Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » Isn't trying to control how someone uses/spells/invents words an INFRINGEMENT of freedom of expression?
RosieG

Isn't trying to control how someone uses/spells/invents words an INFRINGEMENT of freedom of expression?

The poet e.e. cummings always wrote in lower case. No one tried to "correct" his form or style. Some authors writing about southerners use different dialects trying to evoke the sound of how they speak. No one tries to "correct" them. Why do people take it upon themselves to "edit" the way we express ourselves and force all into the same boring static rigid mode? That is unique to us and differentiates us from one another. It is called "STYLE" and different authors have different styles. Same thing on an internet social site. We are all AUTHORS with our own specific style. We are not cookie cutter stampings that all look alike and sound alike and talk alike and think alike. Are we?

Posted - May 31, 2018
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Responses


  • 6023
    To a point.
    But there's the example of how lack of grammar can cause confusion:

    "Let's eat grandma" vs "Let's eat, grandma"

    Or my example:  "Over their heads" vs "Over there, heads"

    LOL
      May 31, 2018 2:26 PM MDT
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  • 113301
    Of course context is important m'dear.  Unless the folks are cannibals your first example might be amusing but never confusing. The second example uses a slang word for toilet with which not everyone might be familiar. But point taken. Reading books where dialects are used are not my favorite. Some Faulkner books I couldn't read because of that. You find your groove and stick with it. Your comfort zone. Some styles of writing soar while others bore. An example of the need for punctuation was provided long ago which I never forgot. Here is it." Time flies you cannot they move at such irregular intervals. Thank you for your reply  Walt and Happy Friday! :)
      June 1, 2018 3:20 AM MDT
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  • 6023
    I wasn't even thinking of the slang term.
    I was just picturing a bunch of heads ... on poles, probably.
    LOL
      June 1, 2018 8:09 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    How funny odd weird and it perfectly points out how words means different things to different people. I think you and I are pretty much on the same page verbally most of the time yet here is an example where I completely misunderstood where you were coming from. Now depending on the words we could have ended up at war! But heads? Nothing to go to war for. Thank you for your reply Walt!  :)
      June 1, 2018 11:27 AM MDT
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  • 177
    I try to spell words correctly and use proper punctuation and grammar. I find it annoying when people take pleasure in pointing out other people’s mistakes. I don’t use full stops/periods at the end of sentences unless there’s another sentence to follow. It obvious that the sentence is finished because there’s no more words
      June 1, 2018 3:30 AM MDT
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  • 13269
    *IT'S obvious and THERE ARE no more words. Believe me, I take no pleasure in pointing out your errors. I do, however, find it annoying when people take pleasure in making such mistakes - either intentionally to bait someone into correcting them, as I assume you did here, or because they don't care enough to take an extra few seconds to get it right, which also is possible in this case. After all, it's just as easy to get it right as to get it wrong. This post was edited by Stu Spelling Bee at June 1, 2018 8:40 AM MDT
      June 1, 2018 8:36 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    I was an English major m'dear so I KNOW proper from im. HOWEVER I believe language is VIABLY alive not dead rigid frozen. My background gives me confidence to play with language. I say "ain't" if I feel like it. I make up words like "futurely" (my invention) if I feel like it. I use words in places where they may not normally be used if I wanna. See? I just said "wanna" not "want to".  Communicating should be lively and interesting and flexible. If you don't understand what someone is saying just ask. I do. I ask for clarification if I'm not really sure what the intention was. An internet social site is a place for people to get together. English is not always the first language. Even if it is why not be playful with it instead of predictably boring and repetitive? Having others appoint themselves arbiters of the writing style of anyone strikes me as being particularly arrogant, condescending, mulish and supercilious. Showing off by correcting people does not admiration bring. It marks the person as very needy for approbation/approval. No fun. Judgmental. Always ready to pounce just to show off. Not my cuppa tea. I'm not impressed and I don't know anyone who is. Thank you for your thoughtful reply Gypsyking and Happy Friday m'dear! :) This post was edited by RosieG at June 1, 2018 2:07 PM MDT
      June 1, 2018 11:38 AM MDT
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  • 46117
    Well it is an infringement of the English language proper, but I doubt if anyone's going to get sued over it.
      June 1, 2018 8:38 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    People have different styles of writing Sharon. e. e. cummings, the poet. always wrote in lower case. A book by John Steinbeck or a book by William Faulkner or a book by William Shakespeare will not be written in the same style.  Authors are creators. Artists. They bring to their art their personality, intellect, experience, hopes dreams, aspirations. That someone DARE (not you) criticizen anyone for the style of writing is absurd. In my opinion. Thank you for your reply! :) You know who the language police are right? Not my cuppa tea.
      June 1, 2018 11:44 AM MDT
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