Book Signings

[Magrat]

Thanks for the welcome Tony

I can't actually remember what I said to Mr Pratchett (I remember calling him that and him saying "Terry, please") Still too weird calling by his first name seeing as I don't know him.
I just mumbled lots of random vowels and constonants at him and tried to not pass out

[Tonyblack]

I sometimes wonder if the scene in the department store from Hogfather was based on the signings. I'll bet there are a lot of 'nk'you' people at them.

Without the naughty piggy of course.

[Dotsie]

Visiter is the English spelling (which has been droppped out of our dictionary as a lot of other english spelled words), Visitor is the American

Thanks Magrat, this is really interesting - I love to hear things about the evolution of language, it reminds me of the evolution of DNA (there are even papers written on this - would this qualify for an Ig Nobel or is it sufficiently sensible?).

I know some people get upset when the English language changes, but I'm not one of them. Bring it on!

[Tonyblack]

The English language is always changing because it's a living language and that's how it should be.

[chris.ph]

wot about txt speak

[Dotsie]

TBH, if that's how everyone writes, then that's how the language progresses - there isn't really an element of choice in the matter!

The dictionary only changes to reflect the way the language has already changed.

[Tonyblack]

It's only going to be a matter of time before people actually say the word 'lol' in everyday language.

[Magrat]

It's only going to be a matter of time before people actually say the word 'lol' in everyday language.

I used to work with a girl that does that already!!!!

[Catch-up]

A friend was recently telling me that one of her co-workers had to be spoken to because she put her emails and even her reports in "text-speak", with no punctuation, no capital letters, etc. Apparently, it never occured to her to do it any other way!! As far as I'm concerned that's language devolving not evolving.

[Tonyblack]

A friend was recently telling me that one of her co-workers had to be spoken to because she put her emails and even her reports in "text-speak", with no punctuation, no capital letters, etc. Apparently, it never occured to her to do it any other way!! As far as I'm concerned that's language devolving not evolving.

Oh dear - it's the end of the world as we know it.

[chris.ph]

i know i brought this one up but ive got a really bad habit of not using capitals and punctuation im sorry 2 say

[Tonyblack]

Just you wait for the typewriters of the future. The kids are getting into training for them now. They'll be hand held and thumb operated.

[chris.ph]

ive watched my 18 yr old neice text and u cant even see her fingers move . i think tony might b right on that one

[Blackwolfdreaming]

A propensity for silence
Is spreading through out the land
We don't talk
Just txt
N nvr ndrstnd

[steeljam]

Just you wait for the typewriters of the future. The kids are getting into training for them now. They'll be hand held and thumb operated.

With predictive text facilities you could actually believe someone who say "Well the book just wrote itself really."