OT:Answers to Q's and some other stuff.

[Zorro]

I don't really mind (much) the use of me in place of I, because that has become so ingrained in the language as she is spoke that it seems almost natural; "See you later. Me and Jennifer are going to the mall". Much worse, to me, is the use of "I" as an object, because it sounds stilted and affected. "It was a learning experience for the team and I.", "Coach was really tough on Suzie and I.", although even that seems to be gaining usage. One really can't be too hard-assed as to what is and is not acceptable; the Academie Francaise has tried that without apparent success. And, as has been discussed on this board before, there are situations in which "proper", prescriptive English just would not work effectively; "I can't get any satisfaction", "to go boldly where no man has gone before", "I am not misbehaving", "You aren't anything other than a hound dog" come to mind. Every generation since language was invented has deplored its deterioration. (I can't cite data, but I believe that this is probably true.)

The great linguist, Ted Higgs opined, correctly, I think, that the true purpose of grammar was NOT to help one to be understood, but rather to avoid misunderstanding. And no one is going to be misled into thinking that the Mick means that he is unable to obtain a zero level of satisfaction.

 

[UcMiami]

Zorro - nicely put. I might add specific to you that 'poetic license' was a phrase created to allow poets to mangle 'correct' usage and pronunciation in pursuit of their art, and what are song writers but musical poets!

I think English in particular has such complex varieties because it is such a mongrel language in origin being germanic overlaid with romance languages with a wide variety of other tribes contributing their own peculiarities.

And much of the policing of language comes with printing presses and a wide dissemination of a single version of a printed work. Shakespeare spelled his own name a number of different ways depending on the day of the week, and early scribes all used their own idioms, spellings, and words to the point that scholars can actually follow a single original source around from monastery to monastery in the same way we used to play telephone. And trace the scribe's travels as well based on when new regional usage appears in the books he is copying.

 

[Gus Mahler]

The jocks also butcher he and him. Irritating.

 

[Zorro]

I never got my poetic license. I had a limited learner's permit for a while, but it lapsed. Never could pass the rigorous poet's exams.

 

[j66kicker]

I never got my poetic license. I had a limited learner's permit for a while, but it lapsed. Never could pass the rigorous poet's exams.

But you got your Lariat

 

[Zorro]

The PL is my evil twin.