Spelling Prompts

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Posted by Debra (here)

I think how we choose and structure words and how we spell them should be honoured as important currency between us all. Because we do read between the lines and content is in form as well as form is in content, it is useful to check in with yourself to be conscious about this.

Great post Debra, and may I say your English - I'm assuming Swedish is your first language - is excellent. In fact, I wish to express my deep admiration and appreciation of all those here who are not native English speakers. The quality, accuracy, and fluency is on the whole very high. Personally, I can only imagine what a challenge that is, especially given the complexity of the eclectic rules in English and a huge vocabulary to learn.

I try to be very mindful of this. Yes sometimes I might have to read a little closer to unravel the grammar and 'decipher' what a post means. I have no problem with that at all, and it's very much the exception rather than the rule. And even with those who are native English-speakers, I know that not everyone has the same command of it in writing. But with the tools at our disposal (eg, MS Word can check grammar as well as spelling), I don't think it's at all unreasonable to expect (from the Anglophones) a certain amount of care and effort in presenting a post.

Long long ago, before the Interwebs, there used to be a thing called 'writing a letter'. A lost art, I'm afraid. I think the same amount of care should be taken writing on a public forum as writing a letter – at least in making it readable. Words are very important, as you said Debra. Words are Power. I might be led to believe that if a post is rushed for example, the text poorly structured, then so might be the train of thought in the argument trying to be expressed.

Yes, there might have been a number of strange or silly threads of late - they come and go - but I think on the whole Avalon is very healthy. There are so many thoughtful, funny, insightful, clever and exceptionally wise people on this board, that I think whatever difficulties arise, whatever choppy waters rock the boat, we'll carry on and be fine. Thanks to Bill and the fantastic mod team, we are in very safe hands!

[Hym]

Thanks Bill. That is an outlook I express in like terms when faced with adversity. It crosses the silly politically correct barriers in a fitting manner, though I often express it in more earthy tomes.

As a recent example, when faced with the truth that I had been blacklisted from a certain film construction crew, one that appreciated my work ethic with an early raise in position and pay-until I insisted my crew get safety masks, I told those that knew them that I insist upon their continual exclusion of me from being hired on their projects. My outlook was/is that the feeling is mutual and not hiring me is my preference. (It does sound better when I use colorful words, but the just gist is there.)

We all would gain so much by reading Mark Twain's works, his deep insights, his use of the language and his unmatched humor. This goes as well for Will Rogers. Both cut to the quick with the insight of angels and the disdain of demons.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Star Mariner (here)
I wish to express my deep admiration and appreciation of all those here who are not native English speakers.

Yes, truly.

In fact — and I do hope everyone understands this quip! — I REALLY REALLY enjoy reading Flash's posts. (For newer members: Flash lives in Montreal, and French is her first language.) They're thoughtful and beautifully crafted, and sometimes very slightly quirky. Her heart and meaning invariably shine through brightly.

It's like listening to a lovely accent. If they suddenly became flawlessly perfect... I'd feel something was lost in translation.

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Yes I heartily echo that, and wish I'd mentioned it. I'm a big fan of Flash too! I always make a point to read you The slightly-not-flawless English is a hallmark all your own - and this is not a gripe, just the opposite, I find it endearing and somehow very soothing to read.

[Foxie Loxie]

Mark Twain, Will Rogers & our own resident "Will Rogers"....JoefromtheCarolinas!! I find his videos delightful!!

[Hym]

Few understand, as many here do, that a slight tweak in the structural construct of things that are seemingly perfect, a misspelled word, a phrase presented in an unusual context, a slight juxtaposition of words... prompts the energetic impetus needed to convey the truth of an idea and instantly remove the stale fog of words that often confine our humanity and purpose. I applaud those who make my life richer, with their own words and their own unique being, sung in these written words.

As we are driven, walked, limousine'd or even wheeled into our communications with each other we strive to be heard or to prompt others to share those things that we value in the listening. I appreciate the classes, the mastery and the care we share in our thoughtful use of this valuable asset we call Avalon.

[Ewan]

Posted by Hervé (here)

Posted by Ewan (here)
Don't have any spell-checker on PC. Sometimes I make mistakes, usually caught on re-reading. If a word doesn't look right I can type it in search box and usually get the correct spelling, or find it was right and still doesn't look right.

They annoy me actually.

A spellchecker would come with the "program" one is typing with: it could either be some MS-word, Open Office, etc... or the browser one uses.

Now I get it, after reading this post regarding the need for precision and accuracy.

I off course meant that none of the programmes that employ an inbuilt spell-checker were enabled when I said I didn't have one on my computer. But I see how that can be misconstrued as an ignorant statement by a non-english speaker, and even a few English speakers. I will endeavour henceforth to be more precise and accurate.

you Hervé

[Catsquotl]

Posted by Foxie Loxie (here)
Sorry if I offended anyone with my "spelling" remark; that was not my intention.

No offence on my side either.
I disagree, but wasn't offended..

With Love
Eelco

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Ewan (here)

Off course, we also have to read what we wrote, after doing the spellcheck!

[Ewan]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by Ewan (here)

Off course, we also have to read what we wrote, after doing the spellcheck!

Damn it man, Bill!

[Wind]

Posted by Mike (here)
I can forgive some sloppiness if the post is broken up into reasonablely sized paragraphs - that goes a long way with me! But if I see a giant block of uninterrupted text, forget it.

I definitely can agree with that. I think that minor spelling errors aren't that big of a deal if the posts otherwise are coherent enough, even though I tend to be a perfectionist and get a bit annoyed by sloppiness sometimes. Paragraphs help a lot, without them long messages are just painful and nearly impossible to read!

And when it comes to spelling errors, we all make them. I make them more when I'm tired, but I always try to edit my messages if I notice that I've made some mistakes. Many of us here don't have English even as our second language, but we just have taken the time to to understand the language to the best of our abilities. Part of thanks goes to our education system here in Scandinavia. Then again I've always found the English language quite fascinating and easy to use.

Text based communication is much different from verbal communication, sure it creates more room for misunderstandings, but I think it's still it's own unique beautiful way of communicating ideas and thoughts. As people have said here, words have power. We all leave our unique footprint with our messages, there's a different type of flavor to them and I think it's fascinating.

[Hervé]

Well, while Ewan is under the spotlight of a microscope lens and for the sake of precision and accuracy:

Posted by Ewan (here)
Don't have any spell-checker on PC....
[...]

I see how that can be misconstrued as an ignorant statement by a non-english speaker

My point of contention is that the first quoted statement couldn't be construed any other way than as stated and therefore couldn't be misconstrued as inferred in that second quoted statement... doesn't matter whether the reader is English or non-English speaker unless it's an unusual dialect of an area that's being used.

Now, how about some punctuation so that "as an ignorant statement" can be correctly attributed?

Is it an ignorant statement by a non-English speaker?

Or is it a qualifier for the statement itself?

See, THAT can be terribly misconstrued and the launch pad for a flame war

you too Ewan

[Ewan]

Double damn!


I know what I meant.

So embarrassed here.

The correct attribution is even more important isn't it..

..guess I'll have to double the endeavour also.

[Flash]

Posted by Hervé (here)
Well, while Ewan is under the spotlight of a microscope lens and for the sake of precision and accuracy:

Posted by Ewan (here)
Don't have any spell-checker on PC....
[...]

I see how that can be misconstrued as an ignorant statement by a non-english speaker

My point of contention is that the first quoted statement couldn't be construed any other way than as stated and therefore couldn't be misconstrued as inferred in that second quoted statement... doesn't matter whether the reader is English or non-English speaker unless it's an unusual dialect of an area that's being used.

Now, how about some punctuation so that "as an ignorant statement" can be correctly attributed?

Is it an ignorant statement by a non-English speaker?

Or is it a qualifier for the statement itself?

See, THAT can be terribly misconstrued and the launch pad for a flame war

you too Ewan

ok you lost me guys, Hervé, I am jealous of your mastering of the English Language and French as well.

Numérobis : Je viens Madame vous demander une accordance. C'est-à-dire de m'accordifier toute l'aidance. Mais l'aidance du verbe aider, hein.

ou

Numérobis : Et le mec, il lui dit c'est le phare à "On", parce qu'il s'appelle "On", le mec… Le mec, il s'appelle "On", et "On" il a un phare, c'est son appartenance. Il lui dit c'est le phare à "On" !… Le mec ! Il s'appelle "On" ! Il lui dit c'est son phare ! Et bah le Pharaon ! Qui est comme le chef de nous !

Bonne journée à tous!

[Flash]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by Star Mariner (here)
I wish to express my deep admiration and appreciation of all those here who are not native English speakers.

Yes, truly.

In fact — and I do hope everyone understands this quip! — I REALLY REALLY enjoy reading Flash's posts. (For newer members: Flash lives in Montreal, and French is her first language.) They're thoughtful and beautifully crafted, and sometimes very slightly quirky. Her heart and meaning invariably shine through brightly.

It's like listening to a lovely accent. If they suddenly became flawlessly perfect... I'd feel something was lost in translation.

Many many thanks for your post. Even though I had to look up "quirky" in the dictionary lolll. I did not know I had any impact or was crafting my posts in a nice manner, I just write what i think/feel, trying to convey it properly and to understand/feel my co-avalonians as well.

to tell the truth, I like the forum and I like to have people from many places worldwide on it.

And thanks again, even though I just blasted Joe from the Carolinas, in the Silly season thread, on second/third languages difficulties and incomprehension from Americans on the difficulties it entails. Makes me feel somewhat guilty

[petra]

Hi All, i just logged in so i could thank some people on this thread. What a great thread. Also i must say...... i do not know how the heck Mike uses PA on his phone. I have never tried the forum from a phone before, and i have 4 words for it.. “next to near impossible” 😀