Re[2]: [tied] Missing Singulars

At 5:24:17 PM on Friday, December 19, 2008, Andrew Jarrette
wrote:

> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Brian M. Scott"
> <BMScott@...> wrote:

>> At 3:40:00 PM on Friday, December 19, 2008, Andrew
>> Jarrette wrote:

>> [...]

>>> Well, we live in free societies with freedom of speech,
>>> so people can speak any way they want, including saying
>>> "irregardless" or "I could care less".  I think Piotr is
>>> referring to correct English usage, and in this respect
>>> I agree with what he has said.

>> *Whose* correct English usage? To take one of your
>> examples, 'I could care less' is undoubtedly correct English
>> usage for a great many people, probably a majority of U.S.
>> speakers, silly as it may sound to some of us.

> By your argument we are all correct whatever we say, even
> if logically it doesn't make sense.

I implied no such thing. I merely pointed out that as a
matter of empirical fact 'I could care less' is today an
acceptable idiom expressing indifference.

> You lean towards the "anything goes" descriptive attitude,
> while I lean to the prescriptive ideal.

Of course I speak in descriptive terms when I'm describing
English as she is spoke!

> I suppose as long as one can understand it, then you
> regard it as acceptable English.

No. First, acceptability, like appropriateness, is a
function of context and speech community; there is no
universally acceptable variety of English. Secondly,
something can be readily understandable by native speakers
without being acceptable to them, and something can be
normal in a given context despite being incomprehensible to
many outsiders.

> Well, I was using the phrase "in English one says", and I
> usually understand that to mean what is considered proper,
> not fashionable or popular.

Considered proper by whom, and in what context(s)? A's
proper English is B's putting on airs and C's slightly
vulgar sloppiness.

Brian