I am Literally Disappointed

Sundae · 08-18-2013, 01:45 PM

The Oxford English Dictionary has been amended to show that literally can now be used for emphasis and to mean metaphorically.

I can no longer snigger at phrases like "Michael Jackson literally exploded onto the music scene" or "In his youth, Michael Owen was literally a greyhound."
It takes some fun out of this pedant's life.

But hey, I accept pronunciation and meaning changes because that's part of English. Not going to go against the OED on this one. It's just galling to become a dinosaur at 41. Literally.

DanaC · 08-18-2013, 03:36 PM

Fucking annoying.

It literally makes me want to claw my own eyes out.

Griff · 08-18-2013, 04:40 PM

God damn it!

Blood is not literally pouring out of my ears.

Lamplighter · 08-18-2013, 04:51 PM

Geeesh, now I literally can't stop my G-daughter from using
"air quotes" and "literally" in literally every other sentence.

Aliantha · 08-18-2013, 07:05 PM

Thie litterally gives me the shits. I'll brb!

lumberjim · 08-19-2013, 01:08 PM

I think this is shite. Are they going to change the definition if the word 'bad' now? To include the opposite meaning like we do. "That car is bad." "Bad Ass"

Where will the madness end¿ I ask you.

Gravdigr · 08-19-2013, 04:07 PM

I'm gonna watch porn. Literally.

Aliantha · 08-19-2013, 05:23 PM

If they have changed the meaning of literally, do you think they should change nonplussed to mean what it seems it should mean?

DanaC · 08-19-2013, 05:30 PM

What does it seem it should mean?

Clodfobble · 08-19-2013, 06:17 PM

It logically seems to mean "unenthused" or "not impressed," but in fact means "speechless." Many people use it when they intend the former meaning and don't even have any idea that it actually doesn't mean that at all.

Lamplighter · 08-19-2013, 06:22 PM

OK, here's another change we should make...

"Next Friday" or whatever "Next XXXday" is to mean whenever I mean it to mean.

Oh wait. It's already used to mean that.

DanaC · 08-20-2013, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

It logically seems to mean "unenthused" or "not impressed," but in fact means "speechless." Many people use it when they intend the former meaning and don't even have any idea that it actually doesn't mean that at all.

Ahhh gotcha. It's always meant kind of stunned or confused into silence to me....bemused or taken aback by something.

That explains why someone once picked me up on my use of it on a forum. I'd used it (correctly) to say I was nonplussed by something someone had said to me. And someone posted 'are you sure you meant to say nonplussed'. Their comment made no sense to me...but now it kind of does. They must have thought nonplussed meant unimpressed or not enthused. When what I was trying to say was that something someone had said to me was so off kilter and unexpected I was entirely taken aback and had no idea how to respond.

Gravdigr · 08-20-2013, 04:03 PM

Instead of changing words' meanings, we should be adding words.

Words like 'whattheidonteven'.

DanaC · 08-20-2013, 05:01 PM

That definitely needs to be accepted as a proper word.

Flint · 08-20-2013, 05:21 PM

The dictionary isn't supposed to tell you what words mean, it's supposed to tell you what people mean when they say them.

I'm leaning heavily on the Gricean Maxims and the Cooperative Principle when I say this, but I'm also biting my tongue.

I don't think ignorance should be glorified, but neither should asshole-ish nitpicking. So there are two sides.

08-18-2013, 01:45 PM	#1
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I am Literally Disappointed The Oxford English Dictionary has been amended to show that literally can now be used for emphasis and to mean metaphorically. I can no longer snigger at phrases like "Michael Jackson literally exploded onto the music scene" or "In his youth, Michael Owen was literally a greyhound." It takes some fun out of this pedant's life. But hey, I accept pronunciation and meaning changes because that's part of English. Not going to go against the OED on this one. It's just galling to become a dinosaur at 41. Literally. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

08-18-2013, 04:40 PM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	God damn it! Blood is not literally pouring out of my ears. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-18-2013, 07:05 PM	#5
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Thie litterally gives me the shits. I'll brb! __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

08-19-2013, 01:08 PM	#6
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I think this is shite. Are they going to change the definition if the word 'bad' now? To include the opposite meaning like we do. "That car is bad." "Bad Ass" Where will the madness end¿ I ask you. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

08-19-2013, 04:07 PM	#7
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I'm gonna watch porn. Literally. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

08-18-2013, 04:51 PM	#4
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	Geeesh, now I literally can't stop my G-daughter from using "air quotes" and "literally" in literally every other sentence.

08-19-2013, 05:23 PM	#8
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	If they have changed the meaning of literally, do you think they should change nonplussed to mean what it seems it should mean? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

08-19-2013, 06:17 PM	#10
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	It logically seems to mean "unenthused" or "not impressed," but in fact means "speechless." Many people use it when they intend the former meaning and don't even have any idea that it actually doesn't mean that at all. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

08-19-2013, 06:22 PM	#11
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	OK, here's another change we should make... "Next Friday" or whatever "Next XXXday" is to mean whenever I mean it to mean. Oh wait. It's already used to mean that.

08-20-2013, 04:03 PM	#13
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Instead of changing words' meanings, we should be adding words. Words like 'whattheidonteven'. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

08-20-2013, 05:21 PM	#15
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	The dictionary isn't supposed to tell you what words mean, it's supposed to tell you what people mean when they say them. I'm leaning heavily on the Gricean Maxims and the Cooperative Principle when I say this, but I'm also biting my tongue. I don't think ignorance should be glorified, but neither should asshole-ish nitpicking. So there are two sides. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

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