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Coronavirus is wrecking the English language De persoon die dit onderwerp heeft geplaatst: Tom in London
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Tom in London
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Local time: 03:04
Lid 2008
Italiaans naar Engels
To social distance - yes, a verb!
Example: not enough people are social distancing.
Horrors like this are side-effects of Covid 19. One more reason to hope that a cure may be found soon. Which may hopefully also include a cure for the wrecked English language.
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| Noun to verb | Mar 24, 2020 |
I always thought in English every noun could be verbed, and after being coronavirused for a while, you won't feel it any longer.
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| American English | Mar 24, 2020 |
In Reddit, Americans say social distancing is not clear. They expect more concrete expression such as personal isolation, physical separation against epidemics.
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Tom in London
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Local time: 03:04
Lid 2008
Italiaans naar Engels
ONDERWERPSTARTER
Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.) wrote:
In Reddit, Americans say social distancing is not clear. They expect more concrete expression such as personal isolation, physical separation against epidemics.
"social distancing" as a noun seems OK but "I am social distancing" (as a verb) is horrible. What's wrong with "keeping a distance"?
[Edited at 2020-03-24 09:17 GMT]
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Lingua 5B 
Bosnië en Herzegovina
Local time: 04:04
Lid 2009
Engels naar Kroatisch
+ ...
| Different concept. | Mar 24, 2020 |
Tom in London wrote:
Soonthon LUPKITARO(Ph.D.) wrote:
In Reddit, Americans say social distancing is not clear. They expect more concrete expression such as personal isolation, physical separation against epidemics.
"social distancing" as a noun seems OK but "I am social distancing" (as a verb) is horrible. What's wrong with "keeping a distance"? [Edited at 2020-03-24 09:17 GMT]
This is a concept broader than simply keeping a distance, that's why the term you suggested doesn't fit. Keeping a distance only applies to physical distance while "social distancing" in the context of the current situation involves much more such as avoiding spending too much time outside, completing your errands in shortest time possible etc, "keeping a distance" is just one part of it. If a term is functional, it doesn't matter if it is not liked by certain individuals on a subjective level. New concept/new situation, new term coined, it happens all the time.
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Samuel Murray
Nederland
Local time: 04:04
Lid 2006
Engels naar Afrikaans
+ ...
Tom in London wrote:
Example: not enough people are social distancing.
Example: please tell your friends to social distance.
I agree that this is bad English, but at the same time it is to be expected. No-one has the energy to say "please tell your friends to apply social distancing" or "not enough people are adhering to social distancing".
Tom in London wrote:
What's wrong with "keeping a distance"?
"Social distancing" only means "keeping a distance" figuratively. While social distancing does include keeping a distance, it also includes avoiding situations or reducing activities that involve in-person social contact or personal proximity. Ideally, a translator (or an author) would decide what is truly meant in his text, and apply a phrasing that communicates that meaning most clearly, but cognitive laziness rears its head.
[Edited at 2020-03-24 10:12 GMT]
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Tom in London
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Local time: 03:04
Lid 2008
Italiaans naar Engels
ONDERWERPSTARTER | Nothing wrong with it as a noun. | Mar 24, 2020 |
(as I previously said)
"Social distancing" as a noun is perfectly acceptable. But "to social distance" as a verb is horrible.
Example: "please tell your friends to social distance".
Ugh
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Tom in London
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Local time: 03:04
Lid 2008
Italiaans naar Engels
ONDERWERPSTARTER
Thomas T. Frost wrote:
I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry
...or smile. Thank you Thomas. You have just reminded me of a comment made by a professor whose English wasn't perfect. He was talking about the behaviour of someone who was acting out of self-interest: "Oh, but he has a cross to grind".
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| Social distancing | Mar 24, 2020 |
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matt robinson
Spanje
Local time: 04:04
Lid 2010
Spaans naar Engels
Sorry Tom, but at this moment in time and moving forward, if the new term impacts the situation, you'll just have to live with it!
(-;
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Tom in London
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Local time: 03:04
Lid 2008
Italiaans naar Engels
ONDERWERPSTARTER | That's another one... | Mar 24, 2020 |
matt robinson wrote:
if the new term impacts the situation.
I also detest "to impact" as a verb. It has a terrible impact on my blood pressure. But I know you're trying to provoke me.
[Edited at 2020-03-24 10:59 GMT]
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Lingua 5B
Bosnië en Herzegovina
Local time: 04:04
Lid 2009
Engels naar Kroatisch
+ ...
Maybe he's trying to blood pressure you (a verb).
I used to annoy my friends as I would create a verb out of almost any noun (in my native language). The funny thing they would start using my verb after a while, depending on context. Verbs carry actions, they carry more life than nouns. Nouns are static, they are boring.
Please watch your health Tom and don't forum too much if it affects your wellbeing!
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Tom in London
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Local time: 03:04
Lid 2008
Italiaans naar Engels
ONDERWERPSTARTER
OK but watch your commas.
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Lingua 5B
Bosnië en Herzegovina
Local time: 04:04
Lid 2009
Engels naar Kroatisch
+ ...
Tom in London wrote:
OK but watch your commas.
I though you were going to call me on the exclamation mark at the end of my post asking me why I am shouting.
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