Re: Grammar question - is "hir" grammatically correct?

In article <1190645135.387142.105410@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Ben Goodman <goodben@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Sep 21, 11:43 pm, Rick Moen <r...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Ben Goodman <good...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Rick Moen wrote:
And then, some centuries after _that_, the ability to distinguish
between third-person singular and plural was found to be useful.
Isn't progress grand?

And, ironically, the ability to distinguish between second-person
plural and singular was deemed non-essential in that same time period.

As was consistent spelling.

Well, no. Consistent spelling and the second-person singular passed
each other coming and going.

And sanitation.

Public health and the sophistication of the language are orthogonal.


In modern usuage, "they" is sometimes used as a singular pronoun when
the gender of the person being described is unknown or intentially
left vague....

ITYM "person or persons". ;->

Not in this case, no.


Grammar is one of the few areas where the exception _does_ prove the
rule.

I sincerely hope you're aware that the intended meaning of "prove" in
this proverb's context is "test" -- as in, "scrutiny of this apparent
exception tests whether the claimed rule is well framed, since,
obviously, if it _does_ turn out to be a real exception, then the
alleged rule is fundamentally broken and needs revision".

This is the origin of the saying, yes. The saying however has outlived
the use of "prove" in that sense in all but a few phrases and has
morphed to accomodate. I usually only hear the saying used to describe
the English language where it's quite appropriate. English has so many
rules of thumb and exceptions to those generalizations that it's quite
appropriate. I will occasionally hear the phrase used to describe
something else and its usually inappropriate.


The proverb _doesn't_ mean "facts don't count", as frequently assumed by
many a commentator who doesn't really think about what he or she is
saying.


Of course it doesn't, what it means in common usage nowadays is that
an exception to a rule of thumb spotlights the generalization by being
unusual.

Actually, since so many of the "rules" are Latin-based, few of them
really are rules. German has rules, English has tendencies of varying
strengths.

--
Mary, biblioholic

bib-li-o-hol-ism : the habitual longing to purchase, read, store,
admire, and consume books in excess.

http://www.chibardun.net/~erilarlo
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Grammar question - is "hir" grammatically correct?
    ... distinguish between third-person singular and plural was found ... apparent exception tests whether the claimed rule is well framed, ... This is the origin of the saying, ... describe the English language where it's quite appropriate. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Re: Grammar question - is "hir" grammatically correct?
    ... distinguish between third-person singular and plural was found ... apparent exception tests whether the claimed rule is well framed, ... This is the origin of the saying, ... describe the English language where it's quite appropriate. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Re: Grammar question - is "hir" grammatically correct?
    ... plural and singular was deemed non-essential in that same time period. ... no. Consistent spelling and the second-person singular passed ... obviously, if it _does_ turn out to be a real exception, then the ... This is the origin of the saying, ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)
  • Re: Ugly word
    ... What's the basis for saying these words have a plural function in ... English? ... singular noun complement often makes the verb singular: ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Another stupid singular "their"
    ... Sure there is: English usage through history. ... The cited use of singular they is a good example of the historical ... language as AOL subscribers are about computers and the Internet. ... ready to accept stupidity and cacaphony as normal and even good usage. ...
    (alt.usage.english)