Comments on: Case of the Missing “i”s: foliage, verbiage, miniature http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:00:10 -0600 hourly 1 By: Norris Hoyt http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/comment-page-1/#comment-187088 Norris Hoyt Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:19:37 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/#comment-187088 I was a member of the Vermont legislature for eight years in the 1970's. Many times I heard "foliage" curiously pronounced by some members, usually old-timers from very rural areas, as FOIL-AGE. Curious but fun. I was a member of the Vermont legislature for eight years in the 1970’s.

Many times I heard “foliage” curiously pronounced by some members, usually old-timers from very rural areas, as
FOIL-AGE.

Curious but fun.

]]> By: Karla http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/comment-page-1/#comment-118554 Karla Sat, 09 May 2009 15:06:01 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/#comment-118554 In France, they actually have laws and gov't institutions that state exactly how words are "supposed" to be used, pronounced, and spelled. I don't think I want that here! English is a living language (Latin is a dead language), so one would expect it to evolve. In today's Web 2.0 environment, our language is evolving much faster than most prescriptive grammarians would prefer. In France, they actually have laws and gov’t institutions that state exactly how words are “supposed” to be used, pronounced, and spelled. I don’t think I want that here! English is a living language (Latin is a dead language), so one would expect it to evolve. In today’s Web 2.0 environment, our language is evolving much faster than most prescriptive grammarians would prefer.

]]> By: Spelling Reform and the Writer http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/comment-page-1/#comment-2677 Spelling Reform and the Writer Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:41:12 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/#comment-2677 [...] reader, responding to Case of the Missing “i”s: foliage, verbiage, miniature , asks reasonably: Can’t we change the [...] [...] reader, responding to Case of the Missing “i”s: foliage, verbiage, miniature , asks reasonably: Can’t we change the [...]

]]> By: Maeve http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/comment-page-1/#comment-2615 Maeve Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:12:00 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/#comment-2615 Mary Ann, I think all languages have the same kinds of disconnects between the written and spoken forms. They'd have to since pronunciation is always changing. Personally, I delight in the vagaries of English spelling. I see words as fossils. Their spellings often tell their history and origins. Still, I acknowledge that all the oddities can be frustating from a purely practical standpoint. Mary Ann,
I think all languages have the same kinds of disconnects between the written and spoken forms. They’d have to since pronunciation is always changing.

Personally, I delight in the vagaries of English spelling. I see words as fossils. Their spellings often tell their history and origins.

Still, I acknowledge that all the oddities can be frustating from a purely practical standpoint.

]]> By: Maeve http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/comment-page-1/#comment-2614 Maeve Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:02:53 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/case-of-the-missing-is-foliage-verbiage-miniature/#comment-2614 Dan, In theory, nothing could be simpler than to change the spelling. In practice, spelling is more resistant to change than pronunciation. Without the existence of an official Academy of English that could sanction such a change, we'd just be misspelling them. Dan,
In theory, nothing could be simpler than to change the spelling.

In practice, spelling is more resistant to change than pronunciation. Without the existence of an official Academy of English that could sanction such a change, we’d just be misspelling them.

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