tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76791316908282243222024-03-13T05:13:44.258-04:00A Walk in the WoRds A tour for people who love language, words and fun.Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.comBlogger960125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-68799588504448709122016-01-20T11:37:00.001-05:002016-01-20T11:37:54.768-05:00Writing, Writing, WritingSorry I have not written any posts lately. I have taken a new job as a marketing specialist which allows me to write on a very regular basis. I write marketing materials (from print ads to radio ads and more), and I manage, curate and write for social media accounts.<br />
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It's hard to believe that my love of language has led me to an exciting job in marketing for an independently-owned office supply business. If you happen to live nearby in Gaylord, Michigan, stop on in. If you don't, check out the website and online ordering options. We do ship anywhere in the U.S.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dunnsonline.com/"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dunn's Business Solutions</span></b></a></div>
Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-71998717506785681082015-03-10T08:54:00.001-04:002015-03-10T08:54:15.117-04:00Travel Industry Job Titles<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e5266; line-height: 24px;">I’ve been doing a lot of flying recently, which has me thinking about the term </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e5266; line-height: 24px;">flight attendant</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #3e5266; line-height: 24px;">. It is undeniably clunky. And yet here it is—an odd little success story in the larger narrative of nonsexist language reform."</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3e5266; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Excerpted from Anne Curzan's <a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2015/03/10/attending-to-gender/">Attending to Gender</a>. Read the rest of this fascinating post at <a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2015/03/10/attending-to-gender/">Lingua Franca</a></span><span style="font-family: Heuristica, serif;">.</span></span>Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-47556072048220238652015-03-05T08:53:00.001-05:002015-03-05T08:53:55.629-05:00Use the IPA to Learn Foreign Language PronunciationsGeoffrey Pullum has an excellent post about the International Phonetic Alphabet at Lingua Franca today. You can read it at this <a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2015/03/05/the-international-phonetic-alphabet/">link</a>.<br />
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Following are the official IPA charts for those who are curious about the difference between alphabet letters and IPA letters (symbols for sounds). An interactive IPA chart can be found <a href="http://www.ipachart.com/">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIb6wiyG6-TZPSfYKYuSFWd1M_M6XZ0z4jcb9BESYk8BYxy5vwKVlVze5bsrrNB5Wv6VsG2xwfPPsnu6HCLfgISmZMpnFvo2dFHwRuMYPzfBg9OGYIGDWgvF1WHOggyerpTiOJTwPbAis/s1600/20120707043356!IPA_consonants_2005.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIb6wiyG6-TZPSfYKYuSFWd1M_M6XZ0z4jcb9BESYk8BYxy5vwKVlVze5bsrrNB5Wv6VsG2xwfPPsnu6HCLfgISmZMpnFvo2dFHwRuMYPzfBg9OGYIGDWgvF1WHOggyerpTiOJTwPbAis/s1600/20120707043356!IPA_consonants_2005.png" height="313" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8XKJ3Cf_sQf-QCVCpygOjwFliE85tSzY_GNVKsRepWRGybyMyQzx6FezVE0zU5L5MmtjJYANdOFpKR9I7Oy45ywdIHWlpan_XtXs5nRlvlKWUabFZaZCciQfwXkgoO5D5sZJ7llr-56v/s1600/Ipa-chart-vowels.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8XKJ3Cf_sQf-QCVCpygOjwFliE85tSzY_GNVKsRepWRGybyMyQzx6FezVE0zU5L5MmtjJYANdOFpKR9I7Oy45ywdIHWlpan_XtXs5nRlvlKWUabFZaZCciQfwXkgoO5D5sZJ7llr-56v/s1600/Ipa-chart-vowels.png" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
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The study of sounds truly is fascinating.<br />
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Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-30142027837345050502015-01-22T08:26:00.002-05:002015-01-22T08:27:22.223-05:00Traveling Dialects<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Heuristica, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 12px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“I’m so New Orleans, when I go out of town people ask me if I’m Canadian.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A joke, right? No, it seems that, contrary to all expectations, a certain Canadian pronunciation is beginning to emerge in the Big Easy.</span></div>
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This is an excerpt from an interesting <a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/?cid=megamenu" target="_blank">Lingua Franca</a> piece by Allan Metcalf. Check out <a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2015/01/22/o-canada-in-new-orleans/" target="_blank">O Canada! in New Orleans</a> to read the rest.</div>
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Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-40675361344985944012015-01-15T10:00:00.000-05:002015-01-15T10:00:18.043-05:00Travel Language<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There is an interesting post on <a href="http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=17146" target="_blank">Language Log</a> about the following image.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_i1EV9zY92UDWWIPNMDK9RjyZ6uvIH420CYUa0Zoryz0513MQ61bBN_DFMseA4g70uEFqNOvAgyOwsAkNByfiCfa1PRR8eJtpb7xwZS_NtxUUCkC7tsDJP_01T0LzS3Dgyra4cgkGOgr/s1600/MoreBonVoyage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_i1EV9zY92UDWWIPNMDK9RjyZ6uvIH420CYUa0Zoryz0513MQ61bBN_DFMseA4g70uEFqNOvAgyOwsAkNByfiCfa1PRR8eJtpb7xwZS_NtxUUCkC7tsDJP_01T0LzS3Dgyra4cgkGOgr/s1600/MoreBonVoyage.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-61316843581757134472013-11-29T07:31:00.000-05:002013-11-29T07:31:00.601-05:00Literally <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">"The face of a child can say it all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Especially the mouth part of the face."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">- Jack Handey</span></div>
Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-47857690164198151452013-11-02T10:39:00.002-04:002014-03-05T07:48:02.845-05:00No Interruptions, Please<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BuRuwR2JSXI?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
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Hilarious. I came across this video while doing research for a reading class I am teaching.Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-7672445839466715782013-10-18T09:41:00.000-04:002013-10-18T09:41:22.540-04:00I am definitely hiring this guy to write the ad if I ever sell a car on Craigslist.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3buQ0wcOknKw-s2wjTadAcftSvGlwmRjVR7ri08BySR4LUH_Ch3q-TekrzCSllGW-UIQIWuW6t-LB9v4CfjsmpwCE5WdT4wT3zhqWfQdMRLqXgF1HuFToGmou8kiQUvyQj_los09ih7o/s1600/jeep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3buQ0wcOknKw-s2wjTadAcftSvGlwmRjVR7ri08BySR4LUH_Ch3q-TekrzCSllGW-UIQIWuW6t-LB9v4CfjsmpwCE5WdT4wT3zhqWfQdMRLqXgF1HuFToGmou8kiQUvyQj_los09ih7o/s320/jeep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">1997 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">220K Miles</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4.0 L in-line 6 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">4WD</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">AUTOMATIC Transmission </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Bright Red</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Straight Stock</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Crank Windows, no cruise, no tilt, no delay wiper, no nonsense</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">POWER MIRRORS! Woo Hoo!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">$1750</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Here's the deal, kids:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This is a Jeep Cherokee. This is not a luxury SUV, or a maintenance-free disposable import. It has solid front axles, wind noise, and character.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It's a Jeep. It rides like a Jeep. It drives like a Jeep. All of these are GOOD things.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It is not new, it is not pristine, it is used. This will be apparent in the pictures.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If you do not own a toolbox, have never changed your own oil, and are scared of firearms: THIS VEHICLE IS NOT FOR YOU.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If you have been posting on facebook all about how excited you are for pumpkin latte season: THIS VEHICLE IS NOT FOR YOU.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If you get offended easy and often, whine to your co-workers, and bitch a lot: THIS VEHICLE IS NOT FOR YOU.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If you feel you are owed anything in the world & have a bullshit job where you fail to produce: THIS VEHICLE IS NOT FOR YOU.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If you own a bieber album, white oakleys, affliction t-shirts, or those candy-assed stitched-pocket jeans: THIS VEHICLE IS NOT FOR YOU.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If you consider the 2nd Amendment an anachronistic relic and have never owned a firearm: THIS VEHICLE IS NOT FOR YOU.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If, however, you have BALLS OF STEEL and consider adverse weather an excuse to do stupid shit: THIS IS YOUR JEEP.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you laugh at danger, and tempt fate? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Have you ever uttered the words, "Hold my beer and watch this ..."?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">While bored at work do you pick targets at random and think, "I could hit that from here with the .22 ..."?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Have any of your friends quit hanging out because you were too much fun?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you have the number of a friend with cash memorized for bail?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">When you pass an abandoned flatbed farm truck along a fenceline do you consider taking on another project?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Is your ol' lady really sick of the random piles of parts, greasy footprints, and empty beer bottles in the garage?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> -could you not care less?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you have Jalopnik saved on your laptop AND smartphone?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you own a service manual for every vehicle you ever owned?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you still miss your first ride?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Can you carry on a two hour conversation discussing tools, scars, and hi-lift jacks?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Remember when tool companies had the balls to put half-naked beauty queens on their calendars?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you consider the Prius an abominable affront to the Gods of displacement, torque, and All Mighty Internal Combustion?</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If you answered in the affirmative to the preceding: THIS IS YOUR JEEP.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">DETAILS:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-I am the second owner. First owner barely got it dirty and engaged the front axles once.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-I have remedied this excessive caretaking with muddy roads and a pile of fun.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-The motor uses a little oil. How much? I don't know, I'm not collecting statistical analysis points. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> I check the oil, I fill the oil, I drive. Not enough to bother me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-It leaks a little oil. How much? Not enough for me to care. It has 220,000 miles, Poindexter!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> If you have a vehicle with 220K NOT leaking or burning oil, it's empty!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Rear bumper has a big-ass crease in it. I dented it backing into a concrete pole. Sober.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> We drove away giggling, for the record. Haven't fixed it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Driver's side door was caught by the wind, whipped forward, got into the LF quarter panel.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Radiator has a small leak. Pinhole. I can replace the radiator or you can. Really doesn't matter</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> A new radiator and hoses will run $145. If you don't want to replace them I will. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Add $250 to the price of vehicle. This includes radiator, hoses, and labor (beer). A freaking bargain.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-The badass little 4.0L bullet-proof in-line six starts and runs like the proverbial champ. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Tranny and 4WD operate perfectly </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Tires will need replaced in a couple thousand miles. I haven't upgraded because I had plans:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Had planned a small lift, upgrade to 17" Wrangler wheels, and more aggressive tires.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Life got in the way - it ain't happening. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Zombie stickers on the right rear window stay. My daughter's idea, take it up with her.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Flogging Molly sticker stays as well. They kick ass, so there. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">QUESTIONS:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Why are you selling?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> I can't justify owning it anymore. Motorsickles, kiddos, work, travel, and beer have consumed my time and money.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Someone else needs to appreciate the Jeep for what it is: awesome mechanical artistry.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-What's wrong with it?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Radiator. Small oil leaks. Driver's side door cosmetic issues. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> And it's pissed it has been neglected and parked. It needs rescued.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Does the 4WD work?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Hell yes. Like a Dickensian Orphan. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Will you sell me the [engine / tranny / rear door / axle / etc.]?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> No. I'm not in the salvage business. Buy the Jeep. Love the Jeep. Give the Jeep a home.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Will you take [insert ridiculously stupid low number here]?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> No. If I wanted [ridiculously low number] I would have asked [ridiculously low number]</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Want a cheap car? Get your kid that lowered tuner piece of shit honda project down the road. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> I think I'm plenty cheap for this bad mofo.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Why is it still stock?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Because I bought it for a daily driver with the intention of turning it into a project.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> I haven't had the time to do so. So I am selling it.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Can I put a 6" lift and giant tires on it?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> I don't give a shit. But be sure to use quality components and for God's sake - get it aligned after a lift!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Would this make a good car for my daughter?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Hell. Yes. Not only a good car, a learning experience. Introduction to vehicular maintenance.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Additionally, there isn't really enough room in the back for that little bastard she's dating to try anything.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Can you deliver?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Within reason. I'd drive it a hundred miles or so. But really, you should come get it. Look it over. Have a beer. Etc.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Will you take a check / cashier's check / Western Union Transfer / Nigerian Promissory Note?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Would you take a ball pein hammer to the forehead?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> No. I'll take Cash. Period. Bring cash or don't show.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Will you ship to -?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> No. See above.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-No, really, all I have is [lowball dollar amount]?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> That's great, I don't give a shit. Unicef ain't running this deal, and until they do I want $1750. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Why? Because I don't HAVE to sell this little beauty. Truth be known, I'd rather keep it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> But if it's going to a good home - I will sell. Unless you're an asshole - then no sale.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-Why are you such a dick?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Everything is relative; you should see my friends.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Any other questions, feel free to reply to this email and ask.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Via <a href="http://enid.craigslist.org/cto/4119280944.html%3C/div%3E" target="_blank">Craigslist </a> </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span>Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-28863107908812867792013-10-11T13:16:00.002-04:002013-10-11T13:16:26.974-04:00I want to pass you and URNDWAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGSkXiR8agiQdwAFU0XGoW89Nm0WhZsny-tGUqtQBphKatBs6zYi4BOcZSmQ-ei03fPoY5qvwc49DoIbv9OP2P8dfMbzDEUDcYKS19UfrVL2sYDhzWl3m5mH6ny3iiP_iGvaNa77N8JRm/s1600/Make-Up-Your-Minds-McDonalds.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGSkXiR8agiQdwAFU0XGoW89Nm0WhZsny-tGUqtQBphKatBs6zYi4BOcZSmQ-ei03fPoY5qvwc49DoIbv9OP2P8dfMbzDEUDcYKS19UfrVL2sYDhzWl3m5mH6ny3iiP_iGvaNa77N8JRm/s640/Make-Up-Your-Minds-McDonalds.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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While the contradiction itself is humorous, this photo also would have been a perfect photo to go with <a href="http://walkinthewords.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-first-thought-upon-seeing-this-plate.html" target="_blank">last Friday's post</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image via <a href="http://twentytwowords.com/2012/09/16/make-up-your-mind-mcdonalds/" target="_blank">22 Words</a>.</span>Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-52156988865228730522013-10-04T13:02:00.000-04:002013-10-04T13:03:59.388-04:00WAY FUИИY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarfVjaoe6_Cyn9BgNUbqd_-Q43BQSxs1x1J2b_5Nej0r2qed-S-4S3FihjQCxO_y3LFDrPdEDYqyETVwB1DxH4Sz0H5426A2LLPMf172Me2Y5mdPGTlWBNVE2BMs_r3F9Tv0KBRm8EKhd/s1600/license_20131004094601_77258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarfVjaoe6_Cyn9BgNUbqd_-Q43BQSxs1x1J2b_5Nej0r2qed-S-4S3FihjQCxO_y3LFDrPdEDYqyETVwB1DxH4Sz0H5426A2LLPMf172Me2Y5mdPGTlWBNVE2BMs_r3F9Tv0KBRm8EKhd/s400/license_20131004094601_77258.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first thought upon seeing this plate from a distance was, "underway, cute and appropriate."<br />
As I got closer, I noticed I had mixed up the order of the letters initially. When I realized what it was intended to say, I had a good laugh. However, it would be much more appropriate on the front of a vehicle, though the letters would have to be mirrored for the plate to be effective.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> UЯИᗡWAY </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">I might have to have one of these made for my freeway drives to tell the drivers in the left lane who aren't passing that they are </span>ИᗡWAY.</div>
Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-25821095062594802932013-10-03T17:33:00.000-04:002013-10-03T17:33:21.750-04:00A Variation on a Homonym<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's not a homonym; it is a drawmonym.</div>
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From one of my favorite cartoonists, John Atkinson at <a href="http://wronghands1.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Wrong Hands</a>.</div>
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A visual homonym: drawings that look the same but have different meanings.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohFtDDeUSjDnb4sbTLeugwbJq4D__A6sCX48amCKHEMyHyzYIxpTe2WceB4tk-TVhzwwQcGIvGaYiaW_SVkCG6LtNA95kRt-6TTF6Vg-AW_tyCCHsGtK-sFQZ2bXbDFUPiTQRHE8r2fFF/s1600/drawmonym.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohFtDDeUSjDnb4sbTLeugwbJq4D__A6sCX48amCKHEMyHyzYIxpTe2WceB4tk-TVhzwwQcGIvGaYiaW_SVkCG6LtNA95kRt-6TTF6Vg-AW_tyCCHsGtK-sFQZ2bXbDFUPiTQRHE8r2fFF/s400/drawmonym.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtLTz9TtWsQcG_opRt4bGkBlE6y5D6fJCokTISW02JU0O30VSZf4QJK1dcYAf-Z7vxmoY88_b_RxXTxzdN-aWyjF5s2cufw8aBkr-us272HSMxM4BjXy_OJuDNdftG17naoT6UAUVPG8F/s1600/drawmonym2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtLTz9TtWsQcG_opRt4bGkBlE6y5D6fJCokTISW02JU0O30VSZf4QJK1dcYAf-Z7vxmoY88_b_RxXTxzdN-aWyjF5s2cufw8aBkr-us272HSMxM4BjXy_OJuDNdftG17naoT6UAUVPG8F/s400/drawmonym2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqNpQ9HuAGpuhvVbST5BrPgATXRekfTar72DYcqXnD6PVR8c52wEUI803Thrlz74lJu2cIVEsiHg_B57I9mSUi5nneoSEveRDBn2OvJx34-e7923wTob0iZIfbiI32OpBfhY7watcvz5_/s1600/drawmonym3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqNpQ9HuAGpuhvVbST5BrPgATXRekfTar72DYcqXnD6PVR8c52wEUI803Thrlz74lJu2cIVEsiHg_B57I9mSUi5nneoSEveRDBn2OvJx34-e7923wTob0iZIfbiI32OpBfhY7watcvz5_/s400/drawmonym3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-54971601944694884992013-09-19T10:27:00.000-04:002013-09-19T10:27:58.764-04:00The Heron Ate the HerringWhere did the red herring go? The red heron wasn't distracted by it; I believe the red heron ate it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e6inSFt69nolMsAqt_scvwg1lGk7mj1TKYvFWWLHg39nIhqDiKrnlaWV-4TCbePm-VC5Lvt_-IwOY5P29_te9sO1arYokGfyurKaMpt2erfMgWaWhQBsRacoT-9W__j-c-uYbmyAbpZm/s1600/red+heron+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e6inSFt69nolMsAqt_scvwg1lGk7mj1TKYvFWWLHg39nIhqDiKrnlaWV-4TCbePm-VC5Lvt_-IwOY5P29_te9sO1arYokGfyurKaMpt2erfMgWaWhQBsRacoT-9W__j-c-uYbmyAbpZm/s1600/red+heron+cropped.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g4e-bKz5cAYks7mwmQL2PLFuQ9NgIQgJDlR-b3_P90ZRuJUKWEw03IczhhfWYRXGJciSFmfhVmBBMqyLTzcFomA9SNCyKCaKmpuTnhwBFeaUjnXfCZ5Zx3zVQJ4R9hvp3f1aG_w0NYPe/s1600/red+herring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g4e-bKz5cAYks7mwmQL2PLFuQ9NgIQgJDlR-b3_P90ZRuJUKWEw03IczhhfWYRXGJciSFmfhVmBBMqyLTzcFomA9SNCyKCaKmpuTnhwBFeaUjnXfCZ5Zx3zVQJ4R9hvp3f1aG_w0NYPe/s1600/red+herring.jpg" /></a><br />
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The substitution of <i>red heron</i> for <i>red herring</i> is called an eggcorn. I came across this eggcorn in the wild yesterday on the geocaching website in response to one of my tricky geocache hides.<br />
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Linguist Geoffrey Pullum coined the term that is defined as the mistaken substitution of one word or phrase for another word or phrase that sounds similar or identical. The speaker or writer of an eggcorn is generally not aware of the blunder.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs0eQuZZ0arugqRTwOwk2ujLxAW8yHGISqmtbC3RtoIlfnjgSKaJ4voG-8GOZN2CWAmVvZTj7wHuLrMtct74y7O4gDgBXNIp7Wc_vfd7hEsNfPi1HC2n0Z1W6N9kzjZB3HOmDJXLRZKXa/s1600/eggcorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs0eQuZZ0arugqRTwOwk2ujLxAW8yHGISqmtbC3RtoIlfnjgSKaJ4voG-8GOZN2CWAmVvZTj7wHuLrMtct74y7O4gDgBXNIp7Wc_vfd7hEsNfPi1HC2n0Z1W6N9kzjZB3HOmDJXLRZKXa/s1600/eggcorn.jpg" /></a></div>
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From what I can tell, other than the St. Julian wine, there is no such thing as a red heron.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Eggcorn image via <a href="http://boston.com/">Boston.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Red herring image via <a href="http://politichicks.tv/">Politichicks.tv</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Red heron image via <a href="http://redheronlampeter.blogspot.com/">redheronlampeter.blogspot.com</a></span>Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-63025768914781444242013-09-18T15:41:00.000-04:002013-09-18T15:41:13.615-04:00Astounded, Shocked, Astonished, Confounded and StupefiedThat is how I felt when I learned that a Yahoo survey found one of the top ten most searched terms for 18- to 35-year-olds is:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What is a synonym?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0Qc5daMjvBooMbGbgwW4WJKaVIMZkrtGO1wROY2CBSMRqHvHC8Simvd5NE-3SBegs7VPwCZEuVF_Faqc1Hz7eAq20ExIU4rSR9SDxFeUIRgXt4nDm96vxXQrdZFmGtfe3TEcEBd38InV/s1600/synonym.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0Qc5daMjvBooMbGbgwW4WJKaVIMZkrtGO1wROY2CBSMRqHvHC8Simvd5NE-3SBegs7VPwCZEuVF_Faqc1Hz7eAq20ExIU4rSR9SDxFeUIRgXt4nDm96vxXQrdZFmGtfe3TEcEBd38InV/s400/synonym.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Survey info via The Week magazine, September 13, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image credit: </span><a href="http://bogglesworldesl.com/" style="font-size: small;">bogglesworldesl.com</a></div>
Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-69819143748842864742013-08-07T15:07:00.001-04:002013-08-07T15:07:33.134-04:00Subway's Poor Portmanteau Choice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Am I the only one who has a problem with the name of Subway's new menu item?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz6bdkGgzkgIhJmmwpHZIRlpJAQ2hBPDFLSIR5WxUj-Ve2OUDCDvtQwYUbYwIaVN18_Ohie2NhpkyD1SKMrSC-RDjesHxKy63eox2kgpYSJ2C3COy4P6Q9qjMItSgczgF6dnnBLA2gWaB/s1600/flatizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz6bdkGgzkgIhJmmwpHZIRlpJAQ2hBPDFLSIR5WxUj-Ve2OUDCDvtQwYUbYwIaVN18_Ohie2NhpkyD1SKMrSC-RDjesHxKy63eox2kgpYSJ2C3COy4P6Q9qjMItSgczgF6dnnBLA2gWaB/s400/flatizza.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are just too many options for the phonetic realization of the neologism.<br />
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To start with, where are the syllable breaks? Is it fla/ti/za or flat/iz/a? Which syllable should be stressed? Also, if it is made to rhyme with pizza, it sounds like either fla/teets/a or flat/eets/a, depending on the syllable break.<br />
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I get that it is a portmanteau of flatbread + pizza. But it sure is a phonetically problematic portmanteau.Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-8173111591015702712013-08-02T11:09:00.000-04:002013-08-02T11:09:03.745-04:00SpecGram Essential Guide to Linguistics - A Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj6ikuMfMM2WCLBwgKOkacZWeYymsEZbDVFWBFKQARwdFUszQDCykHfBgjO2EKiCbElhjkLFnjE_7dFdCC0nrCeX9BYbxL48cFntgJoLnxGPaAVtUlz8buIwEcOsen_WH0XWMuFHnqW0x/s1600/spec+gram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj6ikuMfMM2WCLBwgKOkacZWeYymsEZbDVFWBFKQARwdFUszQDCykHfBgjO2EKiCbElhjkLFnjE_7dFdCC0nrCeX9BYbxL48cFntgJoLnxGPaAVtUlz8buIwEcOsen_WH0XWMuFHnqW0x/s400/spec+gram.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>
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No ... <a href="https://www.createspace.com/4350751" target="_blank">Click here</a>.</div>
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I recently had the excruciating pleasure of reading an advance copy of <a href="http://specgram.com/SGEGL/" target="_blank">The Speculative Grammarian's Essential Guide to Linguistics</a>. For the rare few who are unfamiliar with <a href="http://specgram.com/" target="_blank">Speculative Grammarian</a>, it is, and I quote, "the premier scholarly journal featuring research in the neglected field of satirical linguistics." </div>
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While I don't know that I would call the book "essential", I will tell you that it is essentially absurd and all-encompassing. At a brief 360 pages, it conquers such important topics as cartoon theories of linguistics, linguistic love poetry and mytholingual creatures, not to mention the standard fare of syntax, semantics, phonetics, phonology and morphology. There are many impressive diagrams and illustrations that really shed light on the more difficult topics (they also add to the aesthetically pleasing nature of the book). I do believe that his book is an overwhelming indulgence that should not be avoided.</div>
Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-75777350827976097332013-07-26T13:43:00.000-04:002013-07-26T13:43:10.626-04:00Retronymic Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1Ftu9Q5sEThCf5kWCQG1dk2KffDg2BXw6hxmxPDdRdUyQq_pp-hxyLeidS40bflAScxeUzpfgRS5mtw7RJcQNVXVtyBRisEN4r8fEUYNsxrRTnIhi9U7-JjzkwsIUqZ3Tqcaixe4mZZt/s1600/unsweet+tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1Ftu9Q5sEThCf5kWCQG1dk2KffDg2BXw6hxmxPDdRdUyQq_pp-hxyLeidS40bflAScxeUzpfgRS5mtw7RJcQNVXVtyBRisEN4r8fEUYNsxrRTnIhi9U7-JjzkwsIUqZ3Tqcaixe4mZZt/s400/unsweet+tea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retronym" target="_blank"> retronym</a> is a term consisting of a noun and a modifier which specifies the original meaning of the noun.<br />
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Examples include: black and white television, acoustic guitar, cloth diaper, and bar soap.Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-4522627951145229152013-07-16T10:24:00.000-04:002013-07-16T10:24:31.060-04:00Semantic Choices<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Pick one or the other.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S7rr-Dmf4JoR3bFwalvtk9iPz6gxHb1rW2vV1HJhWbOvow2vdjW2Z4kWtxAkH1vqUdo-1svgUSsTDKcnaYGi7TdB3PWfFzFgBmJDVbX8mtf_P70W9ws5k2jpBC_v6-pwB-wHsWCj0lrK/s1600/the-nd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S7rr-Dmf4JoR3bFwalvtk9iPz6gxHb1rW2vV1HJhWbOvow2vdjW2Z4kWtxAkH1vqUdo-1svgUSsTDKcnaYGi7TdB3PWfFzFgBmJDVbX8mtf_P70W9ws5k2jpBC_v6-pwB-wHsWCj0lrK/s320/the-nd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A recent <a href="http://wronghands1.wordpress.com/2013/07/02/the-nd/" target="_blank">Wrong Hands</a> comic that I enjoyed.Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-50173430156652932722013-06-27T11:46:00.001-04:002013-06-27T11:46:53.959-04:00Noisy Humor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlAQCY8_je3PcX-ZiskG20ouksLAWm5jHmSHmbWzu2q9KxHaY719rUG36Q2XdPwPX_PoVBZ6S4ut-c26_0GlAVJDFCavmuXBvHMsIHsBuej1GrW9ycotbeasSbUVTFJuz62T1PBDqWwwp/s353/onomatop.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlAQCY8_je3PcX-ZiskG20ouksLAWm5jHmSHmbWzu2q9KxHaY719rUG36Q2XdPwPX_PoVBZ6S4ut-c26_0GlAVJDFCavmuXBvHMsIHsBuej1GrW9ycotbeasSbUVTFJuz62T1PBDqWwwp/s400/onomatop.gif" width="338" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Via <a href="http://www.theargylesweater.com/" target="_blank">Argyle Sweater</a></span>Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-7818221305010221562013-06-07T09:59:00.001-04:002013-06-07T09:59:32.234-04:00Stinky Portmanteaus<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A semantically spot-on portmanteau -<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVZu05vXNQRHvQ1JonhaSm4pI2gdCORAxWfKRux0LBxuRyKloCq0pJRqdfU9xq_DMqI4sgFpC0orTO5naVi3ESHn-DzhkcD6oj2cMnTZbyPNdsejw20ctPgwCkvGcIj42HA5HILTj0iR5/s1600/febreeze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVZu05vXNQRHvQ1JonhaSm4pI2gdCORAxWfKRux0LBxuRyKloCq0pJRqdfU9xq_DMqI4sgFpC0orTO5naVi3ESHn-DzhkcD6oj2cMnTZbyPNdsejw20ctPgwCkvGcIj42HA5HILTj0iR5/s320/febreeze.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Spotted on <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/copyranter/if-companies-had-realistic-slogans" target="_blank">If Companies Had Realistic Slogans</a> at BuzzFeed.</span>Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-77321917671274428462013-06-04T10:08:00.000-04:002013-06-04T10:08:05.949-04:00For the Love of Math and LanguageA <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">mathematical limerick by </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">Leigh Mercer - </span><br />
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<img alt="mercer limerick" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-32016" height="85" src="http://www.futilitycloset.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-05-26-about-face.png" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 3px 10px 2px 0px; max-width: 950px; padding: 4px 4px 4px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5;">To be read as:</span><br />
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A dozen, a gross, and a score<br />
Plus three times the square root of four<br />
Divided by seven<br />
Plus five times eleven<br />
Is nine squared and not a bit more.<br />
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Mercer is most well known for creating <span style="line-height: 1.5;">the classic palindrome “A man, a plan, a canal — Panama!”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Spotted at <a href="http://www.futilitycloset.com/2013/05/26/about-face/" target="_blank">Futility Closet</a>.</span></div>
Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-18052465638721676202013-05-29T17:48:00.000-04:002013-05-29T17:48:12.781-04:00Mass and Count Nouns - brought to you by Meijer <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is one of two themed billboards that has been peppering Michigan expressways this spring.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9_r7dHJX6dP5BSZGBuR5cHtxzBMGcrfnaa5XENh_5wXI15NVHkgI_zdcsHARUuQMb5FI66gkdwYkgKC_kRXUAzXrH4NMEIsk7QkJT11U-v329n8LKaVRMPkRev4685kYZQIWEBTs24a2/s1600/meijer+math.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9_r7dHJX6dP5BSZGBuR5cHtxzBMGcrfnaa5XENh_5wXI15NVHkgI_zdcsHARUuQMb5FI66gkdwYkgKC_kRXUAzXrH4NMEIsk7QkJT11U-v329n8LKaVRMPkRev4685kYZQIWEBTs24a2/s400/meijer+math.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The other looks almost identical, save for the final noun phrase which replaces <i>fewer stops</i> with <i>less run-around</i>.<br />
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I don't think it is any coincidence that the two separate billboards always seem to appear within a few miles of each other. Meijer's advertising agency copywriters certainly know the difference between <a href="http://walkinthewords.blogspot.com/search?q=mass+count+nouns" target="_blank">mass and count nouns</a>. Funny thing is, I am not a frequent Meijer shopper, so I can't recall whether their check-out lanes are labeled <i>X number items or less</i>, or <i>X number items or fewer</i>.<br />
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<br />Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-23464524221198813212013-05-24T08:05:00.000-04:002013-05-24T08:05:00.928-04:00Apostroph'<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Wall Street Journal recently published an article by Barry Newman titled <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324244304578471252974458308.html" target="_blank">Theres a Question Mark Hanging Over the Apostrophes Future</a>. My aunt sent me an email copy of the article as she knew I would enjoy it. And I did enjoy the article; however, my favorite part of the email was her subject line which read: <b><span style="font-size: large;">Apostroph'</span></b>. Thanks for creatively amusing me. I am also still chuckling over the intentionally humorous aspect of the title.* </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdhp8r2PGPlMO2HdNcwMYpp2uR3mAwTW72ZEvDo2NcnsGOlgcILFFjrXqn5Rmk5kkjEF4JRo9pLaBvMBA-zeeEqR2N2L_HUrp5OcX0EMQa0Xyy_dTYb0zQS3EVKwAgoDovTWX5CZkJ2Jy/s1600/comma-or-apostrophe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdhp8r2PGPlMO2HdNcwMYpp2uR3mAwTW72ZEvDo2NcnsGOlgcILFFjrXqn5Rmk5kkjEF4JRo9pLaBvMBA-zeeEqR2N2L_HUrp5OcX0EMQa0Xyy_dTYb0zQS3EVKwAgoDovTWX5CZkJ2Jy/s400/comma-or-apostrophe.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>
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* In case anyone didn't notice, there are missing apostrophes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Comic via <a href="http://funny-fun-fun.com/funny-comics/comma-or-apostrophe-funny-pictures/" target="_blank">Funny-Fun-Fun</a> by <a href="http://www.theargylesweater.com/" target="_blank">Scott Hilburn</a>.</span>Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-82733019373450564072013-05-21T07:56:00.000-04:002013-05-21T07:56:00.712-04:00Duck Dynasty's LinguistWho would have ever thunk that a linguist would be among the characters of a rural reality show? Not me, that's for sure. So imagine my surprise when Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson gave Katie Couric a lesson in articulatory phonetics during the <a href="http://www.katiecouric.com/videos/category/51613-rural-reality-showdown-duck-dynasty-vs-swamp-people/" target="_blank">Rural Reality Showdown: Duck Dynasty vs. Swamp People</a>.<br />
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Here is a clip from the show that features this lesson.<br />
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I have never watched Duck Dynasty, Swamp People or Katie Couric, so I was glad I paid partial attention as my son watched the show. He is a Duck Dynasty fan and I am tempted to buy him a duck call now that I know it can be used as a tool for teaching articulatory phonetics.Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-70699014741905681852013-05-20T12:27:00.000-04:002013-05-20T12:27:07.460-04:00More Fun with AnaphoraThis humorous image reminded me of the recent post, <a href="http://walkinthewords.blogspot.com/2013/04/6-cartons-of-anaphora.html" target="_blank">6 Cartons of Anaphora</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBd-M1zvAIuI3XpZRKSs1ZlcQT6TsyBlzny4nKwK6cjSU2yS9xL0b20ySG0vRh3KCu52rDhHQuaVa5jySER4EV6JCEm4ZCd-Ohtv5_0henTK-xIKYAEy7k648N5KH1o3KEbk99Ep3i-urt/s1600/dog+poo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBd-M1zvAIuI3XpZRKSs1ZlcQT6TsyBlzny4nKwK6cjSU2yS9xL0b20ySG0vRh3KCu52rDhHQuaVa5jySER4EV6JCEm4ZCd-Ohtv5_0henTK-xIKYAEy7k648N5KH1o3KEbk99Ep3i-urt/s400/dog+poo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In this instance, the pronoun <i>it</i> is meant to refer to the noun <i>poo</i>, the semantically logical antecedent. Syntactically, it is also more logical to start the process of <a href="http://www.cs.cornell.edu/boom/2000sp/2000%20projects/anaphora/definition.html" target="_blank">anaphora resolution</a> by looking to the noun phrase in the sentence which is closest to the pronoun.</div>
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Note: I received the above image in an email and was unable to determine where <i>it</i> originated as <i>it</i> has made <i>its</i> way all around the internet.</div>
Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679131690828224322.post-27929628438201881652013-05-16T14:37:00.002-04:002013-05-16T14:37:49.264-04:00Yo - Ve, Xe, Ze, ZheI don't know about you, but the above attempts at creating gender-neutral, singular pronouns give me the heebee jeebees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC6POuNpqreTB3CvVTW0yQ3wQ-Pd_Oingq-_Ojan5mODxyDLhQHODeLy8AefK8Jp4L9Nz61nYPBY8fIRY2GmMzYs6j_OtN15b358tAuuTyVs0_njl3ZmwJxYLzMNtrYBgcaWszGmKFyLO/s1600/xkcd_145_-_parody_week_-_dinosaur_comics_-_ALSO_HOW_ABOUT_IN_THIS_WORLD_EVERYONE_IS_BICURIOUS_5551.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbC6POuNpqreTB3CvVTW0yQ3wQ-Pd_Oingq-_Ojan5mODxyDLhQHODeLy8AefK8Jp4L9Nz61nYPBY8fIRY2GmMzYs6j_OtN15b358tAuuTyVs0_njl3ZmwJxYLzMNtrYBgcaWszGmKFyLO/s1600/xkcd_145_-_parody_week_-_dinosaur_comics_-_ALSO_HOW_ABOUT_IN_THIS_WORLD_EVERYONE_IS_BICURIOUS_5551.png" /></a></div>
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Here are some more of the ridiculous constructs:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2j9P3etBlqCQqWOexfA49AZsg74TUDVzPMf46ofXmRO3AgszYGWjluYYljrBI62sicUDeXNJGvQQPCFi_s0ljWNx8gJpNJ0IWFDXSPuf9Hfzj4jwWRqEG7LxL293jeL4KZ8Rw1Q8bJ3G/s1600/pronounchart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2j9P3etBlqCQqWOexfA49AZsg74TUDVzPMf46ofXmRO3AgszYGWjluYYljrBI62sicUDeXNJGvQQPCFi_s0ljWNx8gJpNJ0IWFDXSPuf9Hfzj4jwWRqEG7LxL293jeL4KZ8Rw1Q8bJ3G/s640/pronounchart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ann Curzan, an English professor at the University of Michigan, recently wrote about the subject of singular <i>they</i> at <a href="http://chronicle.com/blogs/linguafranca/2013/05/10/singular-they-a-footnote/" target="_blank">Lingua Franca</a>. Here are some excerpts from her post: </div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><i>"I tell students that they are welcome to use singular </i>they<i> in writing for my class, but they should footnote it the first time they use it and in the footnote explain their rationale for using singular </i>they<i>." </i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><i>"This footnote accomplishes at least three things: It shows readers that the author is consciously making a choice to use singular </i>they<i>; it informs readers about legitimate reasons for using singular </i>they<i>, even if they disagree with its use in this context; and most importantly, it asks students to be careful, self-conscious writers, reflecting on and explaining their choices in their writing."</i></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Curzan's approach to singular <i>they</i> is commendable. Please pass it on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GenderNeutralWriting" target="_blank">credit</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Chart via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-neutral_pronoun" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></div>
<br />Laura Paynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05229426716936563690noreply@blogger.com0