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From: steiny@scc.UUCP (Don Steiny)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poor English (here too)
Message-ID: <463@scc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Mar-85 15:30:05 EST
Article-I.D.: scc.463
Posted: Mon Mar 18 15:30:05 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 18-Mar-85 20:23:39 EST
References: <4800002@umn-cs.UUCP> <441@terak.UUCP> <482@harvard.ARPA> <358@talcott.UUCP>
Organization: Independent Consultant
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>
> Unfortunately, most CS-types are careless about their English.  And the
> result?  Many nouns become verbs and vice versa, like "interface",
> something which previously only happened to curse words.  In general the
> grammar deteriorates.
> 			Greg Kuperberg

	Many nouns become verbs in English and vica versa in the 
normal course of its existance as a language!   For instance, 
just looking around the room at the objects (represented by
nouns) I notice

	a table
	to table (a motion)
	a chair
	to chair (a meeting)
	a cup
	to cup (the animal in your hands)
	a partition
	to partition (a room)
	a pen
	to pen (in the drawing)
	a pencil
	to pencil (in the drawing)
	some seeds (in the flowers)
	to seed (the garden)
	
	a book
	to book (this is non-standard, but it is a common expression
		in California meaning "to leave" I doubt it is related
		to the noun "book", but comes from "to hook" which
		also means "to leave" though I have no idea why).
	
	Outside my window is a garden, "to garden."

	Though I am using a computer terminal, I still "type in
words."  "To type" is from "the type", as in "typefont."

	English just happens to be the kind of language where it is
legal to do this.  Chinese and English are similar in this
respect. 

	I notice something for which I have no ready
explaination.  Some nouns become verbs by adding "-ize"
and others do not need the suffix.  (ie priority, prioritize -
interface, interface).  

	Language does not deteriorate, it changes.   
-- 
scc!steiny
Don Steiny - Personetics @ (408) 425-0382    ihnp4!pesnta   -\
109 Torrey Pine Terr.                        ucbvax!twg     --> scc!steiny
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