DarrenTomlyn
Banned
- Joined
- May 16, 2011
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- UK
Yes - I have a problem, but rather being a linguistic problem in itself, it's instead a problem of linguistics - for some specific words in the English language, and what I'm supposed to do about it... (Without going to University ).
I've already spoken to quite a few people about some of what I've found - from an English teacher - (I had to re-do my English quals since I failed them at college - (too much literature and not enough language for my tastes)) - to Dr Anthea Fraser Gupta at Leeds University here in England. (Yes, I'm English, and 32 years old). (I lived in Leeds for a while, but had to move at short notice, so I probably couldn't get as much help from Dr Gupta as I would have liked).
Anyway - everyone I've talked to (in person) about, (sometimes only part of), what I've found has given me pretty much the same reaction and advice - 'duh - you're right, you should really go to Uni to sort that out' - (or something a little more formal).
But going to Uni, unfortunately, isn't going to happen. (Money/time/support etc.).
Before I realised that, I started a blog about the matter anyway - and since everything I have is all related to one particular word and how it is applied, (though not necessarily directly) - it's on a site called gamasutra.com
Which might make you think everything I have is just about the word game.
But you'd be wrong - (though the word game itself is definitely on the list.)
It started with describing what I saw in a game, (or even games in general I quickly realised), in an argument with someone else. One particular word I used in a particular manner, which then led me to understand what I was seeing in a far better manner, seemed to (me to) be important. That then led me on a journey of discovery when I realised that the nature of the problems I had and was seeing was ultimately a matter of linguistics itself, in regards to the English language. (Though it is certainly possible that the nature of the problems (and some (possible?) solutions I've found) are not just limited to this language alone).
It was like peeling the layers of an onion - every problem seemed to lead me to others, lying underneath, until I wound up right at the bottom and saw what was happening. (Which was when I understood why).
So, I've found some problems, and need to know what to do about it.
These problems are to do with the linguistic study, education and information about the English language itself - i.e. how we use the language to describe what other words in the language represent, based upon how they are used within the rules of the language itself. (It shouldn't be any surprise that the root cause of all these problems is by NOT following such rules properly!)
Another reason I'm posting is that, although, as I said, I have a blog explaining some of this, I've had enough of arguing about really obvious problems and solutions in such matters with (computer) game designers/creators who just don't get it, and because of who I am, (a nobody), won't listen - even if I tell them 1+2=3!=1 or rather word1+word2 = word3 != word1 (in meaning). Simple, yes?
So, of course, if it comes down to that, I can post everything I've found here, and let people who can (hopefully) prove they know best/better argue with them instead...
Or find a better/(more productive?) outlet for what I've found...?
Now, I know what you're thinking - this can, of course, depend on the dictionary/encyclopedia you read, right? Although they're not supposed to differ in that manner, they still can, yes?
Well, no. When every dictionary/encyclopedia in the local libraries (Leicester & Leeds), along with those online and in shops are all similar in their problems, even if not specific in how they're applied - you know there's a bigger problem underneath. Two problems in fact, underlie everything I've seen - one of which is enough to make you bang your head on the table/wall :-/ (It's completely artificial, and should simply never have existed, let alone still exist today - I mean getting confused between definitions and applications is one thing, (which is the other problem - see the 'maths' problem above)) - but this is something else...).
So, if you really want to know the words for which I've found problems with in their accepted and current definitions - (and have some, (maybe partial) solutions for), then here they are:
Story - (inaccurate)
Game - (inaccurate - based on obsolete use)
Puzzle - (incomplete+could be better)
Competition - (usually incomplete+could be better)
(Art - could be better)
Noun - (inaccurate/could be better - can fix mostly, just not completely - (must be the most important entry on this list) - (see adjective)).
Verb - (inaccurate)
Adjective (inaccurate - I don't have a solution for this one - though I'm looking. All I can do is let people know that there is a problem, and the nature of it - (and any potential solution if someone else can think of it)).
So, any suggestions for what I should do with all this, that don't require me going to University?
I've already spoken to quite a few people about some of what I've found - from an English teacher - (I had to re-do my English quals since I failed them at college - (too much literature and not enough language for my tastes)) - to Dr Anthea Fraser Gupta at Leeds University here in England. (Yes, I'm English, and 32 years old). (I lived in Leeds for a while, but had to move at short notice, so I probably couldn't get as much help from Dr Gupta as I would have liked).
Anyway - everyone I've talked to (in person) about, (sometimes only part of), what I've found has given me pretty much the same reaction and advice - 'duh - you're right, you should really go to Uni to sort that out' - (or something a little more formal).
But going to Uni, unfortunately, isn't going to happen. (Money/time/support etc.).
Before I realised that, I started a blog about the matter anyway - and since everything I have is all related to one particular word and how it is applied, (though not necessarily directly) - it's on a site called gamasutra.com
Which might make you think everything I have is just about the word game.
But you'd be wrong - (though the word game itself is definitely on the list.)
It started with describing what I saw in a game, (or even games in general I quickly realised), in an argument with someone else. One particular word I used in a particular manner, which then led me to understand what I was seeing in a far better manner, seemed to (me to) be important. That then led me on a journey of discovery when I realised that the nature of the problems I had and was seeing was ultimately a matter of linguistics itself, in regards to the English language. (Though it is certainly possible that the nature of the problems (and some (possible?) solutions I've found) are not just limited to this language alone).
It was like peeling the layers of an onion - every problem seemed to lead me to others, lying underneath, until I wound up right at the bottom and saw what was happening. (Which was when I understood why).
So, I've found some problems, and need to know what to do about it.
These problems are to do with the linguistic study, education and information about the English language itself - i.e. how we use the language to describe what other words in the language represent, based upon how they are used within the rules of the language itself. (It shouldn't be any surprise that the root cause of all these problems is by NOT following such rules properly!)
Another reason I'm posting is that, although, as I said, I have a blog explaining some of this, I've had enough of arguing about really obvious problems and solutions in such matters with (computer) game designers/creators who just don't get it, and because of who I am, (a nobody), won't listen - even if I tell them 1+2=3!=1 or rather word1+word2 = word3 != word1 (in meaning). Simple, yes?
So, of course, if it comes down to that, I can post everything I've found here, and let people who can (hopefully) prove they know best/better argue with them instead...
Or find a better/(more productive?) outlet for what I've found...?
Now, I know what you're thinking - this can, of course, depend on the dictionary/encyclopedia you read, right? Although they're not supposed to differ in that manner, they still can, yes?
Well, no. When every dictionary/encyclopedia in the local libraries (Leicester & Leeds), along with those online and in shops are all similar in their problems, even if not specific in how they're applied - you know there's a bigger problem underneath. Two problems in fact, underlie everything I've seen - one of which is enough to make you bang your head on the table/wall :-/ (It's completely artificial, and should simply never have existed, let alone still exist today - I mean getting confused between definitions and applications is one thing, (which is the other problem - see the 'maths' problem above)) - but this is something else...).
So, if you really want to know the words for which I've found problems with in their accepted and current definitions - (and have some, (maybe partial) solutions for), then here they are:
Story - (inaccurate)
Game - (inaccurate - based on obsolete use)
Puzzle - (incomplete+could be better)
Competition - (usually incomplete+could be better)
(Art - could be better)
Noun - (inaccurate/could be better - can fix mostly, just not completely - (must be the most important entry on this list) - (see adjective)).
Verb - (inaccurate)
Adjective (inaccurate - I don't have a solution for this one - though I'm looking. All I can do is let people know that there is a problem, and the nature of it - (and any potential solution if someone else can think of it)).
So, any suggestions for what I should do with all this, that don't require me going to University?
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