Shawn had to take a break from wrecking his brains for a publishable read.
I've been wondering for quite some time, how it is that the English language is so fixed, yet so beautifully fluid. Before you go wondering why Shawn's going wax philosophical on the subject of English, sit back and reflect on the times where you have thought a finite amount of synonyms are assigned to an adjective, only to discover that one more that you have previously so blatantly overlooked.
I've always loved the language and the ambiguity that comes with it. The ability to mold and form sentences. The power of the written word. How the pen is sharper than the sword. How a play of words can steer a topic in a completely different direction. How words can be deliciously minced, but hated nonetheless. How the emphasis on certain syllables could spell the difference between sincerity and sarcasm.
Some idioms make no linguistic sense, but how we love them nevertheless.
Expect the unexpected, doesn't that contradict itself?
Misconceptions and misunderstandings, led on to becoming the norm because everyone is equally confused.
Irregardless (if there's such a word) - does it not negate itself?
The dictionary is full of amazing words that are hardly used. And the beauty of those words will be lost soon if they are not used more. The dictionary is expanding with each passing year. Words such as internet, cyber, and WYSIWYG have found their way into the hallowed pages. Yet seldom used words such as ubique, ecbatic, and salacious are being lost to the influx of new words.
I have an abstract from 1980s British sitcom Blackadder that demonstrates the importance of knowing our words so as not to be lost should the word arise. This is taken from the episode "Ink and Incapability" and is a conversation between Edmund Blackadder, Prince George, and Dr Johnson, who has just finished compiling the first ever dictionary.
E denotes Edmund Blackadder
G denotes Prince George
J denotes Dr Johnson
J: (places two manuscripts on the table, but picks up the top one)
Here it is, sir: the very cornerstone of English scholarship. This book,
sir, contains every word in our beloved language.
G: Hmm.
E: Every single one, sir?
J: (confidently) Every single word, sir!
E: (to Prince) Oh, well, in that case, sir, I hope you will not object if
I also offer the Doctor my most enthusiastic contrafribblarities.
J: What?
E: `Contrafribblarites', sir? It is a common word down our way.
J: Damn! (writes in the book)
E: Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I'm anus-peptic, phrasmotic, even compunctious to have
caused you such pericombobulation.
J: What? What? WHAT?
G: What are you on about, Blackadder? This is all beginning to sound a bit
like dago talk to me.
E: I'm sorry, sir. I merely wished to congratulate the Doctor on not having
left out a single word. (J sneers) Shall I fetch the tea, Your Highness?
G: Yes, yes -- and get that damned fire up here, will you?
E: Certainly, sir. I shall return interphrastically. (exits) (J writes some
more)
Let me end by stating that people might see language as a "dead" subject, but if you explore it deeply enough, there are much more possibilities to unfold.
*Apologies for the extremely microscopic font size used for the script abstract. Squint if you must, but the rewards are no doubt immense! LOL!
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