tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13360846631635738742024-02-20T00:51:10.876+00:00Canny LinguistCanny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-507281582595014872015-10-31T11:57:00.001+00:002015-11-01T00:43:28.041+00:00Jeremy C...Hunt<div style="text-align: center;">
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This clip was recorded from Sky News at 11.35pm on 30th October 2015 at the start of the newspaper review section.<br />
<br />
The newscaster is not the first person who has made this slip trying to say the name "Jeremy Hunt"<br />
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Apologies for the poor sound quality, but the clip was recorded on a mobile phone.<br />
<br />Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-17559760131602871872015-08-23T21:13:00.003+01:002015-08-23T21:14:53.635+01:00Sloppy Journalism<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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A recent article in the <b><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/bank-accounts/11798573/The-pitfall-lurking-in-your-online-banking-that-sets-up-strangers-as-approved-payees.html" target="_blank">Daily Telegraph</a></b> on the subject of
online banking payments included the following sentence:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJM00MkJz3z5UOJ8-HUHcHly7yaJjdjZnaol8CXnqAgvKFU6PDibvKurDjTriGjtoeN4qapmS0vIOHnvx2-xTVLybZ4KKm0avhAItUPbmA9C4n2KVtq3Z3Faf7RiE1t5sYbgx3aOBYuTI/s1600/Splash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJM00MkJz3z5UOJ8-HUHcHly7yaJjdjZnaol8CXnqAgvKFU6PDibvKurDjTriGjtoeN4qapmS0vIOHnvx2-xTVLybZ4KKm0avhAItUPbmA9C4n2KVtq3Z3Faf7RiE1t5sYbgx3aOBYuTI/s640/Splash.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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For this to be true, an individual would have to make more
than 1,643,835 transactions per day; equivalent to more than 68,493 per hour,
1,141 per minute or 19 per second.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Canny Linguist</i>
thinks this is highly improbable.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In the old days, newspapers would employ competent
sub-editors to correct such nonsense before publication.<br />
<br />
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Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-69720437527995390212015-02-06T13:52:00.001+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.741+01:00Bigots begone!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> 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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal">Conservative Education Secretary Nicky Morgan <a href="http://www.cannylinguist.co.uk/2015/02/a-sign-of-times_1.html" target="_blank">recently declared</a> a “war on illiteracy.” As if to demonstrate the need, the BBC today published a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31163189" target="_blank">Press Association photograph</a> of a placard being held by anti-UKIP protesters in Rotherham, the town in Yorkshire where, for years, the loony left has ignored the serial sexual abuse of young girls.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd1aZt0pxFu8VrFKz821PxoNSGVQzvqSZUQ1F3rR-b9-P8w7yfe15IgbHiJrKLpijlT9FDqVV55OZtZXEFYWkLMGXZRX6wsWeQqJjWcFxxK2Q3hnUWdrzO8E-i1FYAqcQk6kshLNjktgf/s1600/_80831480_faragerother.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgd1aZt0pxFu8VrFKz821PxoNSGVQzvqSZUQ1F3rR-b9-P8w7yfe15IgbHiJrKLpijlT9FDqVV55OZtZXEFYWkLMGXZRX6wsWeQqJjWcFxxK2Q3hnUWdrzO8E-i1FYAqcQk6kshLNjktgf/s1600/_80831480_faragerother.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">If you are going to accuse someone of bigotry, at least learn how to spell the word. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The purpose of the demonstration was to prevent Nigel Farage from making a public appearance. It is somewhat ironic that those who claim UKIP to be an intolerant political party are themselves intolerant of the right to free speech by anyone who dares to disagree with them; but that’s Socialism for you.<br /><br /></div>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-20541608471435131972015-02-01T19:06:00.002+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.757+01:00A sign of the times<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]-->The headline in today’s <a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Education/article1513958.ece" target="_blank">Sunday Times</a> reads “All children must learn times tables”. According to the article:<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: blue;"><i>Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, today unveils a “war on illiteracy and innumeracy”, warning that a future Tory government will remove head teachers who fail to ensure every pupil knows their times tables off by heart. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Prime Minster joined in the act by <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Cameron/status/561873986335027200" target="_blank">Tweeting</a>:</div> <br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Nicky Morgan is right to ensure all pupils leave primary school able to read, write & do times tables. Everyone deserves a chance in life.<br />— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Cameron/status/561873986335027200">February 1, 2015</a></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If there is to be a war on illiteracy, then perhaps those who should know better could start the campaign by referring to ‘multiplication tables’ and not ‘times tables’. You do not, as many people sadly believe, times one number by another. You multiply.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How many multiplications must people be told to speak proper?</div> <br /><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-58899747450886790552013-10-01T19:19:00.002+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.781+01:00For crimes against punctuation<i>Canny Linguist</i> does not condone violence, but it is perhaps understandable why political commentator Iain Dale decided to attack an anti nuclear demonstrator at the Labour Party conference in Brighton.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="450" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/X_3gcEm7CCc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It wasn’t, as widely reported, that Mr Dale was unhappy with the protestor’s attempt to disrupt a TV interview with Damien McLie. Rather, it was the misuse of the apostrophe on the dog’s placard which incurred his wrath. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKiuTDrw6mu_7eXe5dE6kwsTqCaWGgKHuGbRurK-dZVJDAHxRaiqnAgBkNObL6z7zwkD2GSYEF8N2KMBUloQ6F7EgF-v-00FoELyXddObmFJ0avM2ABcD_iAk67xq0eiozpY2b8dEsCvd/s1600/No+Nuke%27s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKiuTDrw6mu_7eXe5dE6kwsTqCaWGgKHuGbRurK-dZVJDAHxRaiqnAgBkNObL6z7zwkD2GSYEF8N2KMBUloQ6F7EgF-v-00FoELyXddObmFJ0avM2ABcD_iAk67xq0eiozpY2b8dEsCvd/s400/No+Nuke%27s.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-53290602940689405892013-09-09T13:19:00.002+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.790+01:00The existence of God proven?The Barnet Eye has published a blog entitled <a href="http://barneteye.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/blasphemy-special-right-to-free-speech.html" target="_blank">Blasphemy Special – the right to free speech</a>. It links to a Tweet published by renowned atheist Richard Dawkins.<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Help. I'm about to be jailed for making derogatory comments about the Flying Spaghetti Monster <a href="http://t.co/1Y2GpWJoov">http://t.co/1Y2GpWJoov</a><br />— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardDawkins/statuses/376982377316118528">September 9, 2013</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> This, in turn, links to an article on the <a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/4-bloggers-indicted/" target="_blank">Bangladeshi Daily Star website</a> which reports that four bloggers are facing long jail sentences in Dhaka for making allegedly blasphemous remarks. The article includes the following sentence, referring to one of the defendants:<br /><br /><i>“Asif was arrested on April 3 at an Uttara hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for fatal stab injuries he had sustained in an attack on January 14.”</i><br /><br />The fact that this man appears to have recovered from fatal injuries surely proves that the believers are right and Dawkins is wrong?<br /><br />Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-58140398170559269682013-09-08T21:37:00.002+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.806+01:00Sunday LunchSeen outside a hotel in Bournemouth recently. Click photo to enlarge.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9Sc6WNqXGOrvflrSoT_AKPHog8Sa8wGynTost-fpWxTxFHCPV3d61ckYwQGuZpJs6mGIDd07kEnEPXfDN4cAJMQ7JdyO2Z6sueIMWcQjiEvHlz1EyGFSG6Dhy7xtRcCBCJGL3ALYhRK-/s1600/Photo0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9Sc6WNqXGOrvflrSoT_AKPHog8Sa8wGynTost-fpWxTxFHCPV3d61ckYwQGuZpJs6mGIDd07kEnEPXfDN4cAJMQ7JdyO2Z6sueIMWcQjiEvHlz1EyGFSG6Dhy7xtRcCBCJGL3ALYhRK-/s320/Photo0052.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />When else would you expect to have Sunday lunch served, if not on Sundays?Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-90266609770035302192011-12-14T17:27:00.007+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.815+01:00Government Minister seeks to change the English Language<br /><span style="font-family: arial;">According to a report in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/12/pass-notes-justine-greening" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">The Grauniad</a>, the Department for Transport has issued a five page document offering grammatical advice for civil servants and MPs. Given that many of them are barely literate, this is long overdue. However, the quality of the advice proffered is open to question. For example, the guide states that the word ‘firstly’ should not appear anywhere other than the start of a sentence. The word ‘firstly’ should not appear at all! Rather, the word ‘first’ should be used.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The newspaper article claims that <span style="font-style: italic;">Canny Linguist's</span> MP, Theresa Villiers, the Minister for Transport, has forbidden the use of the words <span style="font-style: italic;">‘whilst’</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">‘with regards to’</span> within her department. <span style="font-style: italic;">CL</span> has written to Ms Villiers seeking confirmation of the report. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst MPs are, of course, entitled to their views on language usage, <span style="font-style: italic;">CL</span> was not aware that Orwell's prophecy with regards to ‘newspeak’ formed part of the Coalition agreement. This situation is reminiscent of the attempt by former Prime Minister, Tony B Liar, to have Latin words such as <span style="font-style: italic;">‘writ’</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">‘habeas corpus’</span> removed from our vocabulary. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">English is a rich and diverse language, constantly changing, with some words falling out of favour through natural evolution. However, when politicians start dictating which words can and cannot be used, it is a clear sign that democratic civilisation has formally ended.</span><br /><br />Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-73788367722218728222011-12-12T16:27:00.007+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.824+01:00The secret ingredient?<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">Hot on the heels of <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.cannylinguist.co.uk/2011/11/hard-to-swallow.html" target="_blank">Cock Soup</a>, now comes a range of products made with…er Aborigines. Unless the manufacturer has developed a food range suitable for cannibals, perhaps they should fire their advertising proof reader? Once again, a salutary reminder for writers not to rely on spill chuckers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">(Click on image to enlarge)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJYckzrS1LKXCRey5e5ROUJH2PHNzeN9IHQkSYjfozi-gJKqpL-_trJPsonopE_qMCdzIiqKyMlenGyImo7P3YTMXqyN9nckU2brSP5KjZI4eOOs6knjLZ4N0En0bUYytsdQvLi1Wnap_/s1600/Shamir.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJYckzrS1LKXCRey5e5ROUJH2PHNzeN9IHQkSYjfozi-gJKqpL-_trJPsonopE_qMCdzIiqKyMlenGyImo7P3YTMXqyN9nckU2brSP5KjZI4eOOs6knjLZ4N0En0bUYytsdQvLi1Wnap_/s400/Shamir.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685279582374605410" /></a><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-66739838034037734012011-12-03T00:09:00.003+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.832+01:00Harry Potter and the Universal Translator<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSvYq16UtlxO2b1c4kzH3jt6z341asKEhhAu_Jkn5D78gli3YE7wNZRBwK5obKdg85fbzGP4VPpLIFK67sbLtCU_VM3tA8HFKEJuGiLxxH3fWex7uv5OBFx0gaKG5d1qK9x8iMI0-qT1c/s1600/Tower+of+Babel.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681687858038281010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSvYq16UtlxO2b1c4kzH3jt6z341asKEhhAu_Jkn5D78gli3YE7wNZRBwK5obKdg85fbzGP4VPpLIFK67sbLtCU_VM3tA8HFKEJuGiLxxH3fWex7uv5OBFx0gaKG5d1qK9x8iMI0-qT1c/s320/Tower+of+Babel.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 276px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 167px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Canny Linguist</span> has just taken delivery of the complete 8 film DVD box set chronicling the adventures of Mr Harold Potter and his chums. A £20 bargain from Amazon (less 5% student discount). The Met Office has predicted a mild winter which means, of course, that we need to batten down the hatches and stock up on movies to while away those winter evenings.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Due to the preponderance of the incidental music, and the tendency of modern film stars to mumble their lines, <span style="font-style: italic;">CL</span> often watches DVDs with the subtitles turned on. He was interested, therefore, to note the language choices available to him:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">English, Arabic, Greek, Icelandic, German, Hebrew, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Russian.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Most of the DVDs are also dubbed into other languages which means you can, for example, watch the film in Russian and follow with English subtitles. What a brilliant way to learn a new language!</span><br /><br />Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-39858419904397790012011-12-01T18:15:00.018+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.841+01:00Scabs and cu*ts: the language of choice for swivel-eyed Trots<br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Warning: this blogpost contains very strong language which some readers may find offensive.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The English Language is rich and colourful, especially in the choice of words we use to insult each other with.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Citizen Barnet, a left wing blogger, recently posted an article entitled: <a href="http://citizenbarnet.blogspot.com/2011/11/support-pensions-strikes-dont-scab.html" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">Support the pensions strikes! Don't scab!</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">According to the Cambridge University <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/scab_2" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">on-line dictionary</a>, a scab is defined as: <span style="color: #993300; font-style: italic;">"an insulting word for a person who continues working while other people in the organization are on strike.</span></span><span style="color: #993300; font-style: italic;">"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Citizen Barnet, aka VickiM57, admitted that she doesn’t actually like the word but used it anyway because <span style="color: #993300; font-style: italic;">“that’s the word people use.”</span> As Catherine Tate’s Gran would say, what a load of old shit! There are countless alternative and polite ways of describing people who choose not to go on strike. The word ‘scab’ is clearly designed to be offensive in order to intimidate those not willing to be pushed around by left wing militant thugs. VickiM57 used the word ‘scab’ deliberately and without remorse.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It is somewhat ironic that a few days earlier, the loony left in Barnet <a href="http://wwwbrokenbarnet.blogspot.com/2011/11/love-thy-neighbour-race-relations-in.html" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">were complaining</a> about offensive remarks made by Conservative Councillor John Hart at a public meeting. Cllr Hart was undoubtedly wrong to mimic and mock a member of the public, but that didn’t stop the hypocrites of the left in using offensive language themselves when it came to criticising their opponents.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Which brings us on to the Jeremy Clarkson incident. Clarkson suggested that public sector strikers should be “taken out and executed”. This was self evidently intended as a joke, but the excerpt repeated by some sections of the media was taken out of context because it did not include his comment leading up to the now infamous remark in which he had given his support to the strikers. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="283.5" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lEKVUIeAsbA?rel=0" width="504"></iframe></center><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">There cannot be anyone on the planet who does not realise that Clarkson frequently makes similarly provocative comments simply to create a reaction. If you don’t like what he has to say, or the way that he says it, you don’t have to listen to him. But the swivel eyed Trots simply cannot bear the thought of anyone expressing an opinion that is contrary to their deluded and misguided belief system.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Former Daily Mirror Editor, Piers Moron, posted a <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/piersmorgan/status/141972073441533952" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">Tweet</a> calling Clarkson a<span style="color: #993300; font-style: italic;"> “nasty little twerp”</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-c4yCB5hF1zSdrfKNRCYhmpjywHDdSR5lkAr-jcaXanNWLf1JtRTKJcpVlJgk96Lc-RvYkUgZfBM-aSuAiQtvGT0_yp-_N_zCdK3AbQlMwJS-LDeiFJSzJvxxPFy65RcjAqrqsYEg0Ud/s1600/Moron.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681227414092313298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-c4yCB5hF1zSdrfKNRCYhmpjywHDdSR5lkAr-jcaXanNWLf1JtRTKJcpVlJgk96Lc-RvYkUgZfBM-aSuAiQtvGT0_yp-_N_zCdK3AbQlMwJS-LDeiFJSzJvxxPFy65RcjAqrqsYEg0Ud/s320/Moron.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 145px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Moron is an odious turd and quite possibly the only human being on the planet who proves that even controversial councillor Brian Coleman has some redeeming features.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Canny Linguist</span> tweeted about the hypocrisy of those who attacked Clarkson’s choice of words but were happy to use offensive language themselves. Citizen Barnet took umbrage at this, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/vickim57/status/142265332579581953" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">complaining</a> that she had not hitherto given her views about <span style="color: #993300; font-style: italic;">“that cunt Clarkson”</span>.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRskCuG67G_uW-n-r5wBw-ehjo6P2aeEb5t_86pyW-dRwIvDfew0vk5MGrANPJbMYao6YxsCXxNpsSp_skgL_B3y9x0U3ALVY50bLVfFZ3uWySC1HjQnG8yw0cDk0jmksz-LhkjZqoeXf/s1600/CB.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681227798342232562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRskCuG67G_uW-n-r5wBw-ehjo6P2aeEb5t_86pyW-dRwIvDfew0vk5MGrANPJbMYao6YxsCXxNpsSp_skgL_B3y9x0U3ALVY50bLVfFZ3uWySC1HjQnG8yw0cDk0jmksz-LhkjZqoeXf/s320/CB.jpg" style="display: block; height: 151px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">She subsequently <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/vickim57/status/142269918480568321" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">Tweeted</a> that the ‘cunt’ comment was only a joke.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbKqg9LkJSvFnR9Bj5vpELdju6az33NMfWYuOXyjxFUpCWB-yWUUFMaEuWXagIGqOxXOSuMbpnJ805QjR-zNZ7M1YazqxUp_rIhCO0Lz2J4stikWqsleMOe5F7A4Eu6lVIHTQRrKcKNI6/s1600/CB2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681228122832674690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbKqg9LkJSvFnR9Bj5vpELdju6az33NMfWYuOXyjxFUpCWB-yWUUFMaEuWXagIGqOxXOSuMbpnJ805QjR-zNZ7M1YazqxUp_rIhCO0Lz2J4stikWqsleMOe5F7A4Eu6lVIHTQRrKcKNI6/s320/CB2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 135px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />Fair enough, but it does rather prove <span style="font-style: italic;">CL’s</span> point. People with right wing views are not allowed to make jokes. That’s the preserve of the loony left who conveniently forget that freedom of speech includes the right to be provocative. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">These militants simply cannot bear the fact that the majority of people in this country do not share their deluded views, and they will use whatever language they can to try and denigrate, belittle or humiliate their opponents. They care not that we have been driven to the verge of bankruptcy by Gordon Brown and his rabid economic policies. They think that money grows on the tree at the bottom of the garden. They refuse to accept that we cannot have what we cannot afford. They are quite happy to force our children and grandchildren into a life of penury, simply so that they can continue to receive unaffordable and unfunded pensions which are not available to the majority of workers in the private sector.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">For ten years and more we borrowed money to gorge ourselves on cheap goods from China. Is it any wonder that we are now broke and have no manufacturing base to speak of? Our ancestors knew that you had to earn money before you could spend it. We must now reap what we have sewn. The austerity measures will be painful, of that there is no doubt, but we have had the good times and now they must be paid for. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The pensions crisis has been looming for generations as life expectancy continues to increase at a rapid rate. Successive governments have ignored this problem for short term political expediency. It cannot be ignored any longer. If the left refuse to understand this simple concept, they won’t need to be taken out and shot. We will all die from poverty instead.</span><br /><br />Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-29764191244360196872011-11-15T19:08:00.015+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.849+01:00We have ways of making you laugh!<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">British Prime Minister David Cameron has come under attack for his recent attempt at an Australian accent. According to the <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/8890649/David-Camerons-imitation-of-Julia-Gillard-worst-Australian-accent-ever.html" target="_blank">Daily Torygraph</a>, the attempted impersonation of Australian PM Julia Gillard is being described by some as a diplomatic insult.</span><br /><br /><center><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hkzjs-nEM2o" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="252" width="448"></iframe></center><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It is not the first time that Mr Cameron’s impersonation skills have been called into question. In 2009, he attempted a German accent in a discussion about ID cards.</span><br /><br /><br /><center><object height="360" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/x9ll7z"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/x9ll7z" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="360" width="480"></embed></object><br /></center><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Of course, these two examples pale into insignificance when compared to David Cameron’s quite horrendous impersonation of a Conservative MP.<br /></span><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-33357747240358550892011-11-04T20:27:00.004+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.857+01:00Hard to swallow?<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">The secret ingredient doesn’t bear thinking about! </span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKzixQrAjWuK6yl78dt-NQXdh-KNBbE1o25gZr5iwatog0QO3BRrB11ElgrSdpKg8WT6PLfYQwLdMcL7Bnjv-95wuSc8DcDhriqaSMPGxfKZlRiJYu112i5aK6PPsoCXylK63OgyRXYPw/s1600/Cock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKzixQrAjWuK6yl78dt-NQXdh-KNBbE1o25gZr5iwatog0QO3BRrB11ElgrSdpKg8WT6PLfYQwLdMcL7Bnjv-95wuSc8DcDhriqaSMPGxfKZlRiJYu112i5aK6PPsoCXylK63OgyRXYPw/s400/Cock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671240312284945826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />This soup is made in Jamaica. The salutary lesson for manufacturers is always to check whether your product needs to be renamed for overseas markets where seemingly innocuous words often have a different meaning.</span><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-65140103864671371362011-11-02T19:56:00.004+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.865+01:00Drat! Spiffing old words dying out.<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">A report in the Daily Telegraph claims that many English words are dying out due to the popularity of texting. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Click <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/8850281/Drat-Spiffing-old-words-dying-out-soz.html" target="_blank">here</a> for the full story - although it's probably balderdash.</span><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-17672084255571710612011-11-01T11:07:00.002+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.872+01:00Punctuation saves lives!<BR><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCqiNhuTkKExadZlGe5WvfaMTvPyse8vDQbenqlzCedzZ3US98GvipO09u8tTtlKEfSAWyvHYk5jn66vNInNdC_Ozk0JANudKeyuC1JPO7xjyAZXwr9CAqSro95hLSrQqngg61YgFTe3C/s1600/Grandma.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 349px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCqiNhuTkKExadZlGe5WvfaMTvPyse8vDQbenqlzCedzZ3US98GvipO09u8tTtlKEfSAWyvHYk5jn66vNInNdC_Ozk0JANudKeyuC1JPO7xjyAZXwr9CAqSro95hLSrQqngg61YgFTe3C/s400/Grandma.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669982642914531922" /></a><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-89086577479792644482011-10-31T11:30:00.003+00:002015-04-26T12:50:16.881+01:00Where I have and have not been<BR><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognises you there. I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore. I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm. Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">One of my favourite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get! </span><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-50823173504513506302011-10-16T18:50:00.004+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.889+01:00Four and twenty virgins<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">Once upon a time it was claimed that rugby was a game for hooligans, played by gentlemen. Inappropriate behaviour was confined to the signing of lewd songs such as this:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" ></span><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" >Four and twenty virgins came down from Inverness,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" >And when the ball was over there were four and twenty less…</span></blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">The composer of this ditty was clearly not a linguist. Four and twenty less? Four and twenty fewer!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Can anyone think of a place name that rhymes with fewer?</span><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-48023931785057886302011-10-03T01:31:00.007+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.898+01:00Pinker joins the ranks of loopy linguists<br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Canny Linguist </span>has a very low opinion of Noam Chomsky, considered by many to be a linguistic genius. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">In the late 1950s, Chomsky developed his innateness hypothesis which promulgated the concept of a genetic disposition to acquire language. This innate ability is widely referred to as the Language Acquisition Device. However, students of classical Greek philosophy will recognise that Chomskian theory is, in fact, based on work by Socrates who, through a series of experiments, demonstrated how a young slave was able to solve a geometric problem despite not ever having been taught geometry. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Taking the credit for someone else’s research is not new, but <span style="font-style: italic;">CL’s</span> real issue with Chomsky is the latter’s abhorrent political views. Or, rather, the way that Chomsky seeks to intellectualise every issue, and belittle and vilify anyone who dares to hold a contrary position.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Which leads us on to Steven Pinker, another renowned linguist. Pinker has won considerable praise for his numerous books on language, written in a style accessible to linguists, students and the general public. In his latest book ‘The Better Angels of Our Nature’ he argues that, contrary to popular belief, society has become less violent over time. Statistics are used to support his theory; for example 150,000 Iraqi deaths compared to 2 million in Vietnam. Atrocities such as the Nazi Holocaust are merely statistical blips. Well, that’s all right then.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">When interviewed by Tony Allen-Mills for the Sunday Times, Pinker explained that the reason we mere mortals are prone to challenge his book’s rather startling conclusion is simply because we do not understand the facts of the matter. He is a very clever man, don’t you know, and, unlike us, he has studied this subject in great detail.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Pinker is, of course, entitled to his opinion but once academics start claiming that non-academics cannot possibly understand the argument, it is a sign that perhaps it is they who do not understand. Not every question can be answered by mere statistical analysis.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Watching the current BBC series on Language with Stephen Fry, it is impossible to escape the conclusion that he, too, has become consumed by hubris as he pontificates in an insufferably pompous and patronising manner. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">CL</span> wonders whether there is something about the study of linguistics in particular which makes people say stupid things. If so, will that be a valid excuse if his next English essay fails to meet the mark?!</span><br /><br />Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-21816360656297565002011-09-15T19:16:00.009+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.907+01:00Don’t Hari back<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">Disgraced journalist Johann Hari, who has now apologised for his acts of plagiarism - and finally admitted the wanton alteration of his opponents’ Wikipedia entries - is taking a leave of absence from The Independent newspaper in order to enrol on a journalism training course. Hopefully not the same one attended by Andy Coulson.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As he left the paper, a contrite Hari said:<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.” </span>(Are you sure about this? Ed.)</span><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-33445771685998598182011-09-11T16:07:00.003+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.915+01:00Can you read this?<BR><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a newer version of something that's been around for quite some time. If you can read it, you have a strong mind.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">7H15 M355463 53RV35 70 PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1N6 7H1N65! 1MPR3551V3 7H1N65!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">1N 7H3 B361NN1NG 17 W45 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 L1N3 Y0UR M1ND 15 R34D1N6 17 4U70M471C411Y W17H 0UT 3V3N 7H1NK1N6 4B0U7 17, B3 PR0UD! 0N1Y C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R34D 7H15. R3 P057 1F U C4N.</span><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-81172016178956945592011-09-06T01:21:00.004+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.924+01:00The language of politics<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">Once upon a time, wicked meant evil. Nowadays it means that something is really cool, and cool is the word commonly used to describe something previously considered to be hot. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It is a simple fact of life that language is constantly evolving with words acquiring new meanings all the time. Nowhere is this more readily apparent than in the world of politics.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As a helpful guide to linguists, below is a list of common phrases used by politicians with a translation using modern terminology. Please feel free to add your own examples.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">“Good morning, I am a Liberal Democrat”</span> means <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">“Good morning, I am a pathological liar”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">“Trust me”</span> means <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">“Run for the hills”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">“We have no plans to….”</span> means <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">“We have every intention of…”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">“We will give power back to the people”</span> means <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">“We will transfer power from Whitehall civil servants to unelected Town Hall officers”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">“We’re all in this together”</span> means <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">“You’re all in this together”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">“It’s time to stop playing politics”</span> means <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">“My opponent is right” </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">“We will have a full and thorough public consultation”</span> means <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">“We will kick the issue into the long grass for a few months and then carry out our plans as intended”</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">“I'm a conviction politician”</span> means <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">“I will say whatever you want to hear as long as you vote for me”</span></span><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-44143504897292129762011-09-05T01:39:00.003+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.932+01:00Secret Girl Language<BR><center><object id="ch6599897" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.collegehumor.com/moogaloop/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6599897&use_node_id=true&fullscreen=1" width="540" height="304"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="movie" quality="best" value="http://www.collegehumor.com/moogaloop/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6599897&use_node_id=true&fullscreen=1"/><embed src="http://www.collegehumor.com/moogaloop/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6599897&use_node_id=true&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="600" height="338" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-15043625946163746892011-08-24T17:37:00.002+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.940+01:00Using the phonemic chart<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">From the <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/try/tips/using-phonemic-chart" target="_blank">Teaching English</a> website</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><iframe id="viddler-9afa1bb9" src="http://www.viddler.com/embed/9afa1bb9/?f=1&offset=0&autoplay=0&disablebranding=0" frameborder="0" height="349" width="545"></iframe></center><br /><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-66037472796051774382011-08-07T22:35:00.008+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.947+01:00How language transformed humanity<BR><span style="font-family:arial;">From <a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.ted.com/" target="_blank">www.ted.com</a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" ></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:arial;" >Biologist Mark Pagel shares an intriguing theory about why humans evolved our complex system of language. He suggests that language is a piece of "social technology" that allowed early human tribes to access a powerful new tool: cooperation.</span></blockquote><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ImQrUjlyHUg?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="306" width="504"></iframe></center><br /><br /><BR>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1336084663163573874.post-82084757904740672752011-08-04T19:27:00.008+01:002015-04-26T12:50:16.955+01:00Profanity filter cock-up<span style="font-family: arial;">The Barnet Times uses a profanity filter on its web site to prevent the posting of obscene language. Fair enough, you might think. But what constitutes obscene language?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Earlier today, <a href="http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/topstories/9178504.Residents_angry_over_mobile_phone_mast/" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">a message was posted</a> on their web site which included the phrase ‘cock-up’. This was redacted by the software and published as ****-up. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The Cambridge University Press <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/cock-up" style="color: #3333ff;" target="_blank">on-line dictionary</a> defines cock-up simply as: <span style="color: #660000; font-style: italic;">“something that is done wrong or badly”</span>. According to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A753527" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3333ff;">“The Origins and Common Usage of British Swear-words”</span> </a>published by the BBC:</span><br /><span style="color: #993300; font-family: arial; font-style: italic;"></span><br /><blockquote><span style="color: #993300; font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">“…the phrase ‘cock-up’ might appear to have come about in a similar way to ‘balls-up’, its origins are actually in beer making. If the batch went bad, they turned the cock (i.e. tap, or faucet) up to drain the barrel.”</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;">Leaving aside the question of whether the word ‘cock’ in this context was obscene, it is clear that profanity filters are of limited use. The substitute word ‘kok’ was accepted by the newspaper’s software. Changing a few letters will beat the filters without detracting from the intended meaning.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This was exemplified in the classic Monty Python ‘Travel Agent’ sketch featuring Eric Idle as a customer with a speech impediment, which made him pronounce the letter ‘c’ as ‘b’. Upon realising that he could substitute the letter ‘k’ instead, he declared: “what a silly bunt!”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately, the BBC cut this line from the broadcast version, although it is included in the album <span style="color: #993300; font-style: italic;">Monty Python's Previous Record</span>.</span><br /><br /><br /><center> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Yz2LaJOVAiA?rel=0" width="425"></iframe></center>Canny Linguisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18400497388718037183noreply@blogger.com