Authors who don't know the meaning of words... - Page 4

Riocaz · 11-19-2007, 06:45 AM

Eddings was a favourite author when I was much younger.

The belgariad and it's prequels are still readable. The Mallorian was more than annoying as it's so repetative of the Belgariad.

Roa is just plain awful.

UncleDuke · 11-19-2007, 09:58 AM

if writers really knew the meaning of their words they'd teach

most teachers can't write so they're safe

Goshzilla · 11-21-2007, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleDuke

if writers really knew the meaning of their words they'd teach

most teachers can't write so they're safe

Well you know that saying "Those that can't..."

ashalan · 11-25-2007, 02:48 PM

I only wish I was able to find the first three books of the Belgariad series in electronic format. Oddly enough books 4 and 5 are available as mobipocket, books 1-3 I cannot find. Even more confusing I find the fact that Randomhouse (who sell the complete series as paperback), has books 4 and 5 available as one ebook, but not books 1-3.

If anybody can push me into the right direction; maybe I just missed some ebook sller that has books 1-3

HarryT · 11-25-2007, 03:12 PM

No, that's all that's available right now. According to Fictionwise, the first 3 books are due to be released as eBooks in the new year.

ashalan · 11-25-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, that's all that's available right now. According to Fictionwise, the first 3 books are due to be released as eBooks in the new year.

Thanks for the info HarryT

astra · 11-26-2007, 07:22 AM

What does vice charge in the following sentence mean?

From my records, it seems Mr. X is being held on a putative Y County vice charge.

Patricia · 11-26-2007, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

What does vice charge in the following sentence mean?

From my records, it seems Mr. X is being held on a putative Y County vice charge.

It is ambiguous.
It also seems that Y County is only putatively a county: maybe it is only a village with pretensions.

mogui · 11-26-2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra_lestat

What does vice charge in the following sentence mean?

From my records, it seems Mr. X is being held on a putative Y County vice charge.

Mr X is being held on a morals* charge that was alleged to have occurred in Y county.

*Gambling, drugs, prostitution, molestation, etc.

astra · 11-26-2007, 09:22 AM

Thanks guys

Patricia · 11-26-2007, 12:18 PM

Actually, this sentence makes very little sense.
The word 'putative' has no clear scope to operate, leaving a meaningless sentence.

It cannot refer to the county: either Y is a county or it is not - there's nothing putative about its status.
And either actual criminal charges have been pressed or they have not. It makes no sense to speak of a putative charge.
Presumably the author intended to convey the idea of an alleged offence but has managed to get his grammar and his ideas confused.
Would you mind saying where the sentence is from? I would like to use it to illustrate a lecture on scope ambiguity and lexical ambiguity.

astra · 11-27-2007, 05:10 AM

It is the same Black Man/Thirteen book.

The original looks like that (I hope it not a crime to type 2 sentences from a book here

):

Quote:

"From my records, it seems Mr. Marsalis is being held on a putative Dade County vice charge. And hasn't even been formally arraigned yet."

I was curious what does vice charge mean. Is it a legal term or has any other meaning. I mean what type of charges is vice charges. I think, Mogui interpreted it correctly.

I think in this contest putative refers to vice charges. However, your explanation about why it cannot refer to county is very interesting

(Mine is intuitive, yours is sort of professional analysis). Although, Dade County doesn't exist as far as I understand so it could be that Mr. M is being held on imagined moral charges pressed on him by equally imagined county.

HappyMartin · 11-27-2007, 06:38 AM

There is a Dade county, just south of Broward county Ft. Lauderdale. I think Miami could be in Dade county. I lived there in another life.

astra · 11-27-2007, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyMartin

There is a Dade county, just south of Broward county Ft. Lauderdale. I think Miami could be in Dade county. I lived there in another life.

I wish I didn't say it!

mogui · 11-27-2007, 08:12 PM

The term "vice" is used frequently on US TV, where big city police departments have departments dedicated to the eradication of vice. Since two correspondents above are from the UK, it would seem the term "vice" is not a part of their culture. True?

11-19-2007, 06:45 AM	#46
Riocaz Fulfilled but not by iRex Posts: 932 Karma: 286846 Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Device: Far too many	Eddings was a favourite author when I was much younger. The belgariad and it's prequels are still readable. The Mallorian was more than annoying as it's so repetative of the Belgariad. Roa is just plain awful. Last edited by Riocaz; 11-19-2007 at 06:48 AM.

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11-19-2007, 09:58 AM	#47
UncleDuke books & doughnuts Posts: 882 Karma: 37857 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: usa Device: sony reader, kindle2	if writers really knew the meaning of their words they'd teach most teachers can't write so they're safe

11-25-2007, 02:48 PM	#49
ashalan Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 405 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Berne, Switzerland Device: Cybook Gen3	I only wish I was able to find the first three books of the Belgariad series in electronic format. Oddly enough books 4 and 5 are available as mobipocket, books 1-3 I cannot find. Even more confusing I find the fact that Randomhouse (who sell the complete series as paperback), has books 4 and 5 available as one ebook, but not books 1-3. If anybody can push me into the right direction; maybe I just missed some ebook sller that has books 1-3

11-25-2007, 03:12 PM	#50
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, that's all that's available right now. According to Fictionwise, the first 3 books are due to be released as eBooks in the new year.

11-26-2007, 07:22 AM	#52
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	What does vice charge in the following sentence mean? From my records, it seems Mr. X is being held on a putative Y County vice charge.

11-26-2007, 09:22 AM	#55
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Thanks guys

11-26-2007, 12:18 PM	#56
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Actually, this sentence makes very little sense. The word 'putative' has no clear scope to operate, leaving a meaningless sentence. It cannot refer to the county: either Y is a county or it is not - there's nothing putative about its status. And either actual criminal charges have been pressed or they have not. It makes no sense to speak of a putative charge. Presumably the author intended to convey the idea of an alleged offence but has managed to get his grammar and his ideas confused. Would you mind saying where the sentence is from? I would like to use it to illustrate a lecture on scope ambiguity and lexical ambiguity.

11-27-2007, 06:38 AM	#58
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	There is a Dade county, just south of Broward county Ft. Lauderdale. I think Miami could be in Dade county. I lived there in another life.

11-27-2007, 08:12 PM	#60
mogui eNigma Posts: 503 Karma: 1335 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Philippines Device: HTC G1 Android FBReader	The term "vice" is used frequently on US TV, where big city police departments have departments dedicated to the eradication of vice. Since two correspondents above are from the UK, it would seem the term "vice" is not a part of their culture. True?