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What is an alot? I can’t find it in the dictionary. My Chambers
Dictionary lists “aloof”, then “alopecia” and “aloud” but not “alot”.
Possibly it should be an allot? No, that can’t be right either, allot
isn’t a noun, it’s a verb. Ah, I’ve got it! It’s two words..............
A lot? isn`t that a piece of land?Quote:
Originally Posted by iamtheblues
Do you win a lot in the lottery?
hleut
A lot of different meanings for the English word, "lot" here (9), but only 2 in Dutch.
Saludos,
Bob.
This is alot. $53 million in cash found in a raid on a drug lord's home. That's alot of money!
Alot is in wikipedia.
If you have a lot of something it is incorrect to write "alot". If you want to distribute your stuff you can "allot" it to others as it means to assign or distribute.
Sorry Bob,
there's some more in Dutch
lot: Bijbel
lot: buitenkans
lot: kansbrief
lot: loot
lot: lootje
lot: loterijlot
lot: lotsbestemming
lot: noodlot
lot: Plaats in België
lot: Plaats in Benelux
lot: Plaats in Europa
lot: Voornaam
lot: Water
lot: zuigdot
lot: zoon van Sem
lot: zijrivier van de Garonne
lot: wisseling van geluk en ongeluk
lot: waardevol papier
lot: waar een mens geen invloed op heeft
lot: vader van Moab
lot: teerling
lot: teengewas
lot: schoot
lot: scheut
lot: Russisch gewicht
lot: onafkeerbare toekomst
lot: neef van Abraham
lot: kans
lot: jonge tak
lot: geval
lot: Frans departement
lot: fortuin
lot: fatum
lot: destinatie
lot: de fortuin
lot: boomscheut
lot: Bijbelse figuren en namen
lot: bestemming
lot: bestaan
lot: beschikking
lot: belasting
lot: daar heb je geen invloed op
OK guys, I recognise a wind-up when I see one! ;)
Saludos,
Bob.
Wasn't "Cam-a-lot" Xara's old times code name ? :D
ivan
Indeed :D:D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by ivan louette
According to PickaPedia.Quote:
Originally Posted by iamtheblues
The part, or fate, that falls to one, as it were, by chance, or without his planning.
" My lot in life. "
Is closer to the dutch meaning then "destiny." actually
Only 2? Ben je van lotje getikt? ;)
Well, what do they mean drugmoney?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ross Macintosh
I just needed some wallpaper. ;)
From Wiktionary.
Saludos,
Bob.
Ross:
I wonder weather he sleeps on that... it looks like a king size...
I bet he started a small pile under the mattress and then kept squirreling away...
iamtheblues:
Sorry: I know I like to use that word all the time.
Weather or not this word is accepted as official or not there is certainly no shortage of people using it.
I can understand how this would frustrate you, but I (and probably many others) didn't even know it was not a real word.
But they do add new words to the dictionary every year
http://www.askoxford.com/worldofwords/newwords/?view=uk
Try dropping a few of these into your casual conversation...
"Unfortunately" the Queen's English is not a mandate on society for the purposes of everyday talk...but i will try to refrain from using this non word when typing from now on...
P.S. And don't worry my apostrophes are under control :).
Mine aren't, I'd need a lead to control them, they're always wandering off on their own.Quote:
Originally Posted by morphonius_821
Just as an aside, there are three ways to spell weather ....
Weather - As "It's a nice day today".
Whether - As in "whether or not".
Wether - "A castrated ram"
When I found out the last one, I became a little more careful with my spelling.
LOT - Polish Airlines. :cool:
Wot? An Allott ...:D
Let us not overlook the fact that it may simply be one of the vBulletin keyboard glitches. :D
You know the one where you typed your and all you get is you. vBulletin ate the r. :eek:
In the case of alot it ate the space. :D
a town in India ;)
@ Bill: vBulletin has never eaten my space, but seems to have a habit of eating certain members' spaces on a regular basis (and inserting rogue Ls). ;)
@ SteveJ and others: My question was, "What is an alot?" not "what is a lot?"
I already knew what a lot is, and a lot more, besides. :rolleyes:
@ morphonius_821: [quote]"...the Queen's English is not a mandate on society for the purposes of everyday talk..." - I could not let this pass without comment.
In conversation that takes place on these boards and any writing in general, it is important to use correct spelling and grammar, not because they are rules that must be obeyed, but because the written word is only a signpost to the spoken one, by which we communicate when it is not possible to use speech. Therefore care must be taken to ensure that we convey the exact meaning of what we write. When someone speaks it is not possible to hear the spelling mistakes and gramatical errors that may be in the speaker's head when uttering the words "a lot" "weather", "whether" and so on.
If I write (in haste) "ether" instead of "either" as an unintentional typo, it will cause the reader to pause and think about "ether" as it will be out of context in the sentence I am writing. This would hopefully, be a rare error, and is why proof readers exist. If I re-read what I have written, or proof read my own work, I will, more often than not, correct the typo. If the typo were to remain uncorrected, then the reader's thought processes would be interrupted.
If, however, you (not meaning you, morphonius_821 specifically) habitually type "then" instead of "than", "wear" instead of "where", or "allot" instead of "a lot" you will be causing the same effect to me as I did with my non-habitual "ether" to you or anyone else. To constantly have to break step when reading to check what is meant by the writer is annoying to the reader. It is also a discourtesy for it suggests that little or no thought has been put into the writing, and may, if done repeatedly, lead to the abandonment of the text by the reader, which defeats the object of the writing in the first place, for communication has failed.
This is why the use of "texting" at TalkGraphics and elsewhere is frowned upon. Taken to its logical conclusion, texting, a system of code used by the young in age and mentality, is deliberately designed to be unreadable to adults. In future it will become shorter and shorter and more and more unintelligible and this will transfer to the spoken word until language will become a system of grunts and we will have reverted to the stone age.
It is all part of a general decline that manifests itself in the speech of politicians and the gradual dumbing down of society that the B.B.C. and government, in particular and the media in general, seem hell-bent on pursuing.
It seems to be a convention on a forum such as this that brevity is best, for those who have written long posts often apologise for having done so. Well I will not apologise fot the length of this piece, I refuse to be a part of the dumbing down process, which caters to those with shorter attention spans.
You may well have already given up on reading this, because it has bored the pants off you. But at least I showed you the courtesy of writing in a clear and as far as possible, error-free manner.
Saludos,
Bob.
Sorry,Bob
I think this statement is inappropriate ;
You seem to forget about all the members that are not English or not native English speaking,let alone writing.
So in a way you are discriminating these members as they don't know all the right grammar and/or spelling.
So lighten up and let's talk graphics or go have a teaching job
I didn't thought you are so serious about this, Bob.
Actually, typing mistakes are very common in everyday written language just as pronunciation mistakes in everyday spoken language. We have to live with this since no one's perfect and most can't afford spending extra time on proofreading all their messages.
I don't think anybody actually cares a lot about it as long as the message is easily decipherable. ;)
Come on Bob, TG is a forum for casual communication where the emphasis should be on as accurate information as is possible for the purpose of helping others use graphics software and to show art or illustrations at many skill levels.Quote:
Originally Posted by iamtheblues
TG is not a literary society where we must take care to display proper skills with the English language.
There is no mandate on spelling at TG and neither should there be any discrimination against those who cannot spell or use good English grammar.
Pointing the finger at anyone who cannot distinguish between weather and whether (or other habitual errors and typos) because it aggravates you privately is unfair and is being a bully.
Courtesy is far more important than grammar or word count, no-one likes unnecessary 3000+ character posts, I know I often skim through such posts, it would be more courteous to be succinct than post prolific prose to press a point.
The dumbing down process usually happens naturally to heavy drinkers and the aged ;)
I agree with Haakoo, please take a break if it annoys you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlotQuote:
Originally Posted by iamtheblues
my answer is correct to the question you asked
as in 'what is an Andover' - it be a town [amongst other things]
not the usual way of putting it, agreed, but grammatically valid in the generic
:)
Not so stricly true.Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
You see, your answer is on question:
"What is an Alot?"
And the original question was:
"What is an alot?"
It's not quite the same, is it? :p :D
well, capital letters are not mandatory for proper nouns in uk english grammer, it's just convention.... ;)
Are you sure?Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
Here: http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/dur.../gramch13.html
Quote:
1. Proper nouns
Names of individual persons or things are referred to as proper nouns. In English, proper nouns must begin with a capital letter. The underlined words in the following sentences are proper nouns.
e.g. The capital of England is London.
My friend, George, is an American.
ah well - that is just what Bob is talking about - evolution
we could get into a discussion about:
the use of
'shall' versus 'will'
'jealous' versus 'envy'
'different 'from' versus 'different than'
whether to pronounce proven to rhyme with proo or pro
if Don Kwiksote was an invention of Cervantes or a creosote salesman......
:D:D
Exactly! :D:D:D
hummmQuote:
Originally Posted by sledger
this is off topic forum is it not?
Bob is standing up for what he believes in, might have been more diplomatic, granted
It's an off-topic forum and we are all just fooling around here... :p
Don't take anything seriously, just relax and write whatever you want! :D
God I love this... :cool:
Steve, please don't pick out a small part of the whole and take it out of context just for the sake of an argument.
If it's an argument you want, PM me for an appointment :D
I want free speech!!!
[you did say not to be too serious didn't you John :D ]
Sure, go out on the street and shout whatever you want... If you sign up and wish to continue posting at TG, you follow rules and kind pointers by moderators.Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
Risto
I did... :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by handrawn
But obviously I'm not a moderador... So better not listen to me... I'm just fooling around! :D:D:D
@ Hans: If you refer to my original post, I mentioned "native language" because I am fully aware and
sensitive to the problem, as I am a foreigner in my adoptive country. Coming to terms with a foreign
language isn't easy. But I had the courtesy to study Spanish for years before moving to live among
Spaniards. I know Spanish words are far easier to spell than English, because there are hard and fast rules regarding spelling linked to pronunciation but the rules seem more random in the English language, where etymology reveals the seemingly capricious nature of English spelling.
German, too, is easier to spell for the same reasons, but it's grammar is almost impossible to crack
for an outsider. Different alphabets in other languages are also huge barriers to the learning
process. My point was, and still, is that poor spelling will hinder the communication process.
@ John: Your point about the message being easily decipherable is exactly right. By using correct
grammar and spelling where possible, is how this is accomplished. I'm pleased you are enjoying this thread too. Although my enjoyment of this discussion has been tempered by the following.
@ sledger: Well done for spotting the deliberate typo. But why you feel the need to try and score
points from it defeats me. TG may not be a literary society, but my point wasn't that it should be.
I would like to point out that I have not "pointed the finger" at any individual on this forum and that
the instances I used have been frequently used my a number of members, past and present. My own
examples of ether/either and fot/for are probably invented by me. Also I resent the inference that I am a bully, and I have always been scrupulously courteous to all at TalkGraphics.
Also, I take issue with your statement that the dumbing down process is a result of drunkeness and
dementia. Nobody is taken in by it, for it is far more insidious than that. It is the fault of the media to
talk to us all as if we were five-year-olds, and for the government to tell us what is best for us in
terms of education. If you make a sweeping generalisation, then you must expect to be gainsaid.
Steve James has already mentioned that this is the Off Topic forum, but it is looking increasingly like
this particular topic will be throttled ere long. We have seen threads locked before because
exception has been taken rather than any forum rules having been broken. What next? Vocabulary
Police? No words with more than three syllables? I've already seen someone chastised for using
too many smilies in their posts, so my thoughts aren't that far-fetched.
I must also state that I did enjoy your alliterative phrasing of "post prolific prose to press a point."
I have taken a break, although why you feel you have the right to say this to me, I cannot imagine.
I have also been told to "lighten up", but as John (Covoxer) has said, we are just fooling around here. I wish that everybody could see that.
I see that this thread is now taking on a life of its own in my absence, I look forward to watching (from the sidelines) how and if it develops.
Saludos,
Bob.
German grammar is nothing comparing to most Slavic languages. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by iamtheblues
It's virtually impossible to learn by understanding, only by practice. Just the same as with English pronunciation. :D
I guess that's why there was Esperanto invented. But who cares? Everyone learns English anyway. :cool:
wasn't serious Risto - irony ;) free speech is a myth, best we can hope for is to be free to speak, which is not at all the same thing is it?
no rules broken - I would be told if it were so, I am sure :)
Not at all Bob...in fact i have read every word every member has ever written in response to anything and everything i have ever posted.Quote:
Originally Posted by iamtheblues
As ultimately we are (and I am) not posting to merely create a monument to a passing thought but to engage others.
not something I myself excel at but I do try.
(And in many ways I often feel like the "Vulcan" trying to make small talk...
to engage both an astrological reference and a star trek one... no mistake I'm sure as Vulcan is the fabled 10th planet which is also said to rule the metal process....I digress....)
And for this reason one could never bore me with the courtesy of a response and an extensive one would probably only serve to encourage me.
To be honest this is the first hit i have got from you in perhaps a half a dozen attempts. (Perhaps i'm getting better at this:))
P.S That was not intended as a criticism or a "bitch" by the way as no response is always preferable to a disingenuous one.
But by all means: post an encyclopedia if your so inclined... if its aimed at me I will surely read it.
You made some good points by the way, I found myself nodding along to most of it.
One thing about me though is that even though i can be opinionated, I don't assume my opinions are necessarily inherently correct simply because I currently hold faith in them.
If presented with a good argument I can and will "turn on a dime".
And I'm happy to report that you have convinced me to make a greater effort with my spelling and choice of words.
And I choose this course not because I want to appease you but rather because I see the value in this and so chose to "buy" the ideas you were "selling".
[Taxi Driver]"Are you talking to me?"[/Taxi Driver]Quote:
Originally Posted by iamtheblues
One other small point that Bob didn't mention ......
If your native language is not English, then understanding badly written/spelt English is even more difficult. Since this is a Worldwide forum, it makes sense that the write as accurately as possible (or as accurately as you are able) is actually helping others to understand what you are saying.
Good point!Quote:
Originally Posted by ss-kalm