Professional Grade ... D

[beck123]

*Ouch*

[Slava]

It's a little pun game we used to play on another site.

Pet + retard= petard.

I've seen better, beck. Actually, I haven't seen one this bad in a long time.

Ah, well at least I now understand how one can be "upon" one's 'petard.'

[beck123]

I think we can concatenate this Grammar forum nicely with the Rebel-Yankee forum by starting a thread entitled "Grammar & Granpaw"

[beck123]

I'm going to sleep now. It's late here in the Hookworm Belt, and I have a few wounds to nurse.

Good night, folks

[skinem]

I don't think anyone has died because of a grammatical error.

While not exactly a grammatical error, perhaps we could dig up some of the folks who couldn't say shibboleth correctly.

Eeww! I'd rather not, thanks...

...although at this point it shouldn't be bad...

[saparris]

If a shibboleth, by one definition, is a commonplace word or phrase that can identify one's cultural identity , then it's somewhat synonymous with an old saw, which can kill you--especially if it's a rusty old saw.

[LukeJavan8]

Here here! Your absolutely rite, Beck. An its a dam shame, to. Language at it's worst



Somewhere else I already noted, there's a road sign using the local word for you-plural, spelled "ya'al" ...on both sides of the sign.

I noticed one particular Whole Foods sign actually read "10 items or fewer", and noted my approval to the cashier. She looked at me like I was an ink stain.

I still blame Miller Beer for if not originating, at least exacerbating the misuse of less and fewer.

Did you ask for a "half dozen" and she said they only
have 3,6,9,or 12 of anything, like the story that
floats everywhere today??

[LukeJavan8]

If a shibboleth, by one definition, is a commonplace word or phrase that can identify one's cultural identity , then it's somewhat synonymous with an old saw, which can kill you--especially if it's a rusty old saw.

Like "y'all" in caroliner? What is your particular
shibboleth? That might be an interesting topic.

[sluggo]

... perhaps we could dig up some of the folks who couldn't say shibboleth correctly.

Dig this guy...

(edit: formatting error corrected)

[LukeJavan8]

You got him on that one!
Good one!

[saparris]

... perhaps we could dig up some of the folks who couldn't say shibboleth correctly.

I didn't say this. I think Slava did. As for Southern shibboleths, we have more that you can count.

[beck123]

I think the traditional meaning of "shibboleth" went beyond word or phrase, to include such things as images and objects, as well. The fish symbol, for example, was used as a shibboleth for early Christians and has been, er, resurrected as a shibbolethic bumper sticker in the last few decades.

I have always had the sense that it was a bit secretive, as well. A frat boy displays his Greek letters, which to my thinking are not a shibboleth. There are shibboleths for the fraternity, as well, and they are not made public.

[saparris]

I think the traditional meaning of "shibboleth" went beyond word or phrase, to include such things as images and objects, as well.

You're right, but I don't like pick-up trucks and Confederate flags, so I'll stick with Southern expressions and drawls as shibboleths.

[beck123]

I took too long to edit my post...

[beck123]

Are you familiar with the folks on Tangier Island in the Chesapeake? In a sense, they use their entire language as a shibboleth, invoking the secretive sense of the word.