Glyn
Bronze
Posts: 87
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Post by Glyn on Jul 16, 2008 9:37:30 GMT
Ben Clarke posted this on the APS:
Every so often I hear or read 'write me' as in, 'write me every day.' Is this a style thing because surely it should be 'write to me'? Are there any other examples of this kind of word omission?
I would only use "write me" when there is a following direct object - write me a letter every day - following the normal practice of omitting "to" with verbs of sending/giving when the indirect object precedes the direct object. In other circumstances, I feel that "to" is required (and sounds better) though it's certainly common practice, particularly in North America, to omit it, unless there is a preceding direct object.
I would propose the following:
a. Write a letter b. Write him a letter c. Write a letter to him d. Write to me soon e. Write to me about your findings
Though the meanings of "e-mail" include "send an e-mail to", thus E-mail him about it, I don't feel that "write" means "send a letter to".
Thoughts, folks?
Glyn
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Post by Twoddle on Jul 16, 2008 9:46:14 GMT
It seems to be a regional thing, Glyn, as you've suggested. They do the same in Scotland: "I'll write you".
Like you, I find it a strange and unnatural practice but, with the tendency for the Great British Unwashed to adopt blindly anything they hear on American films and TV programmes, I think we're stuck with it (most unfortunately).
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Post by Verbivore on Jul 16, 2008 10:38:26 GMT
[...] with the tendency for the Great British Unwashed to adopt blindly anything they hear on American films and TV programmes, I think we're stuck with it (most unfortunately). An example, perhaps, of techno-cultural (linguistic) imperialism, Twod? Although I am quite familiar with write me (mainly through having read a lot of American literature), to me it looks / sounds "unnatural" in an Australian context. (For those who weren't around years ago when I introduced the term techno-cultural imperialism, here is my take on it: www.verbivore.com.au/index.php?page=Online+Lexicon&word=techno-cultural%20imperialism.)
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Post by Vadim on Jul 16, 2008 12:39:43 GMT
I knew I forgot (to do - omitted for emphasis of my point) something this morning! I doubt, Glyn, that the person using this means "send a letter to" either. I think it is based on where it is used. I sometimes use "write me" to mean "e-mail me back". Sometimes (God forbid you oldies ever use a mobile telephone!) I even use it in an SMS ( a SMS?) when expecting a reply to that form of communication. I think so, Vv. As "we" remove letters, and even entire words, to make communication easier( open to debate) and quicker (again open to debate), as well as saving cost in telegrams, once it becomes accepted, well, isn't it then "correct" (in the sense that something can be "correct")? I think, with respect, it is used merely in informal communication, and therefore, doesn't really have to conform to the "standards" so strictly set by Vvs?
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Post by Verbivore on Jul 16, 2008 13:03:50 GMT
[...] I think, with respect, it is used merely in informal communication, and therefore, doesn't really have to conform to the "standards" so strictly set by Vvs? Strictly set by Vv mainly for himself and his clients; if a client has no house style, he/she/it has mine imposed on any work I do. If a client doesn't supply a sound house style guide then I must. The Verbivore Lexicon embodies much of the Vv house style. One of the reasons I established the Vv Lexicon was because no such online service existed (at that time) for Australian writers / writers of Australian-intended material. One aspect of globalisation that I really loathe is the homogenisation of cultures - including language variants such as British, US, Australian (and other) Englishes. Cultural differences are, to me, far too precious to lose merely because one or another culture is dominant - especially via the unrelenting power of modern mass media - radio, tv, Internet, film ... . Whilst I wouldn't go quite so far as to ban cultural miscegenation, I do my best not to promote it or engage in it (at least as far as I'm conscious of it). I strongly believe in diversity and its maintenance. I want the British to remain distinctly British, Americans to remain American, Aussies to remain Australian, and so forth. So many authors who bring me their work have, through ignorance (and the influence of techno-cultural imperialism) used linguistic styles that are more characteristic of American writing than of Australian, and this marks their work as anomalous. I insist that "my" authors use styles that are culturally appropriate to the majority of their intended readership. If they aren't prepared to do that (or have me amend their work accordingly), they can go elsewhere (which, in my town, is nowhere). For that I make no apology - but a goodly income.
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Post by Vadim on Jul 16, 2008 13:08:46 GMT
Sorry, Vv! I actually meant Verbivores (classifying those who "insist that [...] authors use styles that are culturally appropriate to the majority of their intended readership", as Verbivores). I didn't mean you personally Vv, hence why I said Vvs, as I'm assuming, there is only one true Vv! ;D
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Post by Dave M on Jul 16, 2008 13:16:39 GMT
I think I've previously looked it up and found that "write me" is the old form, and "write to me" the relatively new form - and it's because the old form has survived in the States (and cut-off Scotland) that it now has an American appearance.
I note, though, that Fowler says the write him pattern "is to be condemned". So there!
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Post by Paul Doherty on Jul 16, 2008 22:26:41 GMT
Fowler may have been speaking for British English; American English quite normally missed out several words we (used to) think essential: flee the storm, appeal the verdict, one hundred two.
We may not say write me, but we do say text me, phone me, ring me and call me, strangely.
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Post by Pete on Jul 17, 2008 16:41:41 GMT
Fowler may have been speaking for British English; American English quite normally missed out several words we (used to) think essential: flee the storm, appeal the verdict, one hundred two. We may not say write me, but we do say text me, phone me, ring me and call me, strangely. Isn't that because 'write' is intransitive and the others are all transitive? Or vice versa? Or am I typing drivel?
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Post by goofy on Jul 17, 2008 17:23:34 GMT
Isn't that because 'write' is intransitive and the others are all transitive? Or vice versa? Or am I typing drivel? write is transitive: write a letter. Like you, I find it a strange and unnatural practice but, with the tendency for the Great British Unwashed to adopt blindly anything they hear on American films and TV programmes, I think we're stuck with it (most unfortunately). I am guessing, along with Dave M, that write me is the older form, or at least as old as write to me, as we can see: Mé geþúhte wrítan ðé - "it seemed good to me to write thee" and from Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde:Byseche I yow ... That hereupon ye wolden write me. This write me~write to me alternation is know as the dative alternation.
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Post by Geoff on Jul 17, 2008 21:11:01 GMT
Fowler may have been speaking for British English; American English quite normally missed out several words we (used to) think essential ... This morning I received an e-mail from the makers of some software I use. The e-mail was offering me another program they have in their stable. The following two passages [with my emphasis] are taken from the e-mail: Rip/Encode Music into aacPlus, AAC, MP3, and WMA! With Winamp Pro, you can rip all your favorite music CDs into the industry leading MP3 format. When all your songs are encoded in MP3, it provides you the freedom to play them in all MP3 capable hardware and software media players. Your ripping doesn't end with the MP3 format, you'll also have the ability to rip into aacPlus, AAC, MP3, and WMA! Another bonus to Winamp Pro is the ability to rip HE-AAC at >128k bitrate!
WinAmp enables you to burn your favorite music compilations at your computer's full potential. It provides you the freedom to play them in all MP3 capable hardware and software media players. Plus, get unlimited downloads of music, movies and games - Free! With over 16 billion files, and 250 million users, you are sure to find what you want. Yes, the company making the offer is American.
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Post by Vadim on Jul 18, 2008 8:07:45 GMT
[...]When all your songs are encoded in MP3, it provides you the freedom to play [...] It provides you the freedom to [...] It seems to me that two options could've been used here: [/b]the freedom to ... [2] It gives you the freedom to... [/ul]
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Post by Geoff on Jul 18, 2008 11:08:15 GMT
It seems to me that two options could've been used here: [/b]the freedom to ... [2] It gives you the freedom to... [/ul] [/quote] Agreed. I gave the extracts as examples of the style of writing, such as write me, where words have been omitted, and as some sort of support for the idea that the style might be more common in America.
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Post by Paul Doherty on Jul 18, 2008 13:39:16 GMT
Another one is pissed. In the past, if (as a brit) I was pissed with someone, I'd have been drunk in their company. If I was annoyed I'd have been pissed off with them. That distinction has gone (along with off), I think.
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Post by Paul Doherty on Jul 18, 2008 13:42:38 GMT
Someone (in their twenties) was telling me that her friend was "really pissed". I wasn't sure whether they'd had a row or whether the friend been celebrating, so I tried to clarify and was told "no, she's cool with me". I still wasn't sure!
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