Display of pig-ignorance

Question

"It does indeed display pig-ignorance of English syntax and literary usage to be hung up on split infinitives,"http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1022#more-1022 Do you agree?

Reefannie · Accepted Answer

How many words do I get?

K.

=^^=

CalifJim · Answer

It might help generate more discussion among the forum members if you were to include a little more background information.

What are the arguments for and against split infinitives from the point of view of English syntax?
What are the arguments for and against split infinitives from the point of view of literary usage?

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimIt might help generate more discussion among the forum members if you were to include a little more background information.

CJ

Isn't the link background enough?

Kooyeen · Answer

The background is an idiotic boss whose idiocy doesn't seem to be just related to split infinitives. So I guess we should now start discussing how idiots use English. I guess the answer is either sloppily or too correctly. Result: if you don't want to be an idiot, don't use non-standard English, and don't use standard English either. Just use normal English, like normal people do. Or should I have written "AS normal people do"? OMG, I am starting to turn into an idiot.

Seriously, a lot of people seem concerned about split infinitives, but split infinitives are not a big problem. If I were a boss, I would refuse to hire anyone who used "spit infinitives". Those are way worse. Never heard of them? It the kind of infinitives used by some British people who aspirate T's a bit too much. Hear one of them say "to stutter", and then you'll know what a spit infinitive is.

Anonymous · Answer

<Just use normal English, like normal people do. Or should I have written "AS normal people do"?>

Could give us a few links/examples of this "normal English"?

Kooyeen · Answer

AnonymousCould give us a few links/examples of this "normal English"?

The one people like you use, where "you" is a generic pronoun, and does not refer the kind of English you, Molly, personally use (*** forbid, LOL). The one a normal people belonging to a certain category would generally use.
In the end, "normal" for a person is whatever is considered normal by themselves and by people like them. It's pretty simple, it's a basic concept.
So, for some people not splitting infinitives is normal, others just don't give a **** and that's normal, others would punch that boss in the face as they normally do and then be proud of it, others just think it is normal to think all bosses are jerks, others... There's so many kinds of people! Are you normal? LOL

MrPedantic · Answer

Anonymous"It does indeed display pig-ignorance of English syntax and literary usage to be hung up on split infinitives,"

Do you agree?

Not really, old chap. Everyone is entitled to an occasional hobby horse.

You might as well say that it displays pig-ignorance of human psychology to be hung up on people who are hung up on split infinitives.

MrP

Anonymous · Answer

<You might as well say that it displays pig-ignorance of human psychology to be hung up on people who are hung up on split infinitives.>

Would you expect an ordinary citizen to be equally familar with both areas, i.e. English usage and the discipline of psychology?

Anonymous · Answer

<Are you normal? LOL>

*** forbid. LOL.

Display of pig-ignorance

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