Are you a descriptivist or prescriptivist writer. Ignore 1st post.

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   seanorjohnposted 13 years ago

   Abide by the rules        or anything goes.

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   ediggityposted 13 years ago

   Yes.

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      seanorjohnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Ediggity, thank you for your considered reply. It takes great courage to lay yourself bare in this way. So, your answer is "yes." I have just read through your hubs and I think I know your mind. Your hubs on "extended warranties on cars" and "make money wasting time", give me an insight into how you arrived at this conclusion. Did you study philosophy at University, or are you self taught?
      
      Thank you again for responding. I bet you are the only one brave enough to answer this question.

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         ediggityposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Exactly.

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   Eaglekiwiposted 13 years ago

   
   
   Psst..Im not sure what my style is ,and I opologise ahead of time ,because Im not even sure what this post is about -but it seemed fun ,and I guess I wanted to listen in and include my 2cents worth

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      ediggityposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I don't either, I just figured I would try to get the ball rolling for him.

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         seanorjohnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         It's like when Humty Dumpty said to Alice "of course you don't know what I mean, a word can mean anything I want it to mean." That's a desriptivist approach. Anything goes. ( some say democratic - some say chaos)
         
         Alice thought that we should all agree on the meaning. That is a prescriptivist approach. Abide by rules. ( some say elitist - some say sensible.)

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            Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Ok ,ok gotcha ( she mumbles, unconvincingly) no ,serioulsly I do.
            
            Humpty was talking to who? (see I never knew that) and I read alot of childrens books, gosh for awhile there I even wanted to write one!)
            
            
            Anways shoots hand in the air and shouts:
            
            No Rules ,and eating is permitted whereever and whenever you want too!

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               seanorjohnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Sorry, humpty dumpty was talking to Alice and used a word she had never heard before. When Alice replied " I don't know what that word means" humpty Dumpty said " of course you don't I haven't yet told you what it means." he then said " a word can mean anything I want it to mean, nothing more and nothing less." ( that's a descriptivist)
               
               A presriptivist insists we should all abide by rules of grammar spelling and meaning.

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                  Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Ok ,great I didnt know that .

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                     Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     (I think I'm both then ,a prescriptivist and also descriptivist)..or can be..

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                        seanorjohnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Excellent answer. This is the post modern way of dealing with this intractable problem.

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         seanorjohnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks ediggity, you did get the ball rolling and I hope you realise that I always speak in jest. Never intentionally offend. Looked back and cringed at my response. Some people take my remarks the wrong way. They tend to be prescriptivists.

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   Rochelle Frankposted 13 years ago

   Not sure. I sometimes describe things.  How do I tell? Do I need to know?
   (There is a very good hubber named Pharmacist who fills prescriptions, and also a few who are real doctors who probably prescribe.)
   How do I ignore the first post if I didn't see it.?

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      seanorjohnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Rochelle, you do need to know.Your life may depend on it.
      
      You speak of pharmacists and doctors.... a great example. Imagine a prescription made out that says take 3 spoonfuls of this a day. Typically sloppy descriptivist writing. You could be overdosing on dessert spoonfuls when you should be taking tea spoonfuls.
      
      I managed to erase the first post cos it was too descriptivist.

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         Rochelle Frankposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, you are entirely right-- it should have said "spoonsful" instead of "spoonfuls.

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   Eaglekiwiposted 13 years ago

   Communication can be silent ,or it can be loud.
   Sometimes colour and sound will also project a statement,or murmur ,but it can and does communicate.
   
   Words are like food to the brain.
   
   Some days I seem to eat alot,other days barely any.
   
   Words to build up ,or tear down.
   
   Imagine one hour with not single word written,read or heard?
   
   Difficult.

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      seanorjohnposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      A descriptivist would marvel and cherish each and every word of your prose.

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         Eaglekiwiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ahh..but would he click on the adverts and create an income for me j/k

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