Literally... :(

~~James~~ · 05-21-2014, 07:21 PM

Literally has been used in this manner for over a hundred years. It's not new or a big deal. People that care about pedantic things like this are literally wasting their lives and that's using it correctly.

**Janszoon** · 05-21-2014, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

Literally has been used in this manner for over a hundred years. It's not new or a big deal. People that care about pedantic things like this are literally wasting their lives and that's using it correctly.

It's still annoying.

~~James~~ · 05-21-2014, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

It's still annoying.

I respectfully disagree. I think it works when it's used in a humorous way, while it can be a bit jarring when people use it in a serious discussion. I think there's something funny about someone clarifying that their statement is correct when it is not. It's like saying 'no joke I just hiroshima'd that toilet' obviously that is a joke and part of the appeal comes from the serious way a ridiculous thing is being said.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 05-21-2014, 07:32 PM

I literally can't believe there is a problem here.

Neapolitan · 05-21-2014, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

I was reading another thread and to no surprise someone misused the word irony. It reminded me of this:

According to the dictionary, “literally” now also means “figuratively” - Salon.com

I am not a grammar nazi by any means and I'm sure my posts include a lot of errors but this just seems so wrong. At least I try to be correct.

**Janszoon** · 05-21-2014, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

I respectfully disagree. I think it works when it's used in a humorous way, while it can be a bit jarring when people use it in a serious discussion. I think there's something funny about someone clarifying that their statement is correct when it is not. It's like saying 'no joke I just hiroshima'd that toilet' obviously that is a joke and part of the appeal comes from the serious way a ridiculous thing is being said.

If someone intentionally uses it incorrectly to be funny that's fine. I'm talking about when people use it incorrectly because they literally don't understand what it means.

Neapolitan · 05-21-2014, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Much has been made of the use, misuse and overuse of the word “literally.”

Literally, of course, means something that is actually true: “Literally every pair of shoes I own was ruined when my apartment flooded.”

When we use words not in their normal literal meaning but in a way that makes a description more impressive or interesting, the correct word, of course, is “figuratively.”

In this case "literally's" meaning literally hasn't change. I think people miss the point in that sentence. You have to understand that "every pair of shoes" is a hyperbole, and it only works as a hyperbole, and retains its irony if "literally" retains its meaning.

A hyperbole is "an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally." Hyperbole | Define Hyperbole at Dictionary.com Otherwise if you started the sentence with "figuratively" you literally loose the irony of the hyperbole, and it wouldn't make much sense imo. Even though not all the shoes were not ruined, the ones that were could not be “figuratively” ruined, if they were actually ruined.

Paedantic Basterd · 05-21-2014, 08:21 PM

I hate this, but the reality of linguistics is that the written word represents language, not vice versa, and although our culture places prestige on the written word, for it to serve its function, it must be updated with the meanings held by our language.

Thus language wins, they're right to do it.

DwnWthVwls · 05-21-2014, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

If someone intentionally uses it incorrectly to be funny that's fine. I'm talking about when people use it incorrectly because they literally don't understand what it means.

This.

Also how is "every pair of shoes" a hyperbole? If a person owns 3 pairs of shoes and said "I literally lost 3 pairs of shoes when my apartment flooded", is that a hyperbole"? It sounds stupid to say but it is not over-exaggerated.

Even if the sentence is a bad example the point of the topic shouldn't be overlooked.

Neapolitan · 05-21-2014, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

This.

Also how is "every pair of shoes" a hyperbole?

Because if every single pair of shoes were ruined you could literally tell by the fact he was barefooted when he told the story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

If a person owns 3 pairs of shoes and said "I literally lost 3 pairs of shoes when my apartment flooded", is that a hyperbole"? It sounds stupid to say but it is not over-exaggerated.

If it is quantized and you suspect that he is telling the truth in this case that 3 pairs of shoes were ruined then it is not a hyperbole, because you can take what he said literally. Now if he said he lost 3 million pairs of shoes then yes, it is a hyperbole, because hopefully you should know your friend does not own three million pairs of shoes. The point is you are suppose to read between the lines, and figure things out for yourself and not get bent out of share over little things, like he said "all" and I know for a fact it wasn't "all." How dare he!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

Even if the sentence is a bad example the point of the topic shouldn't be overlooked.

Some person misused the word "irony" in a post. Who, what, where, when and how?

05-21-2014, 07:32 PM	#34 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	I literally can't believe there is a problem here. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

05-21-2014, 07:21 PM	#31 (permalink)
~~James~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,483	Literally has been used in this manner for over a hundred years. It's not new or a big deal. People that care about pedantic things like this are literally wasting their lives and that's using it correctly.

05-21-2014, 08:21 PM	#38 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I hate this, but the reality of linguistics is that the written word represents language, not vice versa, and although our culture places prestige on the written word, for it to serve its function, it must be updated with the meanings held by our language. Thus language wins, they're right to do it.