View Full Version : Literally now literally means figuratively
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Was going to put this up in the series forum, but really, this is a cross-program language offense. How do we fix this? Nukes, re-education camps, ban on all reality tv? :bawling:
Tregard
14-08-2013, 11:46 PM
Language does that sometimes, it happens :L
Scarlett.
15-08-2013, 01:03 AM
Languages evolve, if they didn't we'd still be speaking like Victorians.
Languages evolve, if they didn't we'd still be speaking like Victorians.
Defining a word as meaning the exact opposite of itself is not evolution. If anything, it's devolution.
Tregard
15-08-2013, 10:13 AM
Defining a word as meaning the exact opposite of itself is not evolution. If anything, it's devolution.
This happens with quite a lot of words. "Nonplussed" and "Peruse" mean the exact opposite of how most people use them.
Benjamin
15-08-2013, 11:36 AM
This happens with quite a lot of words. "Nonplussed" and "Peruse" mean the exact opposite of how most people use them.
I love the word "nonplussed". :hugesmile:
Scarlett.
15-08-2013, 11:46 AM
Defining a word as meaning the exact opposite of itself is not evolution. If anything, it's devolution.
The progression of languages doesn't really follow a set of neat rules though.
DanaC
15-08-2013, 12:00 PM
I did not realise that's what peruse meant! I absolutely use it to mean the opposite (read through lightly, in a relaxed fashion - glance at - etc as opposed to read thoroughly and carefully)
But 'nonplussed' I use as it appears in the dictionary - I hadn't realised others were using it to mean something else...how is it used then by those people?
This is how I use it:
Adjective
(of a person) Surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react.
(of a person) Unperturbed.
Tregard
15-08-2013, 01:02 PM
I did not realise that's what peruse meant! I absolutely use it to mean the opposite (read through lightly, in a relaxed fashion - glance at - etc as opposed to read thoroughly and carefully)
But 'nonplussed' I use as it appears in the dictionary - I hadn't realised others were using it to mean something else...how is it used then by those people?
This is how I use it:
I would use it to mean "Not worried", whereas it actually means very confused :L
DanaC
15-08-2013, 01:12 PM
Not worried is one of the meanings according to that (unperturbed )
I generally use it to mean confused or taken aback
As is not sure how to react or what to think about something
For not worried I'd probably use 'unperturbed' or 'sanguine' :-p
Princess
15-08-2013, 01:18 PM
Defining a word as meaning the exact opposite of itself is not evolution. If anything, it's devolution.
A lot of words end up meaning the opposite of what they originally meant. Sure even look at the word 'queer', it used to be an insult and the gay community took it and turned it on it's head to mean the opposite.
Language is always changing and certain words have vogue moments just as anything does, colloqially speaking, most people don't use literally for it's original meaning so it makes sense that the definition has been altered.
Livia
15-08-2013, 02:27 PM
While I understand that language evolves, this is really a case of laziness, where a word is being misused so instead of correcting it, we're changing the rules. Bullsh!t. I'd rather go by the OED, which defines "literal" correctly, rather than some online definition that is mostly there to make stupid people feel better about themselves.
DanaC
15-08-2013, 02:51 PM
It does wind me up when people use literally in that way. It jars with me.
It literally makes me want to punch them in the mouth:-p
DanaC
15-08-2013, 02:58 PM
Actually there are sometimes when it doesn't. When used for comic effect for instance. But this use of it as a general word for emphasis is uncomfortable. One if the rwins used it the other day to say:' I want to stay. I literally want to stay...'
Probably one of the most overused words in the house right now.
Livia
15-08-2013, 03:03 PM
It does wind me up when people use literally in that way. It jars with me.
It literally makes me want to punch them in the mouth:-p
Violence... but in this case I wholeheartedly approve.
Actually there are sometimes when it doesn't. When used for comic effect for instance. But this use of it as a general word for emphasis is uncomfortable. One if the rwins used it the other day to say:' I want to stay. I literally want to stay...'
Probably one of the most overused words in the house right now.
It is the most overused words and it grates on my nerves every time. I remember Dexter saying "I could literally explode!" Oh please, do it... I'd tune in especially.
The other thing that makes me mad (leave me, I'm on a roll...) is when Gina (who's supposed to have been privately educated) doubles up on the superlatives. "She's the most evilest..." "She's the most silliest..." NO! Just... NO!
DanaC
15-08-2013, 03:24 PM
Whilst we're on the topic of HM's language use: 'irregardless'.... No!
swinearefine
15-08-2013, 03:37 PM
It's just natural language change which is inevitable and has given rise to English from Old English, French from Latin, etc. But yeah this particular usage grinds my gears.
Tregard
15-08-2013, 03:42 PM
Whilst we're on the topic of HM's language use: 'irregardless'.... No!
NOT A WORD!!!!
Sorry :L
Livia
15-08-2013, 03:42 PM
Whilst we're on the topic of HM's language use: 'irregardless'.... No!
Yes! No.
Also, for someone who works in PR, allegedly, Dexter just can't cut it with the verbal skills. He says things like "it's an underlining fact". I find myself literally shouting at the telly, "NO IT'S AN UNDERLYING FACT!".
Tregard
15-08-2013, 03:48 PM
Yes! No.
Also, for someone who works in PR, allegedly, Dexter just can't cut it with the verbal skills. He says things like "it's an underlining fact". I find myself literally shouting at the telly, "NO IT'S AN UNDERLYING FACT!".
He needs to be more pacific. (http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/)
DanaC
15-08-2013, 04:07 PM
*bites own tongue off*
Whilst we're on the topic of HM's language use: 'irregardless'.... No!
I don't remember which forum/comments section, but the other day, someone was criticizing Dexter for "saying 'disregardless' when the real word is 'irregardless' ". I had to walk away for a while lest I get myself banned from whichever place it was.
DanaC
15-08-2013, 04:36 PM
I don't remember which forum/comments section, but the other day, someone was criticizing Dexter for "saying 'disregardless' when the real word is 'irregardless' ". I had to walk away for a while lest I get myself banned from whichever place it was.
Ahahahah. Oh dear. I applaud your restraint
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