Shaving terms I don't like

You can flourish all you want. All I said was that people who use those flourishes to sound like 18th century English gentlemen sound silly to me. Besides, it's the thought behind the language that holds more meaning.

It may sound silly to you, but some of us have different backgrounds, and may have learned our English in a different setting.

Compare these two sentences:
“This soap is pretty good.”
“This soap is quite good.”

Same essential meaning, with just one different word choice. If you’re a modern-day American, you would probably use the first sentence to describe your thoughts. But when you were growing up, if you learned British English in an other country, perhaps the natural way to express your thoughts would be the second sentence.

Also, neither of those sentences has exactly the same tone (nor does it convey the same meaning) as this one:
“This soap is good.”

I think that this is an excellent point, Matthew! I think that this is something that people sometimes forget. Even within the US, the English language can have many different examples of meaning and usage, let alone various international influences. We all come from different backgrounds.

On another note, "SWMBO" reminds me of something my wife has always said jokingly, "The rooster may rule the roost, but I rule the rooster!"

What do the words indeed and quite really mean when you are speaking? Do they really add meaning or are they just used as fillers?

Linguistic flourishes, in my case. It would be quite a tragedy indeed, perhaps even Orwellian, for us to reduce our language to only that which is absolutely necessary, don't you think?

Linguistic flourishes, in my case. It would be quite a tragedy indeed, perhaps even Orwellian, for us to reduce our language to only that which is absolutely necessary, don't you think?

You can flourish all you want. All I said was that people who use those flourishes to sound like 18th century English gentlemen sound silly to me. Besides, it's the thought behind the language that holds more meaning.

Oh yeah...not sure where you went to school, but the poets at my college were the most socially awkward students on campus. Even worse than the cinema majors. You can say "indeed" and "quite" until you're blue in the face, but it still won't help you get laid.

Okay, take it easy. I was just saying. Why is it that everyone gets so upset about such silly distinctions? No need to make it personal.

And I'm in a very happy relationship, thanks.

I'm not upset. What makes you think that?

I hate it when people try to act like 19th century English gentlemen. Like when they use the words "gentlemanly" or "indeed" or any other term you wouldn't use during normal conversation. It comes off as pretentious.

Serious question: I use "indeed" in conversation all the time. What if it's just a natural feature of speech? It's usually pretty obvious when someone is just speaking normally vs. when they're trying to affect some kind of speaking style to appear as something they're not. Do you still find it irritating if it's apparent that that's just how someone talks?

I'm with you on this one.  I use words like "indeed," "quite," and others on a regular basis.  I'm not putting on airs or trying to speak down to anyone,  but language is beautiful and the ability to properly convey a message without sounding like some Kardashian-TMZ-watching troglodyte is something that isn't valued as much as it should be today.  Frankly, I'd rather see someone try to speak above their level than the opposite.  Use of phrases like "haters gonna hate" would be among my pet peeves, and just makes me have less interest in anything that follows.

Thank you ezlovan.  Those are my thoughts, exactly.

I'm not upset. What makes you think that?

Maybe this is a good example of how some of the tone and meaning can get lost in these text-based online conversations. My wife and I were just discussing my example of “This is a pretty good soap,” and she pointed out that even that short sentence could mean two different things, simply depending on what kind of emphasis the word ‘pretty’ gets (positive or negative).

"Compare these two sentences:
“This soap is pretty good.”
“This soap is quite good.”"

Same essential meaning, with just one different word choice. If you’re a modern-day American, you would probably use the first sentence to describe your thoughts. But when you were growing up, if you learned British English in an other country, perhaps the natural way to express your thoughts would be the second sentence.

Also, neither of those sentences has exactly the same tone (nor does it convey the same meaning) as this one:
“This soap is good.”


I think most non-19th century English gentlemen would say "This soap is very good." But what do I know? I never knew so many people were still using indeed and quite in their normal everyday conversations. I wonder if it's regional?

I think most non-19th century English gentlemen would say "This soap is very good." But what do I know? I never knew so many people were still using indeed and quite in their normal everyday conversations. I wonder if it's regional?

You may be right, ‘very’ is a third word that could easily be used to say basically the same thing. And I’m sure there are some regional differences. I got my wife the book Speaking American (by Josh Katz) for Christmas, and having just skimmed it through, it’s amazing how many different ways there are to say the same thing, depending on where in the U.S. you live.

For instance, a sandwich on a long roll, with meats and cheeses, can be called: hero, hoagie, italian sandwich, grinder, sub, or wedge. (Exhausting!)

When it comes to shaving terms, I find it amusing how many shortcuts we are willing to take to make certain names or words shorter. (Mitchell’s Wool Fat → Mitchell’s → The Fat → MF.)

But that happens in real life, too. Put a 90 degree turn on a walkway, and people will make a 45 degree shortcut across, if there isn’t a wall to run into.

Yeah, so many regional dialects in the U.S. They are all fascinating. And if it weren't for mass media, communications, and the invention of rapid transportation, there's a very good chance they could even develop into their own languages. Pidgin English is an example of a dialect that has had time to evolve. It's barely understandable to folks in the U.S.

I actually make a living simplifying language. I translate engineering into normal everyday English.

Since it hasn't been mentioned, I'd like to add "cut throat" to this list of peeves. What a terrible way to describe a tool.

"Gents."

…
I actually make a living simplifying language. I translate engineering into normal everyday English.

I remember you mentioning this earlier at some point. It’s important work — I have a few engineers in the family, and they all happen to express themselves clearly, but that is not true of all engineers at all times.  

"Gents."

Haha, yes, this one gets thrown around a lot. Not very inclusive of the female wet shavers among us…