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Post by Pixie on Jan 4, 2018 13:43:04 GMT -5
So, it's obvious you have yet to form a proper appreciation of the Valley Girl. I mean we have been around for, like, almost 40 years. I, like, totally appreciate the VG, being like, ohmygawd, so tubular! Most people, even those in California, think Valley Girl talk originated in the Valley. It didn't. That is actually surfer talk picked up by the girls from the Valley visiting Zuma Beach. It was popularized by them because of Moon Unit/Frank Zappa's song Valley Girl as well as the movie by that name, along with a few other items of social interest back during the late 70s and early 80s. Just call me Dweezle. |
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Post by msp on Jan 4, 2018 15:48:58 GMT -5
I, like, totally appreciate the VG, being like, ohmygawd, so tubular! Most people, even those in California, think Valley Girl talk originated in the Valley. It didn't. That is actually surfer talk picked up by the girls from the Valley visiting Zuma Beach. It was popularized by them because of Moon Unit/Frank Zappa's song Valley Girl as well as the movie by that name, along with a few other items of social interest back during the late 70s and early 80s. Just call me Dweezle. This confirms my theory: Pixie knows all things from A (Angel(s) Envy) to Z (Frank Zappa) š |
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Post by Pixie on Jan 4, 2018 16:22:47 GMT -5
Most people, even those in California, think Valley Girl talk originated in the Valley. It didn't. That is actually surfer talk picked up by the girls from the Valley visiting Zuma Beach. It was popularized by them because of Moon Unit/Frank Zappa's song Valley Girl as well as the movie by that name, along with a few other items of social interest back during the late 70s and early 80s. Just call me Dweezle. This confirms my theory: Pixie knows all things from A (Angel(s) Envy) to Z (Frank Zappa) š Yes, I know a lot of things. Unfortunately, I know a lot of things wrong! Pixie |
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Post by blondswede on Jan 5, 2018 13:43:29 GMT -5
NPR types, political activists, and a substantial number of academics now feel that every response to a question must begin with an utterly superfluous "so." This is often paired with a strange, rising intonation. I agree with this one! It's driving me crazy. It's similar to the "up-ending" my daughter used to do with every sentence when she was in high school: it made every sentence sound like a question. Beginning the answer with, "So," makes the speaker sound stupid, as though this was a new trend (but, I guess it is). Or "Valley girl" speak. Or using "like" in between every word! That's one I come crushing down on my kids. |
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Post by Pixie on Jan 5, 2018 13:53:56 GMT -5
NPR types, political activists, and a substantial number of academics now feel that every response to a question must begin with an utterly superfluous "so." This is often paired with a strange, rising intonation. I agree with this one! It's driving me crazy. It's similar to the "up-ending" my daughter used to do with every sentence when she was in high school: it made every sentence sound like a question. Beginning the answer with, "So," makes the speaker sound stupid, as though this was a new trend (but, I guess it is). Or "Valley girl" speak. Or using "like" in between every word! That's one I come crushing down on my kids. You are severely limiting their ability to express themselves if you take the multiple "likes" out of their vocabulary. |
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Post by dshawn on Jan 5, 2018 16:07:46 GMT -5
Advise vs. advice. Lawyers should know the difference. I used to be fairly confident it was an autocorrect thing. I am not so sure anymore.
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jan 5, 2018 16:22:17 GMT -5
I am not a peevish person.
But I do smile at pleadings referring to the āUntiedā States or to the āPubicā Defender.
Captions and address blocks do not get the same scrutiny as the body of the text.
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Post by luckylady2 on Jan 5, 2018 18:40:16 GMT -5
I'm not too proud to say I've represented the Untied States a time or two...  |
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jan 5, 2018 19:21:23 GMT -5
No matter how many mistakes are found in the review process, there always seem to be one or two after the brief has been filed.
Often Bluebooking.
Seldom worth an Erratum.
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Post by karenmtlaw on Jan 5, 2018 23:11:48 GMT -5
One of my pet peeves: "should/could/would of" instead of "should/could/would have". Saying "should have" quickly could possibly sound like "should of", but..... grrrrr.
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Post by karenmtlaw on Jan 5, 2018 23:19:00 GMT -5
Good point, LL2. It is always important to sound fancy. I attended a church wedding long ago - I neither get invited to many weddings, nor am allowed in many churches - and I was appalled to read in the program that, after the Procession, there would be an "exchangement of rings" and an "exchangement of vows."
To this day, I do not remember whose marriagement it was. I suppose that the newlyweds had a Recessionment followed by a Receptionment.
That hurts!  |
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Post by gary on Jan 6, 2018 1:16:12 GMT -5
One of my pet peeves: "should/could/would of" instead of "should/could/would have".Ā Saying "should have" quickly could possibly sound like "should of", but..... grrrrr. Whatās your position on shoulda/coulda/woulda? |
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Post by goldenretrievermom on Jan 7, 2018 0:29:49 GMT -5
The arresting LEO testified that he "dismounted his vehicle" during the traffic stop of my alleged DUI client. He then testified he asked my client to "dismount his vehicle." I asked the officer if he knew why my client was riding on top of his car. The judge and jury both laughed, and the officer stated he was obviously asking my client to get out of his car, not off of it. The judge then asked him why he just didn't say so in the first place! This might have won me the case had my client not blown a .285! The officer was embarrassed, but he later invited me to teach his new SP officers how to testify. Plain language works best folks, and getting too hung up on grammar and language usage may say as much about you as it does the offender. Not everyone had a mean English teacher growing up drilling proper grammar into their heads! HaHaHa! LEO must've been riding a motorcycle, bicycle, or horse? How about this one? So, like, I'm reading an Affidavit for Probable Cause in which the officer observed a guy walking down the street minding his own business. So then the next sentence was, like, "I attempted to initiate a consensual encounter but the suspect took off running." Like, seriously? I would take off running too if a guy with a gun and a badge attempted to initiate a consensual encounter with me in the middle of the street. So, like, no probable cause found on that one, ya know? |
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Post by jagvet on Jan 8, 2018 13:08:58 GMT -5
Lie/lay drives me nuts. It is my number-one edit in letters (except if quoting testimony, in which case I let it lie). Reps, even attorney reps, usually get it wrong! Lots of docs get it wrong in the medical records.
There's a great restaurant in Raleigh, NC called "Irregardless." When it opened in the 70's, everyone got the joke. Now I doubt many people do, even though it's next door to a major university.
Pet peeve: I say, "You are qualified and admitted to testify as a VE." VE says, "Yes I am," or "thank you" as if I were asking or complimenting him rather than making a ruling.
Pet peeve: Me: "What do you do all day, from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep at night?"
Claimant: "Nothing." Me: "Don't you eat, use the restroom...?" Claimant: "Yes." Me: "Please describe that in more detail." Claimant: "I eat, use the restroom." Me: "What else?" Claimant: "That's all I can do." "Do you watch tv?" "Yes." "Do you use your phone?" "Yes." "What else?" "Nothing else." "Do you take medicine?" "Yes." And so it goes.
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jan 8, 2018 14:36:47 GMT -5
Pet peeve: I say, "You are qualified and admitted to testify as a VE." VE says, "Yes I am," or "thank you" as if I were asking or complimenting him rather than making a ruling. Potential partial solution: ā I find that (or: It is my ruling that) you are qualified and admitted to testify as a VE.ā But there will always be witnesses who appreciate or agree with your rulings, Your Honor. (!) |
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law56
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Post by law56 on Jan 9, 2018 16:17:25 GMT -5
As an English major of a certain age (i.e. old enough to have attended primary school at a time when grammar was still a subject of instruction) I assure you that the use of "were" in the sentence to which you object is not incorrect. Rather, it is an example of the subjunctive mood. As stated in one English Grammar text, "The subjunctive were is used in contrary-to-fact statements (after if or as though) and in statements expressing a wish." So, in your example, the use of "were" indicates that the subject's legs are, in fact of equal length. However, her gait makes it appear that they are not. |
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Post by SPN Lifer on Jan 9, 2018 16:35:53 GMT -5
I was recently reading a book that has been out for a few years. It made the New York Times best seller list. One of the sentences taken from that book reads as follows" "Her gait was rigid and awkward, as if one of her legs were shorter than the other." The publisher is a small to medium size publishing house. I would think it has copy editors on the staff. As an English major of a certain age (i.e. old enough to have attended primary school at a time when grammar was still a subject of instruction) I assure you that theĀ use of "were" in the sentence to which you object is not incorrect.Ā Rather, it is an example of the subjunctive mood.Ā As stated in one English Grammar text, "The subjunctive were is used in contrary-to-fact statements (after if or as though) and in statements expressing a wish." So, in your example, the use of "were" indicates that the subject's legs are, in fact of equal length. However, her gait makes it appear that they are not. I quoted the text, for those of us with short little spans of attention. I, like, totally appreciate the VG, being like, ohmygawd, so tubular! Most people, even those in California, think Valley Girl talk originated in the Valley. It didn't. That is actually surfer talk picked up by the girls from the Valley visiting Zuma Beach. A perfect surfing wave is one where the crest rolls over to form a tube. Hence, tubular. |
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Post by Pixie on Jan 9, 2018 16:55:43 GMT -5
I was recently reading a book that has been out for a few years. It made the New York Times best seller list. One of the sentences taken from that book reads as follows" "Her gait was rigid and awkward, as if one of her legs were shorter than the other." The publisher is a small to medium size publishing house. I would think it has copy editors on the staff. As an English major of a certain age (i.e. old enough to have attended primary school at a time when grammar was still a subject of instruction) I assure you that theĀ use of "were" in the sentence to which you object is not incorrect.Ā Rather, it is an example of the subjunctive mood.Ā As stated in one English Grammar text, "The subjunctive were is used in contrary-to-fact statements (after if or as though) and in statements expressing a wish." So, in your example, the use of "were" indicates that the subject's legs are, in fact of equal length. However, her gait makes it appear that they are not. I quoted the text, for those of us with short little spans of attention. I, like, totally appreciate the VG, being like, ohmygawd, so tubular! Most people, even those in California, think Valley Girl talk originated in the Valley. It didn't. That is actually surfer talk picked up by the girls from the Valley visiting Zuma Beach. A perfect surfing wave is one where the crest rolls over to form a tube. Hence, tubular. Exactly. It originated with the surfers, probably on Zuma Beach. Now the inflections we are accustomed to hearing are mostly Valley Girl speak. The surfers didn't talk like that. |
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Post by Pixie on Jan 9, 2018 17:07:29 GMT -5
As an English major of a certain age (i.e. old enough to have attended primary school at a time when grammar was still a subject of instruction) I assure you that the use of "were" in the sentence to which you object is not incorrect. Rather, it is an example of the subjunctive mood. As stated in one English Grammar text, "The subjunctive were is used in contrary-to-fact statements (after if or as though) and in statements expressing a wish." So, in your example, the use of "were" indicates that the subject's legs are, in fact of equal length. However, her gait makes it appear that they are not. Yes, I understand about the subjunctive mood and agree with your point. I wasn't even thinking in that direction as I thought one of her legs was, in fact, shorter than the other. Can't remember now if it was or not. I, too, was taught heavy doses of grammar. Diagramming was one of the basics we learned. I was surprised a few years ago when one of our very bright student employees had a subject verb disagreement. She was a senior in high school. I thought I would make it easy for her and told her it was simple to determine the subject by diagramming the sentence. I invited her to do so, and she just looked at me with a lost expression on her face. It was then I learned she had never been taught diagramming and had no idea what it was. Oh well. |
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Post by tom b on Jan 10, 2018 16:50:33 GMT -5
In my post-callow youth (see my earlier posting in the "Cert" string for the reference), I taught Greek, Latin, and Ancient History at a preparatory school. What I really taught, though, was remedial English. I had to define the parts of speech; I had to explain persons (first: the one who is speaking; second: the one you're speaking to; third: the one you're speaking about); I had to explain number (I/me; "Weuns/Usns"); I had to define cases used in English (nominative; objective; possessive). It was demoralizing. Everyone want to start reading Homer and Cicero in the original languages (a bit of a problem with Homer, as his material was actually all oral, but that's another topic for another day); I had to get my students to be able to carry on a conversation in their native tongue first.
Then-Judge Gorsuch actually included a sentence diagram in one of his opinions for the 10th Circuit. The citation eludes me, but the case involved, I believe, a felon in possession of a firearm.
Respectfully, Tom B
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