Of all the Micah Tillmans in the world — and there are at least three — … I am this one.
Posted in Life, Linguistics (Philosophy) on Dec 20th, 2009
Something I’ve noticed over my four years as a teacher is the frequent use of “can not” instead of “cannot.” “Can not” means the same as “able to not.” “Cannot” means the same as “not able to.” For example: “Winstaford can not breathe for fifteen minutes without dying” = “Winstaford is able to not breathe [...]
Posted in Linguistics (Philosophy) on Oct 5th, 2009
I have a new theory. It helps me understand something that has been confusing me for a while. Why do some people think they need to “come to terms” with what their forebears were “complicit” in, or need to “apologize” to the descendants of people who were treated badly by their ancestors? My new theory [...]
Posted in Life, Linguistics (Philosophy) on Oct 3rd, 2009
see more Engrish This one was too incredibly adorable not to post. The more one reads EngrishFunny.com, the more it becomes clear to one just how difficult translating really is.
Posted in Culture, Linguistics (Philosophy) on Sep 22nd, 2009
After listening to a bunch of linguistics lectures from the University of Arizona (on iTunes U), I recently noticed something confusing about the way I (try not to) talk. I was born in (central) Florida, and thus grew up with a (central) Floridian accent. After we moved up north (when I was eight years old), [...]
Posted in Linguistics (Philosophy), Religion, Theory (Politics) on Aug 3rd, 2009
While I’m on the topic, I shall point out that people often confuse signs and symbols. Understanding the difference between the two is relevant especially when talking about religious and political practices. To think something (like Baptism or Communion, on the religious side, or diplomatic trips and formalities, on the political side) as a sign, [...]
Posted in Linguistics (Philosophy), Scripture (Religion) on Aug 2nd, 2009
A sign can’t do its job unless two things happen: You have to let it point you to what it’s a sign of, and What it’s a sign of has to be there to be pointed out. If you don’t let a thing point you to something else, you’re not experiencing it as a sign. [...]
Posted in Linguistics (Philosophy), Philosophy, Religion, Scripture (Religion) on Apr 13th, 2009
I’m currently listening to Dr. Douglas F. Kelly‘s lecture course, “Systematic Theology I,” from Reformed Theological Seminary. We’re just now getting to the interesting stuff about “God’s Plan,” and “Election,” and “Predestination” and whatnot. ____ One thing I’ve noticed, however, is that both Dr. Kelly and the scholars he cites make two consistent errors : [...]
Posted in Culture, Events (Politics), Linguistics (Philosophy) on Apr 7th, 2009
If Austrians speak Austrian now, can we Americans start speaking American? It would make those, “Welcome to America. Now Speak English” bumperstickers make a little more sense. (Except they’d have to change it to, “Now Speak American.”) And that’s why we should do everything we do. To make bumperstickers make more sense.
Posted in Linguistics (Philosophy) on Mar 20th, 2009
The Wife was making gentle fun of me the other day for my apparent obsession with proper language. Someone at her work, evidently, had gone off on an excited spiel (which, in German, means “play”) about why words matter. And it reminded her of me. She thought we (the spieler — der Spielman? – and [...]
Posted in Ethics (Philosophy), Linguistics (Philosophy) on Mar 4th, 2009
There’s a magazine lying (laying?) on our table, on whose cover there is a proper use of the word “whom.” I hadn’t noticed it, but The Wife pointed it out to me this morning. However, she pointed it out to me because — though correct — it sounded awkward (in the way it was used). [...]
