Abject Stupidity

[Eagle]

IIRC, the two crowns united briefly at the beginning of the 17th Century, but it might be best not to mention that in Portugal.

Yes, but having the same monarch doesn't make them one country (look at Elizabeth II of 16 countries).

 

[Schnellzug]

Not since the days of the Roman Empire... I doubt anyone has that long a memory.

Napoleon had a go, but it didn't, really catch on :-/

 

[IanXC]

the United States is an English-speaking country.

I always quite like this exchange:

Bernard: [on the phone] Yes, we will want simultaneous translators. No, not when the PM meets the leaders of the English-speaking nations. Yes, the English-speaking nations can be said to include the United States. With a certain generosity of spirit.

 

[Stephen55a1960]

An American, standing in front of me at Glasgow Central ticket office (Some years ago) asked: "When is the next train to Iona?"

 

[Smudger105e]

An American, standing in front of me at Glasgow Central ticket office (Some years ago) asked: "When is the next train to Iona?"

Sorry, I may be displaying abject stupidity, but I don't understand this... :cry:

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Iona is an island with no railways or railway stations.

 

[gswindale]

And it's not that long since the English used to go to England football matches waving Union Jacks (pedantry on "Jack" not wanted here!).

Nowt wrong with referring to it as the Union Jack according to the expert on BBC Breakfast a few days ago.

 

[Smudger105e]

But it is only a union jack when flown from the jack staff of a ship when it is in harbour.

"It’s OK to fly St Edmund and the Union Flag (note 'flag' not 'Jack' as it is not flying from a ship's Jackstaff) but the Union Flag must always be in the superior position," writes Robin Buncome. "Here St Edmund flies proudly over Walberswick."

 

[Johnuk123]

An American, standing in front of me at Glasgow Central ticket office (Some years ago) asked: "When is the next train to Iona?"

I can assure you after having lived and worked in the U.S. we are exactly the same if not worse in that fine country.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

The Flag Institute, the national vexillological organisation for this country say that the terms "Union Jack" and "Union Flag" can be used interchangeably.

I quote:

"From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. In 1908, a government minister stated, in response to a Parliamentary question, that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag"

More info:
http://www.flaginstitute.org/index.php?location=7.1.2#index2

 

[Smudger105e]

The Flag Institute, the national vexillological organisation for this country say that the terms "Union Jack" and "Union Flag" can be used interchangeably.

I quote:


More info:
http://www.flaginstitute.org/index.php?location=7.1.2#index2

I didn't know that, although I will still refuse to call it a Jack, as it's not!! :thumbsup:

 

[HowMuch?]

"Train to Iona" is surely not unreasonable as shorthand for "Train that I need to get in order to travel onward to Iona".

If you want language to be exact and mathematical, rather than a flexible tool for meaningful communication then I shall have no compuction in saying "Back here, you fool" next time I'm asked where I want a return ticket to!

PS I should have known better than say "Union Jack pedantry not required" on this forum.....

"WHOM does Daddy love?"

 

[Smudger105e]

should have known better than say "Union Jack pedantry not required" on this forum.....
QUOTE]

 

[HowMuch?]

We all have our pedantries (erm, is that a word - I'm sure I'll soon find out!).

My pet one is Uninterested/Disinterested. They DO mean different things. Though eventually, when a large majority of literate people use a word differently to (THAN ? COVERS HEAD,...) yourself, you have to accept that language has changed.

In Dickens' books, "Father-in-law" means "Stepfather". Which can cause a few misunderstandings until you key yourself in to the older language.

"WHOM does Daddy love?"

 

[LE Greys]

We all have our pedantries (erm, is that a word - I'm sure I'll soon find out!).

My pet one is Uninterested/Disinterested. They DO mean different things. Though eventually, when a large majority of literate people use a word differently to (THAN ? COVERS HEAD,...) yourself, you have to accept that language has changed.

In Dickens' books, "Father-in-law" means "Stepfather". Which can cause a few misunderstandings until you key yourself in to the older language.

"WHOM does Daddy love?"

My pet hate is when people forget, 'similar TO', 'different FROM'...

 

[IanXC]

My pet hate is when people forget, 'similar TO', 'different FROM'...

Mine has got to be "off of".

It even looks wrong!

 

[455driver]

Mine is "of" instead of "have", IE "I should of got off the train". NO its "I should have got off the train".

Makes me want to smack them over the head with a wet lettuce!

 

[Eagle]

Mine is "of" instead of "have", IE "I should of got off the train". NO its "I should have got off the train".

To be fair, when spoken they do sound the same. (Not condoning the error in writing though :P)

Mine has got to be "off of".

I think there is a difference in meaning between "off" and "off of"; the latter has more of an ablative meaning to it, making it closer to "from". I think in a century or two this will probably end up as standard usage—language constantly evolves.