language

Twitter and Trees Felled in the Woods

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There have been several stories in the news about companies “listening in” on the Twitter feed for people struggling with their products, and providing personal support. A reactive Squeaky Wheel policy that can preempt possible public bad mouthing before it happens. (Or truncate it soon after it begins.) Since those examples, I’ve made a point … Read more

Adjectivisitude

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An impressively adjective-laden sentence: Some say that some of Scarlett’s plotting and scheming aspects might have been drawn from Martha Bulloch Roosevelt’s beautiful and vivacious, independently wealthy and grandparent-spoiled, rebellious and attention-seeking granddaughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Thanks to Wikipedia’s Scarlet O’Hara entry. And the phrase “some say that some”, to boot!

My Googlegänger: Prince Charming

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So, I was reading this blogicle by an acquaintance of mine from college. He sometimes is used as a talking-head expert in the media. He has a Google Alert set for his name so he can see when and where he is talked about or quoted. He was giving a lecture in Amsterdam, and right … Read more

pet peve: the death of adverb

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Monday’s horoscope. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Most social blunders start with the ego. Of course, you’re wonderful, and it is awful hard to keep quiet about such things. Cultivate a confident place in the world. Trust that others can sense who you are without your telling them. Did you see it? Prob’ly not, but I … Read more

Texas Talk

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“I got drunk,… as a skunk… because it rhymed.” – Drunkard’s Lullaby, The Minus Five

Studing the lingo that is Texas English, aka TXE. I thought it interesting that newcomers were particularly quick in picking it up.

The by-line is dated coincident with the start of the major ass whoopin’ that was put upon the Aggies this year. If it wasn’t for two Texas fumbles, it would have been 46-3. “Poooor Aggies”.


Scholars of Twang Track All the ‘Y’Alls’ in Texas

Fri Nov 28, 2:34 PM ET
By RALPH BLUMENTHAL The New York Times

COLLEGE STATION, Tex. “Are yew jus’ tryin’ to git me to talk, is that the ah-deah?”

That was the idea. John O. Greer, an architecture teacher at Texas A&M University, sat at his dining table between two interrogators and their tape recorder. They had precisely 258 questions for him. But it waddn what he said that interested them most. It was how he said it.

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