Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Unfriend – Toward – Towards – Flammable – Inflammable – Duh!

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Today’s Blog Post
Unfriend – Toward – Towards – Flammable – Inflammable – Duh!

At one point in my life I had the joy of leading “Conversational English Classes” while living in Hong Kong. It was one of the most delightful times in my stay in that beautiful part of the country. It was also the most fun as we tried to relate to the folk the wonders of our weird English Language.

The fun of English is that it is always changing with new additions and constructions that come from seemingly no where.

Cantonese as a language has no written language – making it a challenge to learn. English on the other hand has a written language but is easily added to each year….making it a challenge to learn.

In my life in the past two years I have added “Facebook”, Blogspot, Blogs, Twitter, and Goggle… but that was added to eMail, and Snailmail and VLoging and YouTube and WinZip and AVG and Norton AV and motherboard and video card and RAM and USB and Port and mouse pad…

Recently the new non-word that is now a popular word growing each day… “unfriend”. When I heard it first and then listened to its usage – I needed this word a long time ago. I was doing it and not knowing what to call it accurately.

I was using the word “nuke” or “nuking” or “nuked” in place of it. But “unfriend” is definitely more 2009 – not so 1945 through to the 1960s when “nuking” someone was more fun… or more common.

Nuke, Nuking, and Nuked is a horrible way that got some nasty friends in Japan – attention. Two huge bombs were dropped on two places in Japan and that got their attention. We “unfriended” them quickly.

To “unfriend” some one happens first on Facebook. You simply nuke them from your list of friends. I have done it a few times with some idiots that post really stupid things without any thought about who might read it, thinking it was funny – but rather it was just plain stupid.

At the base of this Blog people will write comments for others to read – making points about what I post. In the last few days I have had to “unfriend” some “Call Girls” that were selling their stuff…by reading what I said… then commenting on it – with a Link to their Porn Sites. Oh Boy – would my “righteous ninnies” love that one.

I have “unfriended” some others that have acted like anything but a friend. So with one little click – I “unfriended” them to Unfriend Land – where all the people that are unfriendly live.

But our language didn’t stop there. When we give directions the word pops up that gives me some small concern… which is right? And why is it that way.

“If you want to get to that Mall you drive towards the west side of the city. Once you get closer to the large park you drive toward the large tower and the street that is near its base. Then turn right.”

Now why do I use two words that make perfect sense – yet are different. “Toward” and “Towards”…? Isn’t it the same? Consider my poor Chinese students that are struggling to get it right. Yikes!

Now if I look at the label on the red canister it plainly states that the content is “Inflammable” – in my mind meaning that it will be guaranteed not to burn. But it actually means the extreme opposite.

Now add some more words that are used like… tags such as “innit”, “right”, “yeah”, “okay” and “you know”.

Or you can look at "blah, blah, blah,'' which used to mean
"etc., etc.'' or "duh,'' which used to mean "You can't think I'm THAT stupid!

But you can add another to the list that simple says it all “DOH!” Which is something that I say when I drop something valuable or drop my glove in the slushy and dirty snow….

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda… you get the drift… right? Come on baby – get with the flow dude… do you have gear stripped? Or is it just a lose nut or a broken circuit daddy-oh?

I have had years of experiencing new lingo and then new stuff starts to flood the arena of my mind. Ouch!

Try…
"totally", "so totally", "Totes" – all meaning “very”

Why not try…
"She was like 'oh my gawd you have to see this', but I was like, 'shut up! you're kidding!'"

Or simply put “OMG!” when you are texting… on your Cell Phone!

Or…
"Oh, why, that came out of nowhere!"
"Haven't I heard that before?" "Duh, it's like a famous quote!"
"You are wrong", "It's not going to happen", "You wish"
"You expect me to wear that? As if!"
"What-ever!"
"You're, like, so totally out of nail polish? What-EVER!"
"Worst (something) ever!"
"Worst. Movie. Ever (sometimes written as "evar")!"
"so", "like", "OK", "you know", "or something"
"So OK, I was totally like, you know, 'I have no idea' or something!"
“He goes… ‘Like Right’ She goes… ‘Whatever!’ He goes… ‘Or something!”

"Barf me out!" ("That's disgusting.")
"Fer sure." ("Definitely.")
"Totally." ("Yes." or "Definitely." or "Very much.")
"Gag me with a spoon"


I hope you have a totally awesome day!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://nadaword.blogspot.com/2009/11/unfriend.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valspeak

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