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RE: I had say it because I was afraid no one else would.
Subject:RE: I had say it because I was afraid no one else would. From:"Downing, David" <DavidDowning -at- users -dot- com> To:<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Tue, 3 Feb 2009 08:34:03 -0600
From: "Sarah Stegall" <sstegall -at- bivio -dot- net>
Subject: RE: I had say it because I was afraid no one else would.
The English language does not belong to one company, it
belongs to all of us. No one person or body of persons has the right to
arbitrarily re-define words, make up words, or change words. Nothing,
and I mean NOTHING that I have encountered in more than a dozen years in
this business pisses me off more than the arrogance of marketing
departments that freely and obliviously play hob with a thousand year
old
language--of which they are, largely, ignorant.
------------------------------
I don't know that it's a matter of anybody trying to *own* the English
language, but rather to *augment* it to suit their needs. As others have
said, this is a common, ongoing practice
However, I would make the distinction between augmenting it and
corrupting it because you don't know how to use it properly. I agree
with everyone who hates to see improper use of the language become
acceptable because everybody does it.
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