tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8507136945842934293.post7753041424632305880..comments2023-09-21T06:15:03.099-07:00Comments on Conjugate Visits: Don't Assume the Boss is Grammar-Smarter Than You -- Especially If the Boss Works in HollywoodJune Casagrandehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00363096837053080969noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8507136945842934293.post-10350654744354169382008-08-21T14:16:00.000-07:002008-08-21T14:16:00.000-07:00Yeah, the Italian method is hard to get used to. B...Yeah, the Italian method is hard to get used to. But after a couple weeks in class, I started to see its benefits.<BR/><BR/>The very idea that in English we use the same letter to form plurals and possessives -- and that it's the same letter that's often contracted for "is" -- well, that's just evil.<BR/><BR/>Pizze it is.June Casagrandehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363096837053080969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8507136945842934293.post-16499846075205795102008-08-21T14:08:00.000-07:002008-08-21T14:08:00.000-07:00My first thought to your question was, well "pizze...My first thought to your question was, well "pizze" of course!<BR/><BR/>That would be the Italian plural. Never studied the language long enough to get deeply into mass and count nouns, although it did seem like they pluralize just about everything, maybe because they do it so beautifully (changing vowels at the end, instead of all those messy S's (which is a pain in the tush to pluralize on its own).LL Blackwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09921100359598254068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8507136945842934293.post-16387762240539714012008-08-15T17:53:00.000-07:002008-08-15T17:53:00.000-07:00I'm laughing at the perverseness line, but I hope ...I'm laughing at the perverseness line, but I hope it really was meant in jest. <BR/><BR/>Yes, you do have a really unique relationship with words. I see the (let's call it) intimacy you're talking about. But unless it's taking you down some dark roads I won't know about till I see you on "To Catch a Parser," it's a GOOD thing!<BR/><BR/>So, happinesses all around.<BR/><BR/>Re the other stuff, I agree it gets fuzzy and dissectable and interesting. That's why I tried to choose my words carefully, not ruling out "happinesses" altogether but not to slip into a sort of morass of mealymouthiness (which is always a danger for me, middle child that I am).June Casagrandehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00363096837053080969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8507136945842934293.post-53443893290731326732008-08-15T17:33:00.000-07:002008-08-15T17:33:00.000-07:00So now this is like a train wreck or some sort of ...So now this is like a train wreck or some sort of evil vortex. My mind irrationally gravitates to the thought of plural pizza. Yes, I get what your saying and I would never say "two pizza" (though I find myself increasingly tempted so I shouldn't categorically rule it out; yes, actually, it makes more sense the more I look at it). On the other hand, I am much more likely to speak of "some pizza" than "a pizza" and my brain just wants to get lost in the plurality of its <I>mass</I>ness. It's that tongue to the missing tooth thing again. Eek.<BR/><BR/>I do appreciate this post and it is helpful. But it comes with it's own special hazards--maybe just for some of us, I suppose.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and think that "many happinesses," like "very dead," is not only valid, but beautiful, compelling and fun--and, yes, somehow, part of what breathes life into the language. And I can't help but wonder about the potential <I>mass</I>ness of erstwhile countable nouns and the countability of other ostensibly nebulous masses. Sometimes I'm convinced there's something perverse about my relationship with words.<BR/><BR/>Or maybe I just shouldn't respond to your blog late on a Friday afternoon. . . .Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05550742712966484303noreply@blogger.com