Ancient LJ catchup, #1

[annathepiper]

This one is for kriski, in response to a comment she left on my journal ages ago, in regards to crossover between languages. I know I'm horribly behind (sorry about that, Kriski!), but I wanted to bring this one on ahead and answer it, since it has to do with language stuff and that's always interesting to me as a writer. Even if I'm lame about keeping up with my LJ comments sometimes. ;P :)

i think we might have taken in more from greek and latin than from french, but don't quote me on that. french was en vogue during the period of absolutism. can you imagine they spoke french at german courts? these days we adodpt lots of words and whole phrases from english, i'm afraid. without regard to grammar and such. unfortunately. high german goes downhill and many people don't even know anmore that genitiv does NOT put an apostrophe in front of the S. that is how seriously english is invading german.

die höhe des baums
die höhe des baum's

the second is, OF COURSE, completely wrong. but give those two sentences to a bunch of people on the street, and an alarming number will tell you the second is right. it'smy petpeeve in modern german. even newspapers get is wrong sometimes. ARGH!!!!!

Just wanted to remark on this, Kriski, that improperly used apostrophes are one of my biggest pet peeves in English, too, so I'm very sympathetic to you having that peeve for German usage! Every single time I see someone say "that isn't your's" or "it's tail wagged", for example, that grates on my eyes the same way an out-of-tune note grates on my ears.

Comments

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

I know that Kriski hasn't been reading much LJ lately (although she posts), so I'm going to send her a link to make sure she sees this!

[annathepiper]

Cool, thank you very much. :)

[ravyngyngvar.livejournal.com]

Replying here partly to test my new LJ account. As you know, I never bothered to do it before, but I thought it was about time.

I, too, am really frustrated about the misuse of apostrophes in my own language, Norwegian. Just outside my front door is a motorcycle store called "Arne's motor." Maybe they meant it to sound English, but I doubt it.

And now that I work in engraving, I keep being put in a spot. If I get a drawing of a sign with a misspelling on it, do I correct the mistake, or do I follow specifications and make the sign with the misspelling? I'm being told: When in doubt, always follow the customer's specifications, but it stings me every time.

Anyway, hi, Anna! I'll see you soon!

Yngvar

[annathepiper]

Whoot, an LJ at last! Hi there and welcome. :)

So I wonder what it is about the apostrophe that makes people misuse it across languages? And I wonder if it happens in non-Germanic languages--like French, Spanish, or Italian.

[ravyngyngvar.livejournal.com]

No idea. I tend to see it as just one symptom of a general receding literacy. Of course, nowadays it's no wonder that people can be influenced from a lot of different languages they pick up on the net or elsewhere.

By the way, I couldn't help noticing kingchiron's avatar. :-) That takes me back. Those Czech really knew how to make kid's cartoons. Krtek? I didn't even know his original name.

Hmm, considering what we're talking about, should that be "kids' cartoons", or maybe "kids's cartoons"? It's not always that easy, after all.

[janne.livejournal.com]

"cartoons for kids". For us sissies :)

[ravyngyngvar.livejournal.com]

Mebbe I should just cross out the "1" at the end of my age. I want to see Professor Balthazar again, too. Professor Utonium's spiritual heir?

[ravyngyngvar.livejournal.com]

Ancestor! An heir is a descendant. Since Professor Balthazar came first, he must be the ancestor and Professor Utonium the heir.

I correct everybody else, so it's only fair that I correct myself, too.

[annathepiper]

LJ's lack of ability to let you edit your own comments is one of the few beefs I have against it. This has bitten me more than once. :)

[janne.livejournal.com]

Balt-balt-balthazar! Those were the days :)

[annathepiper]

Or you could do what mamishka does, and add all the digits in your age! Which would make you 5. And me 9. ;)

[annathepiper]

The proper English plural would be "kids' cartoons", if you're talking "cartoons for kids".

And you're quite right, linguistic influences can come from all over. :) The Net makes that especially possible.