Category Archives: language

internal coherency

Posted on Saturday, 2004 January 10 by Anton

Mike Lorrey reports: . . . the Vermont town of Killington, VT is considering the possibility of seceding from Vermont . . . Well that’s a relief. If the Michigan town of Killington, VT were to debate seceding from Arizona, that would be silly.

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metaphors are tricky

Posted on Sunday, 2004 January 04 by Anton

puzzling choice of words: It wasn’t long ago that Apple was considered an also-ran, a niche company with Golden Delicious products but Granny Smith sales. Golden Delicious is one of the blandest apples, so I wouldn’t be surprised to learn … Continue reading →

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other media

Posted on Monday, 2003 December 01 by Anton

This morning I watched a five-way conversation in sign language, in which two of the participants were blind: the blind ‘listener’ rests a hand loosely around one of the speaker’s hands. I was surprised at how little touch was apparently … Continue reading →

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crank grammar

Posted on Thursday, 2003 November 27 by Anton

I often hear it argued (usually by tax cranks) that where the law says something like As used herein, the term “United States” includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other territories and possessions it means that the law … Continue reading →

Posted in constitution, language | 1 Comment

kana

Posted on Sunday, 2003 November 23 by Anton

At a restaurant, I was briefly puzzled by an advertising card that read ルービロポッサ ruubiropossa?? No, sapporobiiru!

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who else would tell you?

Posted on Wednesday, 2003 November 19 by Anton

The Head Heeb: The Sovereign Democratic Republic of Pitcairn. The most astonishing detail of this item is a correct use of the phrase eked out. (Cited, on other grounds, by Chris Brooke (The Virtual Stoa).)

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and that’s on the up and up

Posted on Tuesday, 2003 November 18 by Anton

Geoffrey Nunberg: we understand each other worse, and it matters less, than any of us suppose. [Which goes well with this item.] This item was found by Jim Bisso (Uncle Jazzbeau) and discussed at more length by and with Languagehat. … Continue reading →

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