Syntactic change/

[Wilson Gray]

Given that you're accustomed to hearing it, John, and that I've now found it
in print, it bodes ill for the future. ;-) BTW, the title was meant to read,
"Syntactic change?" and not "Syntactic change/" Oh, well.

-Wilson

On 4/20/06, Baker, John <JMB at stradley.com> wrote:
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Baker, John" <JMB at STRADLEY.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Syntactic change/
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>         Jon has a low threshold for signs of the apocalypse. I've heard
> versions of this for some time, and I'm always struck by it as an
> example of ambiguity in ordinary language.  "Any 32-bit CPU doesn't fit
> your needs" can mean either "no 32-bit CPU fits your needs" or "not
> every 32-bit CPU fits your needs."  (In this case, of course, the
> lead-in makes it clear that the former meaning is intended.)
>
>         While its advanced age may disqualify it as an apocalyptic sign,
> it is certainly a usage that I disdain.
>
> John Baker
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> Of Jonathan Lighter
> Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 4:47 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Syntactic change/
>
> SOTA.
>
>   JL
>
> Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>   ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Wilson Gray
> Subject: Syntactic change/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------
>
> From SlashDot:
>
> "You can completely ignore this [difference between a 32-bit CPU and a
> 64-bit CPU], because
>
> _any_ 32-bit CPU _doesn't_ fit your needs."
>
> Don't people usually say "... because _no_ 32-bit CPU fits your needs"?
>
> Or do I simply need to get out more?
>
> -Wilson Gray
>
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