Linguistic Pet Peeves

Imperative mood. The subject "you" is implied.

Imperative? Are you drunk?regards,
Esteban Hambre

No, just stupid.

Rrhain responds to me:

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So whether "bring" or "take" is right in this instance is dependent upon the point of view. Are you going away or going toward?

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Yep, now I see your point. My example wasn't a good one and I'm having a devil of a time trying to remember the relevant rule, so I'll try again:Let's bring Junior to the park.Thus the point of reference is now the park and the construction makes obvious that we are not ourselves currently at the park. We must therefore take, not bring, Junior with us, no?If we change this to use a transitive as in your cole slaw example (I guess that would be "We'll bring Junior to the park") it still sounds wrong.

If you wanted to go to the park, or were going anyway, then you "bring Junior." If you don't want to go to the park, or have no reason to go except to convey Junior there, then you "take Junior." Seems to me that's how it works, anyway. That's certainly the connotation those phrases have to me.

randylsu writes:

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...we also have some odd idioms that are literal translations from the French equivalent. One of these results in our "getting down" (from descendre) from a car instead of "getting out". We also "save" dishes instead of putting them away, and New Orleanians "make" groceries instead of shopping for them.

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Yes, and the one that sticks in my memory is "come see" instead of "come here". I lived down there for a couple years back in the 70s and I don't think I ever heard anyone say "come here".

crashfrog writes:

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If you wanted to go to the park, or were going anyway, then you "bring Junior." If you don't want to go to the park, or have no reason to go except to convey Junior there, then you "take Junior."

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So your saying it's a question of motive and not point of reference? You may be right.

You are thanked, MrHambre. 'Passive voice' has been looked up by me and it's now understood what you mean. The construction is being tried out extensively and the clumsiness is shown clearly. Something new is learned everyday.

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

I have been made glad by this.regards,
Hambre Esteban

Welcome! I was stationed in New Orleans for a few years in the late 70's and I remember well some of the oddities. Being from the midwest, it took a while for me to adjust.My first experience was when I ordered a sandwich and they wanted to know if I wanted it dressed or undressed. Big adjustment.

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A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Okay - here are a couple of my peeves.In this country at least, people are almost universally saying bought when they mean brought. So don't be too suprised if you hear someone say "I bought my daughter" if you are around these parts.Also, and I may be imagining this, but the continuing effacement of elements of dialect (in effect, all UK) English by American English is very rapid and a bit scary. I attribute many subtle and not so subtle changes in UK usage and pronunciation to the vast amount of American language that we hear in cinemas, on television and so on. For instance, the band Pearl Jam, which used to be pronounced that way by my peers has now become Pearljam, which I take to be an MTV influence."Like" for "s/he said" is another obvious one.There are others, but I can't think of them right now.

Tusko, We must move in different circles (speaking as a London boy), I've never heard of that one except as a simple error.Mark

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There are 10 kinds of people in this world; those that understand binary, & those that don't

Wow, how'd I forget "come see" (from venez voir)? I think that there are enough tranplants here in Dallas that people are just used to it now.Actually that brings up a pet peave of mine, although it may be an unfounded one; "used of" instead of "used to" to mean "accustomed to." Is that prevalent in other regions or is it only a Southern thing?

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"Like" for "s/he said" is another obvious one.

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Around here it is "goes" for said.She goes instead of she said.My Dad used to tell me (when he was breaking me of that awful habit) that cows go moo and cats go meow, but people say...

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A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

I'm a london boy too... are you sure you don't hear it? Keep your ears open. Perhaps I've been wrong all these years; perhaps I've been tilting at windmills. Bugger.