Regarding language change: I like to say that I'm a conservative descriptivist. Yes, language changes, but that doesn't mean people can Humpty Dumpty* their way into making words do whatever they like.
That's one of the very few areas of my life where I'd describe myself as conservative.
*From "Through the Looking-Glass": "There's glory for you!" "I don't know what you mean by 'glory,'" Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't—till I tell you. I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!'" "But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument,'" Alice objected. "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."
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Date: 7/2/09 01:44 am (UTC)From:That's one of the very few areas of my life where I'd describe myself as conservative.
*From "Through the Looking-Glass":
"There's glory for you!"
"I don't know what you mean by 'glory,'" Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't—till I tell you. I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!'"
"But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument,'" Alice objected.
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."