Merriam-Webster has thrown in the towel and now says the word literally now means virtually or figuratively. So I could say Merriam-Webster has literally thrown in the towel, and not mean that the dictionary suddenly grew a pair of arms, threw a fluffy Turkish towel on the floor and stood dripping. (Image courtesy Michelle Louring)… Continue reading Literally now means figuratively
Category: Language & writing
Indian Hinglish, language quirks, new writing…
Stuff the grammar, enjoy the magic
Once again, after a break of three months, a fresh resolve to keep this blog going. And what easier way than to start by posting an interesting link? Here Stephen Fry takes on grammar Nazis in an utterly delightful talk (and in that, oh so dulcet, accent). “Stephen Fry Takes A Firm Stance On Grammar.… Continue reading Stuff the grammar, enjoy the magic
Word of the year
I am a big one for lists – I love making to-do lists (but necessarily the doing!) but rarely set goals. All along, I have been taking work as it comes without making ambitious and aggressive plans. No longer (I hope). 2012 is the year of the ambitious plans. So as a first step, I… Continue reading Word of the year
Have a happy head bath!
I recently heard someone explain her Sunday morning ritual; I had a head bath (= washed my hair), she said. Now how long has it been since I heard that phrase? It made me think of other such phrases, unique to (South) Indian English that I used to hear all around me but make me… Continue reading Have a happy head bath!
Where are articles?
A friend had this status update recently on facebook – “Amazing how “online” has killed the phrase “on the line”. Even answering machines now say “please stay on line”. The Wren & Martin in me shudders to hear such things.” No, it is not about online and not online. It is about articles slowly exiting… Continue reading Where are articles?
Thinking colors in tamil
Not that one, that is orange, I wanted the peach one, I told my husband. He gave me that look which meant, I thought peach was a fruit, not a color (I have heard that one before, you see). He has no idea that as a Tam who has grown up in Tam-land, my relationship… Continue reading Thinking colors in tamil
Engrish!
Came across these super-funny signboards on Point of reflection – and then went on to the original site – engrish. In just over ten minutes on the site, I have come across – Human Woman, Meet products, Breast Room, Today is under construction – thank you for your understanding. And some lengthy ones that defy… Continue reading Engrish!
My phonographic eye!
A great post on NY Times on how language makes everything official – the minute there is a word for it, any action or attitude becomes universally recognised and acceptable. Overly Wired? There’s a Word for It Was there gridlock before there were automobiles? Was there jet lag before there were airplanes? Who was the… Continue reading My phonographic eye!
Give me more jargon…
You know you are not suited for corporate life when: – your boss says, we have never faced that problem before. As a company, we have grown organically. And you think, like fungi?… – your colleague emails you on how a certain simple action needs to be a two way process with definite entry and… Continue reading Give me more jargon…
Musing on language…
Kaps from Sambharmafia has this poem which he has sent for a contest – this post is triggered by the discussion on that on his blog. The gist of his poem is ‘Tamilians have progressed far, while Tamil has been left behind’… I responded to this on his blog with a question – if the… Continue reading Musing on language…