Timewaster's Guide Archive

The Tick ruled.

*sniff*

I generally agree with Saint E.

A likeable heroine for me is one that is human, and, very importantly, a woman.  She strives to do her best, but not to outdo every man in the room, merely because they're men (that one's just been done into the dirt, at this point).

In fact, I find much more appreciation when a heroine's rival is another woman, as oppose to a man.

I would probably find her delightful if she had an appealing personality (don't ask me to define, I don't know if I could yet) and seems to be able to do everything right and yet doesn't seem to be aware of that fact (ie, humility.  Arrogance is such a turn off in protagonists, à mon avis).

To address things I feel Saint E left out (generally, I agree with him):

First of all, Brits, remember my stance on British spelling and punctuation not long ago.  That said. . .

To respond to mercury_yume and others regarding the American "departure" from English:
You whine about how we're not intelligent, or competent, or loyal (hah!  After the war?) or what-have-you to retain "proper" English.  Well, for hundreds of years England was ruled by the Normans, and the official language of England was Norman (or Anglo-Norman, if you talk to certain linguists).  Sometimes history texts and teachers (as well as English texts and teachers) say it was the French.  This is a nasty historical innacuracy, and if anyone needs me to, I can provide proof of this.  Anyways, back on topic. . .

So, Norman was the "English" language, and yet when the Norman rulers of England (*cough*John "Lackland"*cough*) lost Normandy (to the French), the language was eventually morphed beyond recognition and lost into the "flow" of English, giving us Middle English.

Thus (my point):  The English have bastardized their own language.  They have no right to call Americans to task.  And regarding simplification, Modern British English is worlds simpler (in my opinion, at any rate) than either Norman or Old English, and I've studied both.

And for those wondering, English has borrowed significantly from French as well as Norman (both Romance languages), as well as from Latin itself.  It has also borrowed from several other Romance languages (such as Italian and Spanish), but to a lesser degree.

To preach that it is difficult to express certain ideas in English without utilizing Romantic terms is an understatement.  In the previous sentence, preach, difficult, express, certain, ideas, utilizing, Romantic and terms are all words that come from Latinate languages (borrowed into English).  Some could even argue that "an" is a borrowing, but I'm unsure on that one.

For Godzemo:
Modern Hebrew is actually an artificially constructed language, based off old Hebrew.  Before the founding of Israel, Jews spoke various versions of Yiddish, though many could read scriptural Hebrew.  And as a student of Chinese, I'll add that I disagree with your statement that it's nice on the ears.  My Chinese girlfriend, however, does not.

Ent:
China does not suppress religion.  However, they tightly control and monitor it.  A friend of mine who spent time doing religious work in China has told me that the Christian churches there have government-appointed ministers.  And the Communists frequently jail Tibetans carrying photographs of the Dalai Lama.

Okay, that's enough for now.

EUOL, consider yourself highly fortunate in the girlfriend department.

Mine forces me to read things like The Da Vinci Code and Steinbeck.

And I still haven't managed to get her reading Hugo or the Lord of the Rings (at least she's planning on reading LotR.  She even owns a copy . . .)

I'm an American.

I just happen to dislike some aspects of American spelling and grammar.

Out of curiosity, how many Americans here are thoroughly bothered when they read British Lit because of the spelling and punctuation?  Anyone hold Tolkien's English against him?


(tempted to call anyone who does a git.  Heh)

It's proper British grammar!

At least, depending on context.  You wouldn't have:
*'Take me to the store', she said.
But rather:
'Take me to the store,' she said.

But:
The man called them 'throps'.

Etc.

I would assume so, but I'm no expert on the field.  Also make sure you've got a firewall.