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Grammar Nazis Continue To Blast Apple
from the think-different-in-the-funnest-way-possible dept
A few years ago, when Apple was running its "Think Different" campaign, various grammar nazis complained that it was promoting a grammatically incorrect slogan. Others suggested that it was actually okay, as "different" isn't intended as an adverb in the slogan. However, with Apple's latest iPod launch, the grammar nazis are back, complaining about Apple's use of the (non)word "funnest." I recognize that these things matter to the grammatically infatuated out there, but we're talking about a marketing campaign -- and part of the point of such a marketing campaign is to stand out by being different. The English language has always adapted and changed over time, and that includes changes that came about due to marketing campaigns.
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Reader Comments (rss)
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Oh, "Got nuttin better to do with your time?"
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Re:
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Also, there is nothing grammatically incorrect with "Got Milk?"
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Apple grammar
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Its a slippery slope..
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I cringe ever time I hear "you've got..." in a conversation. It's the adaptation into casual language that makes people sound ignorant.
Funnest: this is just a joke to sound cute.
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Ain't That The Applest...
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As usual...
On the one hand, we kicked England's ass in two wars. That earned us the right to treat the English language as our collective bitch.
On the other, asshats really should stop speaking/writing differently than the rest of us in an effort to sound cool. While they're at it, they should get off my lawn too. Damn kids.
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It's still better than...
"Where you at?" - Boost Mobile
"I'm lovin' it" - McDonalds
Just a couple examples...
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I can...
Indeed, languages evolve... otherwise it'd be a dead language.
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Re: I can...
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Re: Apple grammar
Yeah, because it's not like we've ever, ever complained about Apple moves... Oh wait...
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080916/0226122280.shtml
http://www.techdirt.com/artic les/20080914/2249062264.shtml
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080905/1631352184.shtml
http://ww w.techdirt.com/articles/20080819/1342382032.shtml
And that's just in the last month alone.
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Re: Re: I can...
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Re: Re: I can...
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Next is What?
says, "Next Is What?" it drives me nuts
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Grammar is dead
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mo betta
boycottmcdonalds dot com
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http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/2/4/
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Nazi?
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Linguistic Darwinism
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Re:
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Re: It's still better than...
"Where you at?" - Boost Mobile
"I'm lovin' it" - McDonalds"
Those are in Ebonics.
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They set the tone long ago
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Re: They set the tone long ago
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I thought this was a fun article. (Misuse intentional)
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Re:
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Re: mo betta
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Re:
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rules
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Chinese Deaths
The Chinese do complain about the Japanese atrocities committed during their occupation of China.
And, they complain loudly and frequently.
It is the "western" press that ignores the issue.
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For some reason my trigger is people using "loose" when they should be using "lose". Drives me up a flippin' wall, and I don't know why. I want to reach through the computer screen, grab the offending party by the scruff of the neck and scream, "IT'S LOSE!!!! LOSE!!!!!!!!!"
I need an intervention.
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Re: As usual...
You should get a history lesson, the US didn't kick ass in either war, it just survived. The British army burned the White House in the 1812-14 war and had the continent covered north, south, and east in the Atlantic. The British controlled the continent but couldn't do anything with it. Similar to the US wars in Vietnam and Iraq. In a paralell comparison, when the US troops pull out of Iraq, you would have to say that Iraq "kicked the US's ass".
You earned no rights and are just one part of the world that was at one time dominated by the British empire. You merely speak a deviation of the English language, same as an Australian, same as a Jamacian, and same as the black kids in California who speak Ebonics.
On topic, languages grow and change, but bad grammar is still bad grammar. Is using bad grammar in a phrase any less annoying than listening to someone speaking Ebonics?
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I hoped uno of them readed this and head explodered.
*middle finger*
Now with that being said, just buy a Zune. :)
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Re: Grammar has not place in poetry, etc.
Your example of "Got Milk?" is interesting. There are a number of ways this could be stated: "Do you have milk?", "Have you got milk?", even "Have you any milk?". I don't know if there has ever been a time and place in which none of these have sounded ungrammatical or archaic.
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I don't see the problem...
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Re: Re: As usual...
One should not write comments and then change them while being distracted.
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What about AOL?
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It would be like an apparently homeless person - old, dirty clothes, unkempt hair, body odor - tries to convince you of some philosophical point: he might be a genius, but you're probably not going to take the time to listen. You'll just assume he's crazy and move on. People who don't bother with the rules of spelling appear that way online.
(Obviously, this discounts the occasional typo. Nobody's perfect.)
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Grammar Nazis
VOTE McCain 2008 - becuase its his turn dammit!
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Re:
You mean like Jesus?
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Hey Grammar Nazis
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Re: What about AOL?
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Stop mutilating the King's English!!
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I aint need no vocab trainin!
It's possible that one could infer an English major would remain interested in linguistic discourse analysis for hours, yet interest in a typical "thought experiment" (Also referred to as Gedankenexperiment) may be closer to nil.
From an economic perspective, an organization that adheres to linguistic discourse analysis as a cornerstone eventually may succumb to a condition of "Grasping at Straws" where Grammar Police Skills may become an irritant to others, and prevent innovation to occur.
Yet, things get tricky when adding in a psychological side of the coin. Understanding that a said "Grammar Police" person may feel somewhat inadequate due to their inability of being able to partake in said "Thought Synthesis" exercises, and therefore wants to contribute value in a way which they know: this usually is in the form of applying skillfully woven grammar. Goals should not to enable it to become an HR issue of it as that makes it difficult for all.
So while based with theories of possible inadequacy, or inability to participate, the best reaction to exhibit to a person exhibiting "Grammar Police" behaviors, is avoid what could become an emotional conflict and apply this incredibly effective literary device:
"Oops! Your Right! Thanks!"
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One Word
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An interesting topic
(For the record, whoever said that the US kicked England's ass in two wars is sadly misinformed. I'm guessing that the second war you're referring to is the War of 1812, during which the Brits burned the Capitol. If there was a different one, I'd be glad to learn about it.)
For the actual discussion about lingustics, as a Grammar Nazi myself, I'd like to point out that A) written and spoken language are NOT the same, and B) even the rules for "correct" language are always changing. ALL languages are constantly evolving, hence the many, many editions of dictionaries and style manuals. These "rulebooks" NEED frequent updates to reflect how the language changes; it's the language that determines the rules, not vice versa.
Written language misses the context and expression that adds meaning to spoken word - hence the need for rules to help consolidate meaning. Putting a comma in the wrong place (or omitting it) can entirely reverse the meaning of a written sentence. It's much less common for people to be confused if you pause at the wrong place while speaking. Hence, something that's grammatically incorrect - "Got Milk?", "Think Different," or "Where you at?" - is perfectly comprehensible SPOKEN English, and it attracts attention because it's breaking rules of WRITTEN english. "Think Different" is a long shot from Walt Whitman, but a new way of saying something is well rewarded if you've got the right audience. If everyone accepts "funnest" as a normal word, then there would be no reason for Macintosh to use it.
Certain words and usage attain connotation. People tend to gravitate toward the way a language is spoken by the more elite economic or social classes or groups that are seen as authorities on a subject - for example, ever notice that the English language contains a lot of French words that refer to food? Also, cultural groups take on dialectic differences... think "y'all" or "ain't." Certainly these words are parts of our language, i.e., everyone understands what they mean, and eventually words like this show up in dictionaries as colloquialisms or jargon. What's more, they may become accepted dialectic differences - just like our American versions of the British words "colour," "flavour," or "aluminium." (AluminIum came first; it's sloppy Americans who started calling it "aluminum." The "wrong" way won out, and today most people never think about it!)
The factors for language change are many, and often arbitrary. Rules simply help us agree on ways to avoid miscommunication and keep from sounding like an idiot who didn't pay attention in school. But keep in mind that Grammar Nazis disagree with each other, too... almost as often as they disagree with Apple!
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I would say that "Think Different" accomplished that goal.
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Re: mo betta
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Re: As usual...
Im not sure "kicked ass" is the right decsription, we really more irritated them until they left.
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PC 'English'
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Re: mo betta
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Re:
I think Bill Walsh would disagree with you on the last two points. Although it is rather odd that you consider poetry in the same vein as headlines and copy writing.
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Just make sure you don't run out of bullets.
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Re: Re: What about AOL?
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Re:
Marketing = Lies.
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Re: Nazi?
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Re: Re:
But for a moment, let us assume that Jesus was a filthy dirty hippie, as you suggest. I believe I did say that it was possible that the apparently homeless person was a genius, but the most common reaction to that genius was to ignore him before one had a chance to grasp his intelligence. Considering that Jesus was beaten, stoned, and crucified, it would appear that he wasn't taken seriously be the power-that-be of the time either.
So your argument (and I use that term liberally) is silly.
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Re: mo betta
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Re: Re: Re: What about AOL?
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