British grammar nazis

We may begin with some fundamentals on orthography, of course. I do not spell the nazis with a big letter. Big letters, though they do not always import reverence, are reserved for proper nouns, everywhere except a beginning.

The proper noun Nazis were German nationalists. Some of those bombed London during WWII, which might reasonably connote displeasure on the part of British people.

I do not have and do not need to have other people’s feelings, but thus I do reckon.

Much has been written about the Second World War, including Hitler’s evident lack of linguistic finesse. Therefore, I will do some pondering only, on the British who want to be grammar nazis. ■→The Daily Mash offers a few observations.

The way they selflessly dedicate themselves to correct punctuation, for example by pointing out to the staff of a chip shop why the term >>chip’s<< is a sloppy obfuscation, confirms they are bold and righteous individuals — the article appears full size, with a click ■→here.

On Facebook, grammar nazis share the article, and comment.
This pleases me. A lot!
We are doing a service to the world in helping people be rid of their ignorance!
We knew it all the time!
■→This activity also shows with a click.

It is only after a few lines or whiles that thought occurs.
I suspect someone is taking the p*ss.

Grammar nazis do not get irony, which affirms on them as people of deep disregard for written resources. They remain impoverished by choice. For all and everything British language and more, ■→there is the British Library.

Wikimedia Commons, British Library & St Pancras, CC SA-3.0.

Let me think about statistics and implications. I promise a brief primer on irony, after this indispensable piece of advice about living on the same planet.

The site has about 50 thousand “likes”. Taking the British population alone, that would make about 50 thousand of the oddly deficient, among about 63 million people. Some might say it is not so bad. It is not even one percent.

Still, it could be better to think literacy, going to England: the guys would not have had the UK flag for their capriccio, were it not permitted. Odd types do not dwell in big towns only, but before we go to London, we try for a plain passport photo, that is, without brooches, scarves, ties, anything we do not always wear.

The piffle shows grammar nazis may harbor attention to detail.

We wave the hand broadly, getting a taxi. It is a simple, therefore legible gesture. We get a map with statues and other tourist attractions in large icons. It is better to take a walk from the National Museum than end up the Piccadilly, having nothing but small print, to ask the way.

In hotels, we always tick the boxes. We ask for those straight, should we be provided with a form without boxes to tick. Whatever our precaution, we never ever leave our books or papers unattended: they could get taken for other utilities.

Now, the primer on irony. The basics are in the affirmative and the negative. You do not take them merely for a yes or no. Let me quote the Mash:

In no way are any of these people vain, arsey pedants.

The above does not have to mean a refutation, as ■→Wikipedia here may help comprehend. Life cannot be all about affirming or denying. Let me return to the Mash.

The way they selflessly dedicate themselves to correct punctuation, for example by pointing out to the staff of a chip shop why the term >>chip’s<< is a sloppy obfuscation, confirms they are bold and righteous individuals.

Antonyms and synonyms in context are the answer.

Laying it all out in detail to a grammar nazi looks discouragingly big a task, hence the handful of thoughts and the primary color, ■→yellow (adjective, reference 3).

Grammar nazis do not present own blogs or websites, especially with serious language work. Feedback on linguistic ability takes skill, and no good teacher or language crony would behave like a spellchecker, more, keeping own writing secret, wary of retaliation.

■→This text is also available in Polish.

---

ADVERTISEMENT