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Tallaran Kouros
Caldari Arcane Alliance
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:15:00 -
[1]
Why do (and it seems to mostly be) Americans say that?
In British English the expression if "I couldn't care less" as in, you care so little about the issue and it's simply not possible to have any further lack or care - you couldn't care less.
Simple, straightforward.
Now I know in American English the equivilent expression is "I could care less" but why? WHY? *WHY*?
It's actually saying that it *IS* possible for you to care less, that you DO have some degree of care.
Call it pedantry of the highest order but this is one of those things that really, really bugs me.
I believe in plain speaking and saying what you mean and meaning what you say, and such an expression just runs completely contrary to it.
And please, don't anyone get me started on the abomination that is the expression "PIN number"!
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JitaBum
Gallente Center for Advanced Studies
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:31:00 -
[2]
Just laziness, to say "couldn't" requires effort which would be better spent chompin down on a Big Mac
Probably.
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Corwain
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:38:00 -
[3]
Because of the way languages evolve and colloquialisms take on meaning of their own. -- Distortion| Distortion 2 Preview |
TimMc
Gallente Brutal Deliverance
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:41:00 -
[4]
Surely "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less" are two different meanings?
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ReaperOfSly
Gallente Zetsubou Corp
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:45:00 -
[5]
Originally by: TimMc Surely "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less" are two different meanings?
You'd think so, wouldn't you. But the Americans seem to derive a great deal of glee in mangling the English language beyond recognition. ____________________
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Tallaran Kouros
Caldari Arcane Alliance
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:46:00 -
[6]
Originally by: TimMc Surely "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less" are two different meanings?
Well yes.
If you remove the contraction then one is "I could care less" and the other is "I could not care less".
They both seem pretty contradictory to me, but apparently they are one and the same in American English.
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THE L0CK
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:51:00 -
[7]
I could care less about this thread and the language nazi's within it.
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MyOwnSling
Gallente Macabre Votum Morsus Mihi
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:51:00 -
[8]
Edited by: MyOwnSling on 19/05/2009 14:51:22
Originally by: Tallaran Kouros
Originally by: TimMc Surely "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less" are two different meanings?
Well yes.
If you remove the contraction then one is "I could care less" and the other is "I could not care less".
They both seem pretty contradictory to me, but apparently they are one and the same in American English.
They are not one and the same in American English. Some of us simply don't know the correct saying (I think it comes down to laziness/apathy and a lack of precision when using the language). Then again, for some, it could just be intentional and a sarcastic variation of the original. I, personally, avoid using the expression.
Also, in after the lock. -------------
Originally by: Puupuu dude... your face...
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ReaperOfSly
Gallente Zetsubou Corp
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:52:00 -
[9]
Originally by: THE L0CK I could care less about this thread and the language nazi's within it.
There's always one isn't there? ____________________
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TimMc
Gallente Brutal Deliverance
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Posted - 2009.05.19 14:57:00 -
[10]
Edited by: TimMc on 19/05/2009 14:57:09
Originally by: Tallaran Kouros
Well yes.
If you remove the contraction then one is "I could care less" and the other is "I could not care less".
They both seem pretty contradictory to me, but apparently they are one and the same in American English.
Don't really hear it being used much anyway, we usually just say "I don't give a toss/****/****s ass/(insert word)".
But yes it is bizzare any slightly annoying that they've dropped the "n't" simply out of laziness. Maybe we should start air dropping oxford dictionaries in america and see if that helps.
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ReaperOfSly
Gallente Zetsubou Corp
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:06:00 -
[11]
Originally by: TimMc Edited by: TimMc on 19/05/2009 14:57:09
Originally by: Tallaran Kouros
Well yes.
If you remove the contraction then one is "I could care less" and the other is "I could not care less".
They both seem pretty contradictory to me, but apparently they are one and the same in American English.
Don't really hear it being used much anyway, we usually just say "I don't give a toss/****/****s ass/(insert word)".
But yes it is bizzare any slightly annoying that they've dropped the "n't" simply out of laziness. Maybe we should start air dropping oxford dictionaries in america and see if that helps.
That I would love to see.
Trouble is, if they see you dropping stuff out of a plane, you'll probably get shot down. ____________________
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Reven Cordelle
Caldari Yamainu-Mirai Heavy Industries
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:17:00 -
[12]
ATM Machine.
:3
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THE L0CK
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:29:00 -
[13]
I wonder what the terminal velocity of a oxford Dictionary could do to a person. Would we be able to consider that as a act of terrorism giving us sufficient rights to 'liberate' England?
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Tallaran Kouros
Caldari Arcane Alliance
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:32:00 -
[14]
Originally by: THE L0CK I wonder what the terminal velocity of a oxford Dictionary could do to a person. Would we be able to consider that as a act of terrorism giving us sufficient rights to 'liberate' England?
Go on right ahead.
I'm in Scotland, so I couldn't care less what you do to my southerly neighbours ;)
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KingsGambit
Caldari Knights
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:39:00 -
[15]
You ask this of a nation that pronounces "herb" as "an 'erb" despite the quite clear inclusion of an 'H' in it? -------------
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Alexeph Stoekai
Stoekai Corp
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:44:00 -
[16]
I once shot a man in Reno, just because he couldn't handle simple grammar.
Seriously, "could care less" is one of the few things that could bring me to hurt a person. |
Reven Cordelle
Caldari Yamainu-Mirai Heavy Industries
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:45:00 -
[17]
Originally by: KingsGambit You ask this of a nation that pronounces "herb" as "an 'erb" despite the quite clear inclusion of an 'H' in it?
What are you talking about, nothing wrong with a variety of 15 'URBZ AND SPICEZ. |
THE L0CK
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:53:00 -
[18]
Originally by: Alexeph Stoekai I once shot a man in Reno, just because he couldn't handle simple grammar.
Seriously, "could care less" is one of the few things that could bring me to hurt a person.
Maybe he was informing that he still had a small amount of care left on his Care-o-meter meaning that it was possible for him to care less. Course that probably changed after he got shot n all..... |
Tallaran Kouros
Caldari Arcane Alliance
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Posted - 2009.05.19 15:57:00 -
[19]
Originally by: THE L0CK
Maybe he was informing that he still had a small amount of care left on his Care-o-meter meaning that it was possible for him to care less. Course that probably changed after he got shot n all.....
I would imagine he had quite significant levels of care and concern once he had been shot.
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Micheal Dietrich
Caldari
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:03:00 -
[20]
Edited by: Micheal Dietrich on 19/05/2009 16:04:20
Originally by: Tallaran Kouros
Originally by: THE L0CK
Maybe he was informing that he still had a small amount of care left on his Care-o-meter meaning that it was possible for him to care less. Course that probably changed after he got shot n all.....
I would imagine he had quite significant levels of care and concern once he had been shot.
I wouldn't if I were shot. Be more like significant levels pf pain and ****ed.
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TimMc
Gallente Brutal Deliverance
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:13:00 -
[21]
Originally by: THE L0CK I wonder what the terminal velocity of a oxford Dictionary could do to a person. Would we be able to consider that as a act of terrorism giving us sufficient rights to 'liberate' England?
Only if they can convince you reading english english will give you swine flu.
or we have laced the pages with anthrax.
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Xrak
Black Eclipse Corp KenZoku
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:20:00 -
[22]
Originally by: Reven Cordelle ATM Machine.
:3
I put my PIN number into that.
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Mr Reeth
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:28:00 -
[23]
Edited by: Mr Reeth on 19/05/2009 16:38:49 Edited by: Mr Reeth on 19/05/2009 16:38:07 I don't think I've ever said "could" instead of "couldn't." I'm not even sure it's fair to say it's an American thing. It may be regional.
But I do love it when Brits ***** about American English when they have their own issues with people mangling the language.
Also read this ya limey bastards!
From around 1600, the English colonization of North America resulted in the creation of a distinct American variety of English. Some English pronunciations and words "froze" when they reached America. In some ways, American English is more like the English of Shakespeare than modern British English is. Some expressions that the British call "Americanisms" are in fact original British expressions that were preserved in the colonies while lost for a time in Britain (for example trash for rubbish, loan as a verb instead of lend, and fall for autumn; another example, frame-up, was re-imported into Britain through Hollywood gangster movies). Spanish also had an influence on American English (and subsequently British English), with words like canyon, ranch, stampede and vigilante being examples of Spanish words that entered English through the settlement of the American West. French words (through Louisiana) and West African words (through the slave trade) also influenced American English (and so, to an extent, British English).
Today, American English is particularly influential, due to the USA's dominance of cinema, television, popular music, trade and technology (including the Internet). But there are many other varieties of English around the world, including for example Australian English, New Zealand English, Canadian English, South African English, Indian English and Caribbean English.
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JordanParey
Minmatar Suddenly Ninjas
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:35:00 -
[24]
..does it REALLY matter that much, if they are taken to mean the same thing?
"I could care less..."
Maybe we use "could" instead of "couldn't" to imply that we care so little, we can't even be bothered with proper grammar when describing the thing/event/whatever we don't care about.
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THE L0CK
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:38:00 -
[25]
Originally by: TimMc
Originally by: THE L0CK I wonder what the terminal velocity of a oxford Dictionary could do to a person. Would we be able to consider that as a act of terrorism giving us sufficient rights to 'liberate' England?
Only if they can convince you reading english english will give you swine flu.
or we have laced the pages with anthrax.
You mean dropping a book that weighs several pounds from an altitude of about 10,000 ft over a city like New York where airplanes already induce panic isn't enough reason to get up in arms about that you feel we need to bring up a false threat to include with the brochure?
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Jacob Mei
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:48:00 -
[26]
How long has it been since the first permanant colony? You seriously didnt think that some diffrences between the way English speak and spell compared to the way Americans speak and spell wouldnt creep in in the 400+ years since then? -------------------------------- To borrow a phrase:
Players who post are like stars, there are bright ones and those who are dim.
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Vak'ran
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:49:00 -
[27]
Originally by: Xrak
Originally by: Reven Cordelle ATM Machine.
:3
I put my PIN number into that.
you think that's bad?
in my language its turned into a PIN code, and we do something that translates as PINing when using a thing that translates simply as a money machine.... -----
Vak'Ran is your local official non-dedicated part-time advocate of reading comprehension and proliferation of intelligence on the EVE Online Forums. |
Atnal
Raddick Explorations
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Posted - 2009.05.19 16:59:00 -
[28]
Why do I drive on a parkway and park on a driveway.
Why is it apartments when they're together?
I don't know and don't care.
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Zenkai
Gallente PROGENITOR CORPORATION Intrepid Crossing
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Posted - 2009.05.19 17:25:00 -
[29]
Originally by: JitaBum Just laziness, to say "couldn't" requires effort which would be better spent saving my ass from the Germans
Probably.
Fixed ;-)
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zibelthurdos
Concrete Developments LOADED CONCRETE
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Posted - 2009.05.19 17:29:00 -
[30]
Hwil Hwheaton ----------------------------------------------- Don't think of it as dying, Think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush |
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