Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : SI Grammar and Spelling Lab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wizzer who wrote (1071)	4/5/1998 11:56:00 AM
From: Jack Clarke	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4710

Wisam, Your example "I, like, died of embarrassment." Californian valley girl kind of "lingo". is indeed in use, but it is much different from Alex's example, which was something like I like to died of embarrassment. The latter example is another of those Southern regionalisms and means to come close to, or almost do something. It is very commonly used, especially in the rural areas. Since you know French, it will be easy for you to see the similarity in the figurative use of the French verb "faillir", which literally means to fail, but can be used in the sense of "almost" doing something. For example: Il a falli tomber. He almost fell. He "failed" to fall. That is he did everything but fall. He came close but didn't make it to the falling point. Or in Southern dialect: He like to fell. Or Il a falli devenir professeur de fran‡ais. (He almost became a French teacher.) This means he didn't quite make it, but we don't know whether or not it was fault, whether he "failed" in the literal sense or whether he just decided to go to Med School. Jack

To: Wizzer who wrote (1071)	4/5/1998 2:34:00 PM
From: Paul Viapiano	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4710

<<Incidentally, if I ever use slang or use a word to describe something it does not normally describe, I put it in quotations. Occassionally, when I'm making a pun or insert a sarcastic word, I put quotations also. Do people find this acceptable?>> Wisam...I like to do this, too. It really helps get the correct message across when you're using email or threads. The absence of body language and facial expressions makes it especially hard to decipher what may be a sarcastic or particularly dry remark. Paul BTW, you spelled "occasionally" wrong...only one s. Sorry.....