Friday's English Language Lesson #5*

[ajva]

I probably shouldn't be mentioning this, but there's a point to it, so I will.

Some people who are not that bothered about grammar, spelling, syntax and so on seem to believe that we sticklers are all members of some dubious, shady secret society that considers good care with respect to language to be the greatest of all possible virtues.

The thing is, they're absolutely right.

It's called the Order of the Cherub Lexicon, and in fact this series of LJ posts is part of my current assessment project, wherewith I hope to finally earn the coveted status of Grand Semi-Colon In Gothic Script.

You should see our handshake.

It really has improved my life a hundredfold to be a member of this fine society, so it always churns my gut a little when someone who is quite evidently angling for a nomination gets it slightly, but ever so crucially, wrong.

Such people will engage me in conversation about the shocking state of English usage today. My ears invariably prick up keenly, to see if this acquaintance of mine is suitable Cherub material. Then they say something like this:

"Of course, the correct pronounciation is hyPERbole."

Oh dear, I think.

So here's Anne's top tip for today:

There is NO SUCH WORD as "pronounciation". The one you're looking for here is "pronunciation".

Get thee hence, budding neophyte, and learn the basics. Then - and only then - shall we meet once more, in the quadrangle, by the fountain.

Comments

[the-maenad.livejournal.com]

It's called the Order of the Cherub Lexicon, and in fact this series of LJ posts is part of my current assessment project, wherewith I hope to finally earn the coveted status of Grand Semi-Colon In Gothic Script.

Damn it all! Have you not read the Grand Master of the Upper Second Tier's comments on the vital nature of secrecy in our order? You even mention the handshake!

The Clerk-General of the Sodality will be in touch shortly to revoke your privileges. You will be lined up in a hollow square of lexicographers and have your thesaurus snipped off with gold scissors. Have a nice day, kthxbi.

[ajva.livejournal.com]

Here we go again. Look, you may be a Full Set of Quotation Marks in Red Ink but you don't scare me, matey. You know as well as I do that since your chapter devolved from the main Order your bloody Sodality Clause has been discredited time and time again, shown up for the froth it really is.

And we all know that not only did your Clerk-General get caught nicking apostrophes from his local grocer's, but he's a Times New Roman man to boot. So passé.

Besides, the Grand Master of the Upper Second Tier still holds that it's wrong to split infinitives. I mean please; get with the programme. This is 2004, you know.

[mandrake91.livejournal.com]

This is utterly wonderful... Can I join by the way?

[ajva.livejournal.com]

Very well. We'll be keeping a close eye on your spelling and grammar from now on.

[mandrake91.livejournal.com]

Thank you so mich.

[babysimon]

The correct pronunciation is hyper-bowl. I believe it's something to do with men in tights and body armour throwing rugby balls at each other.

[trishpiglet.livejournal.com]

I had an argument with someone about 'pronounciation'.
They also took their clothes to the 'laundryette'.

I didn't mind so much as have trained myself to be unbothered - but it was the way they told me I was wrong and they were right on both counts : (

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Were they a seckitry?