Re: OPINION: Dissin'? Arrgg!

[lori m long <llong -at- UNM -dot- EDU>]

On Thu, 9 Mar 1995, Beverly Parks wrote:

> Someone had this line in a recent posting on a different subject:

> > ...don't think I'm "dissin'" y'all please).

> I don't like the term "dissin'." I'm not even sure what it
> means. But I'm sure the word it is meant to replace is a
> very good, established English word. One that the majority of
> the English-speaking world would understand. Unlike some
> new-fangled connection of letters that just sounds like someone
> never learned how to talk.

"Dissin'" means showing disrespect (as far as I know . . . )  So I
believe the word you're searching for is "disrespectful."

> Maybe I need to watch more MTV. Maybe MTV is the Learning
> Channel of the future.

I hope not!  I can't afford Cable! ;)

I guess it all depends on how formal you expect folks to be on this
forum.  I read an article called "Us Grammarians" (can't find it to be
more specific -- Sorry!) in which the author said "Is functionality a
word?" and answered himself by saying that Descriptive Grammarians would
say, "If it wasn't, it is now!"  Languages grow and change rather
rapidly.  Although I would not use "dissin'" myself, it could be a
commonly used word someday in the future (not supporting it, just stating
the possiblity . . . ).

Are you saying you would prefer that the individuals on the forum not use
colloquiallisms, even for the sake of style or humor?


L. Long <smiling meekly>