Lise's Ramblings

LOL. BFF. ZUP. n00b. RT. OMG. ROFL ... ad nauseam Bemoaning English's demise in today's instant-messaging world? There's an app for that. Just kidding. JK. But, if you search amid the language shortcuts and the Interweb, I promise you will find people who take short attention spans and 140-character limits as a positive challenge. Sure, Lady Gaga, Charlie Sheen and Justin Bieber have far more followers that the owners of the Twitter bios below, but wouldn't you rather read these instantly identifiable, witty and snappy entries?   As   Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet,   "...brevity is the soul of wit."  True, clever bits are      AWESOME!!!

Hear ye, fair readers of mine own random ramblings, yesternight ‘twas the oft celebrat’d birth of good William. Methinks ‘tis happen’d four hundred and forty eight times o’er.    While his exact birthday cannot be confirmed, April 23 rd has long been the agreed upon date to honour William Shakespeare (1564−1616). And despite the mystery shrouding aspects of his life, and the controversy and intrigue generated by his art, everyone from historians, English professors and literary critics to conspiracy theorists and ninnies can agree that the Shakespearean works have staying power. For more than four centuries, Shakespeare's works have influenced theatre goers, readers, teachers, students and people from all walks of life. I know I’ll never forget my initiation, as a pre-teen bowled over by Shakespeare's language and wit. My mother encouraged me to read “Twelfth Night” and then we took in an incredible performance of that ...

[Yesterday, my American friends celebrated National Grammar Day, so I decided to dedicate today’s blog entry to everyone who protects and defends grammar. I realize I harped onabout punctuation back in September, but grammar extends beyond mere punctuation.] Does it take tremendous self-control for you to resist correcting egregious grammatical errors on posters, brochures, web content and signs? If so, then consider yourself a card-carrying member of the grammar police. If you aren't familiar with this elite squad, then allow me to share a few things about those of us who are members. We’re vigilant , not mean.      We abide by grammar rules at work , because failing to do so reflects poorly on our employers, detracts from the intended message, undermines our own credibility and sets a bad example for others. We’re more accurate than built-in software tools .  Need proof? Check out today’s photo below. Yuck! This morning, Microsoft Word suggested I substitu...

Sure, my Scrabble Dictionary suffices for resolving most disputes in word games, but it doesn’t cut it for anything else. Sometimes you need to consult an authority. When it comes to words, The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) reigns as the heavyweight―literally and figuratively speaking. After all, the OED is dubbed “The definitive record of the English language” and its weighty 20 volumes fill at least one reference shelf. Photo by emdot on Flickr And talk about dedicated fans. When new words are added to the OED ’s tomes, healthy debates rage internationally between bibliophiles, librarians, lexicographers, linguists, etymologists, academics and your average Joe/Jane. I find it remarkable that more than 150 years after the OED ’s origins, authors and bloggers alike continue to be inspired to write fiction and non-fiction works about the OED (e.g., The Professor and the Madman ; The Meaning of Everything ; Reading the OED ; Treasure House of the English Language ; Empir...

“Signs, signs, everywhere a sign.” Those famous lyrics, sung by both the Five Man Electrical Band and Tesla, describe how many of us feel in this world full of excessive signage. We’re bombarded by signs of all shapes, sizes and colours. So much so that we often tune them out, but every now and then, we’re rewarded with a chuckle for paying attention to some of the signs around us. During my vacation last week, I saw a few precious examples. The signs were posted in all seriousness, and yet I couldn’t help but break out laughing. The best one was in Sandy Hill (Ottawa), just steps away from Rideau Street. The sign, intended to warn motorists of a bump to keep traffic speed in check, read: Speed Hump . Now I’ve heard of speed dating and quickies, but this was the first time I’ve ever seen a sign for a speed hump. I must remember to arm myself with a camera during my next drive through Sandy Hill. The second best example was a sign for a community in northeastern Quebec: Saint-Lo...