the verbs SUBSTITUTE

[Joel S. Berson]

If the doctor's note says "substitute X for Y" and the person writing
up the prescription has the opposite understanding -- e.g.,
"substitute X with Y", is there not a danger to the patient?

Joel

At 4/26/2011 07:36 PM, Arnold Zwicky wrote:
>On Apr 26, 2011, at 11:21 AM, Joel Berson quotes:
>
> > From: Arnold Zwicky <zwicky at STANFORD.EDU>
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > Sent: Tue, April 26, 2011 10:39:48 AM
> > Subject: [ADS-L] the verbs SUBSTITUTE
> >
> > ... Understandably, many speakers have trouble interpreting
> reversed substitute,
> > which functions as the converse of the standard verb.  You have to rely on
> > context to figure out which meaning is intended.
>
>and asks:
> >
> > What context does the person reading the doctor's order or
> prescription have?
>
>the context of background knowledge and common-sense reasoning.  if
>you assume "original substitute", the passage makes no sense, so if
>you're cooperative you have to cast about for other possibilities.
>
>yes, if this is an early experience for you with "reversed
>substitute", this takes work.  and yes, when you start this work,
>the sentence is potentially ambiguous, with exactly converse readings.
>
>(innovations frequently lead to potential ambiguities, which can
>usually be resolved in context -- but not always.  but even
>effective ambiguities are scarcely a disaster.)
>
>this is with reference to:
>
>Charlie Doyle to ADS-L 4/25/11:
>
>  >My wife is suffering a bout of diverticulitis, so I did the
> normal thing:  I consulted WebMD.  Dr. Web, however, seems to be a
> sadist:  "What about seeds and nuts? There's no evidence these
> foods cause diverticulitis flares. But if you feel they trigger
> your symptoms, substitute them for other high-fiber foods."<
>
>arnold
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org