"England's second-largest city has decided to drop apostrophes from all its street signs, saying they're confusing and old-fashioned."

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-odd/20090202/EU.Britain.No.Apostrophe/

 

[moribundman]

Dropping the genitive case apostrophe from a place's name makes only sense, because it's a name. In case you don't know, this is also (or rather has been) commonly done in the US.

On the other hand there are are nutcases like American author Cormac McCarthy who say I dont give a hoot and put away with all apostrophes most commas and even quotation marks when people talk even if everything runstogetherandbecomesonegiantmess.

It's unreadable. Well, not unreadable, but I don't care for this "style." See a sample here.

 

[Pablo]

Not a huge deal. See George's Head. Pablos Penninsula. No Mans Island. No man's island.

 

[crw]

Eats shoots, and leaves.

 

[oilyriser]

Here's the essence of what they are working on:

"Apostrophes denote possessions that are no longer accurate, and are not needed,"


In a Socialist society, there are no posessions.

 

[MarkC]

Whatsa "penninsula"?

 

[mechtech2]

MarkC - It is when Sean Penn buys Florida.

 

[Pablo]

peninsula

Got trigger happy on the n key....kinda like mori and Calififornia.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

e e cummings

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
peninsula

Got trigger happy on the n key....kinda like mori and Calififornia.


Considering how things are going, and considering my penchant for odd names, once I am overlord, I may well name the Golden State Calififornia -- just because it sounds good! And I won't care if the Calififornians object!

 

[crinkles]

I have noticed it down here a lot. makes things simpler at least. american english has done way worse things to the queens english.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
american english has done way worse things to the queens english.


You do realize that American English is closer to old British English than it is to modern British English, I hope.

 

[bonnie john]

hi mori, i was led to believe that KIWI english was closer still

i'd better google it

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: crinkles
american english has done way worse things to the queens english.


You do realize that American English is closer to old British English than it is to modern British English, I hope.


Because Britain was more open to changes than them thar colonists

the reason imperial is still used in America?

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: crinkles
american english has done way worse things to the queens english.


You do realize that American English is closer to old British English than it is to modern British English, I hope.


Because Britain was more open to changes than them thar colonists

the reason imperial is still used in America?


Linguistic progress was impeded by low population density. Conservatism didn't help.

 

[mrsilv04]

I don't know, but when I was taught to read, I was taught to read the punctuation as well.

Maybe that's a Catholic school thing. No idea.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: crinkles
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: crinkles
american english has done way worse things to the queens english.


You do realize that American English is closer to old British English than it is to modern British English, I hope.


Because Britain was more open to changes than them thar colonists

the reason imperial is still used in America?


The imperial system isn't used in America. America uses US Customary units which are based on the pre-imperial British system.

 

[Gary Allan]

He thought you were talking about "Imperialism".

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Calififornia


Arnold would have to resign if he had to pronounce that.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Dropping the genitive case apostrophe from a place's name makes only sense, because it's a name. In case you don't know, this is also (or rather has been) commonly done in the US.

On the other hand there are are nutcases like American author Cormac McCarthy who say I dont give a hoot and put away with all apostrophes most commas and even quotation marks when people talk even if everything runstogetherandbecomesonegiantmess.

It's unreadable. Well, not unreadable, but I don't care for this "style." See a sample here.


That's what Chinese language was like prior to the modernization that happens about 100 or so years ago. There was a joke, if you are interested:

A rich guy looking for a live in tutor for his son found a master and asked him for the desired compensation, and the master replied on writing:

no fish meat is fine
no chicken duck is fine
vegetable is not reduced
salary is not allowed

The rich guy was very happy, as he found a vegetarian who doesn't take any salary.

But when the tutor started working, he was so angry and started complaining to the rich guy. The rich guy took out the contract they drew, and said the condition is as expected. The tutor took the contract, start adding comma, and all of a sudden, the rich guy freak out:

no fish? meat is fine.
no chicken? duck is fine.
vegetable is not.
reduced salary is not allowed