Re: Erosion

Gerry Quinn wrote:

eh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx says...


Hal, I think you're over-reading this one.

"That may be true" may also be a qualifier on the lines of "Oh, all right then", or "nevertheless", I would say (I speak as someone who thinks this
is part of their own idiolect).


In the above, the second speaker may or may not have doubts about the quality of Blofeld's care of his feline companions - he is saying it doesn't make any difference and he wants to point out something else.

There is no implication that the first speaker is lying, although the question is left open as to whether he could be mistaken.


What you gentlemen has said is true enough, but there are certain turns of phrase that carry two meanings. Depending on mood and sensitivity, the person reading might take either meaning.

A writer who expects to be taken seriously on a newsgroup for writers, should be able to make most of his points unambiguously. Moreover, he should be able to ruffle feathers only when that is his intent.

Admittedly, the state of being where all discourse is lively, interesting, and where my phrases have only the meanings I intend is an end state to strive for, and not my current state of being....

Bill

--
Bill Swears

Ever Inappropriate, always contrite, and now... Ironic! How cool is that?
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: [FITW] "used the thing"
    ... These fascinate me. ... The word or phrase has been heard, but sot seen in print, by the ... writer. ... words with very similar meanings. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Recently deceased celebrities
    ... embarrassed to discover that they are ignorant of some things I know? ... understand the meanings of most of the references; ... means when they use the phrase "a rose by any other name." ... So, from the communicative standpoint, you are worse off if you have ...
    (rec.arts.sf.fandom)
  • Re: Erosion
    ... of phrase that carry two meanings. ... A writer who expects to be taken seriously on a newsgroup for writers, ... There's a sort of Heisenberg Uncertaintly Principle - the shorter the ... and where my phrases have only the meanings I intend is an ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: OT- 0 vs Cheney
    ... meanings of words, and he thinks he is being insulted, even when he ... The professor was giving his lecture and used the phrase ... One of the female students (too stupid to ... phrase had nothing to do with prostitution or women, ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: all turned out
    ... shining in front of the Church of St. Barnabas, even Lulu, who ... I think the phrase is used to mean both those things. ... I think Doctorow found the best formulation. ... Yes, I was aware of all these meanings, but wasn't sure if others would ...
    (alt.usage.english)