I was mostly bugged by their saying not to use nouns as verbs. That's so common they might as well get over themselves and add it to the grammar books. Those things tend to be 20 years behind anyway. I didn't even know that 'impact' wasn't supposed to be a verb. I thought it was. "Oh by the way, that verbal communication you've been doing for years is all wrong. So what that everyone you've spoken to has understood what you're saying."
Grammar is simply an attempt to codify the manner in which people speak and write. It plays a perpetual game of catch-up with the real, living language.
I fear the British shall forever remain stodgy old fucks with a dogmatic adherence to antiquated notions of correctness.
I went to UCSC (wanted to go somewhere where there were no grades, because I am a bit of a perfectionist). Double majored in Fine Arts (emphasis on Computer Art) and Computer Science (emphasis on Comparative Programming Languages). Oddly enough, I'd argue the latter is not all that distant from getting a degree in linguistics.
that comment meant I was curious as to where you went to college. :-) I reread it and maybe you took offense at the 'anyway'.
It wasn't possible to get a double major in Fine Arts and Computer Science at my university because they were parts of different colleges and they were stupid like that. Not that I would have. I'm just saying.
Your colleges sucked. My roommate double-majored in Film Studies and Biomedical Engineering. Well, OK, I'll admit that it was just a certificate because there was no full-fledged major, but still. As long as you had the credits you could major/minor in anything.
that's the thing. you couldn't even take the classes at UGA. a friend of mine who was also an archeology major wanted to focus on pottery types. she though it would be a good idea if she could take some pottery classes. keep in mind that archeology and fine arts were the same college. they still wouldn't let her because it wasn't her major. it was the building right next to the social sciences one where we had our anthro classes. she ended up having to go to a community college to take her pottery classes.
While I did nothing but go to class, watch television, and eat Spagetti-O's, it was the only time in my life when I had enough free time to actually screw around with assorted art/music projects. Also, I thoroughly enjoy reading (something that seems strangely phased out of my life at the moment).
no subject
Date: 2002-02-06 11:25 am (UTC)I scored a 7. They're full of shit on a couple of them, especially #12. A linguist would laugh at this quiz. But it was still interesting.
'cos I'm at work dumbass
Date: 2002-02-06 12:58 pm (UTC)Blurg.
Date: 2002-02-06 01:44 pm (UTC)...I scored seven.
Incidentally, I will utilize the word Zeitgeist as much as I fucking want. Economy does not equal eloquence.
Re: Blurg.
Date: 2002-02-06 01:50 pm (UTC)Grammar is obsolete.
Date: 2002-02-06 01:58 pm (UTC)I fear the British shall forever remain stodgy old fucks with a dogmatic adherence to antiquated notions of correctness.
Re: Grammar is obsolete.
Date: 2002-02-06 02:00 pm (UTC)I took half a linguistics class in college. pretty interesting.
I took a fantastic class..
Date: 2002-02-06 02:08 pm (UTC)We studied Ebonics and American Sign Language, and the controversy surrounding them both.
hehe
Date: 2002-02-06 02:08 pm (UTC)Re: hehe
Date: 2002-02-06 02:12 pm (UTC)where did you go to college anyway? I thought you had a fine arts degree or something like that.
Ummm...
Date: 2002-02-06 02:26 pm (UTC)I went to UCSC (wanted to go somewhere where there were no grades, because I am a bit of a perfectionist). Double majored in Fine Arts (emphasis on Computer Art) and Computer Science (emphasis on Comparative Programming Languages). Oddly enough, I'd argue the latter is not all that distant from getting a degree in linguistics.
no subject
Date: 2002-02-06 02:31 pm (UTC)It wasn't possible to get a double major in Fine Arts and Computer Science at my university because they were parts of different colleges and they were stupid like that. Not that I would have. I'm just saying.
Trust me...
Date: 2002-02-06 02:34 pm (UTC)And they refused to allow double majors to have a minor (otherwise I would have picked up psychology (with an emphasis on abnormal psyche)).
Bastards.
what's UCSC? Santa Clara?
Date: 2002-02-06 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-02-06 02:57 pm (UTC)Re: what's UCSC? Santa Clara?
Date: 2002-02-06 03:01 pm (UTC)that's the thing. you couldn't even take the classes at UGA. a friend of mine who was also an archeology major wanted to focus on pottery types. she though it would be a good idea if she could take some pottery classes. keep in mind that archeology and fine arts were the same college. they still wouldn't let her because it wasn't her major. it was the building right next to the social sciences one where we had our anthro classes. she ended up having to go to a community college to take her pottery classes.
uh uh
Date: 2002-02-06 09:03 pm (UTC)I don't lay back well.
ugh
Date: 2002-02-06 02:57 pm (UTC)either that, or your just really smart. (I'm kissing your ass right there. didja notice?)
in any case, you have useful degrees, I don't, therefor I'm bitter.
I miss college.
Date: 2002-02-06 09:05 pm (UTC)