Linguistic pedants of the world unite

[Kounelaki]

The Typo Eradication Advancement League are travelling America to correct the nation's misspelt signs: a truly heroic mission
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/and ... unite.html

[tonywojo]

The Typo Eradication Advancement League are travelling America to correct the nation's misspelt signs: a truly heroic mission
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/and ... unite.html

To quote verbatim:

While my personal preference for retribution against typographical psychopaths would involve angry mobs with torches ...

Isn't that taking it a bit far?

Why not just burn their pencils and melt their pens?

There was a great thread on the other forum where one of the Muricans gave their view of the hilarity of some English signs.

Please bear in mind that shock tactics are employed on signs including slang and poor grammar to get people to read them in the first place.

Eg.

In a Bangkok dry cleaner's:
"Drop your trousers here for best results."

In a Paris hotel elevator:
"Please leave your values at the front desk."

[JackT]

They should also do something about the "10 Items or Less" signs at grocery stores.

[kook]

A (or is it an ) heroic mission it certainly is. I just wish he hadn't reported having asked, "Could I get a Sahara, please?" in San Francisco. WTF!!? Bloody stupid way of making a request. Especially when they turn it into one word which sounds like, "kaiget" and then try to order a coffee whilst "doing" Europe. Witnessed this many times. Once in the south of France the waitress asked the person in question if they could speak English.

[JackT]

A (or is it an ) heroic mission it certainly is. I just wish he hadn't reported having asked, "Could I get a Sahara, please?" in San Francisco. WTF!!? Bloody stupid way of making a request. Especially when they turn it into one word which sounds like, "kaiget" and then try to order a coffee whilst "doing" Europe. Witnessed this many times. Once in the south of France the waitress asked the person in question if they could speak English.

Wow, we have moved on from critiquing usage in signs to condemning the use of the vernacular even in spoken conversation.

It is my considered opinion that the waitress in question should shut her pie hole and do her job.

[kook]

It is my considered opinion that the waitress in question should shut her pie hole and do her job.

She really didn't understand what had been said.
It is my considered opinion that when visiting another country, one should at least try to order things in the local language. Failing that, English that sounds like English.

And "vernacular" is a misleading term here.

[JackT]

She really didn't understand what had been said.
It is my considered opinion that when visiting another country, one should at least try to order things in the local language.

The waitress would have had something equally snotty to say about imperfect French.

[tonywojo]

She really didn't understand what had been said.
It is my considered opinion that when visiting another country, one should at least try to order things in the local language. Failing that, English that sounds like English.

And "vernacular" is a misleading term here.

This thread is Kook and Kounelaki through and through.

So I'll let you get on with it.

http://www.funnysign.com/funnysign_041.htm

[withahip]

http://www.tastegood.com/

[insanejane]

In Mueller's article he spells travelers with two 'l's and defence with a 'c'. He even suggests Americans should learn how to spell "neighbour" correctly.
I have to agree with him since I think it's ridiculous that we require such minor changes in word spellings, like gray and grey? Were the pilgrims high?
He suggest that this can be remedied by simply reading any book or newspaper. Not true. I'm recently reading a novel where the patient has a "staff" infection!

[withahip]

I'm recently reading a novel where the patient has a "staff" infection!

That's like an office temp std, right?

[tonywojo]

I'm recently reading a novel where the patient has a "staff" infection!

Staff, a nickname for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier

So it may be a dog bite.

Hope she had a tetanus injection for her staff infection.

[Fish Hook Girl]

In Mueller's article he spells travelers with two 'l's and defence with a 'c'. He even suggests Americans should learn how to spell "neighbour" correctly.
I have to agree with him since I think it's ridiculous that we require such minor changes in word spellings, like gray and grey? Were the pilgrims high?
He suggest that this can be remedied by simply reading any book or newspaper. Not true. I'm recently reading a novel where the patient has a "staff" infection!

Herr Mueller can take his u's and shove them up his arse.

[JackT]

Herr Mueller can take his u's and shove them up his arse.

FYI, systematic efforts to standardize English spelling began over a hundred years after The Pilgrims. In both countries.

[Fish Hook Girl]

FYI, systematic efforts to standardize English spelling began over a hundred years after The Pilgrims. In both countries.

They didn't have any luck in making us convert to the metric system, either.