Bad Linguistics Takes

The worst takes on linguistics that Twitter has to offer. DM or tag submissions.

[dr caitlin green (offense archaeologist) @caitlinmoriah]

oh boy @BadLingTakes

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

@GayeShermanNYC @cristela9 <x> has left the chat.

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

Thanks to @jkfecke for the submission

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

Trump’s pronunciation bares little resemblance to this “authentic” Thai IPA transcription.

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

Context: Thai’s phonetic inventory does not include [θ].

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

Context: Bantu languages are neither Semitic nor Afroasiatic. They belong to the Niger-Congo family. Similarities are likely due to loanwords from Arabic or coincidence.

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

@AbiSpeaks @jodiecongirl To be clear, current public usage *does* determine grammar. Grammar isn’t a perfect and unchanging set of rules handed down from the gods. @jodiecongirl has the bad take.

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

Although, to be more precise, grammar is anarchy.

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

If common usage doesn’t define grammar, what does?

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

@JuliaNotAmused I’m not the one calling people idiots because they use a word that’s not in my personal vocabulary.

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

@JuliaNotAmused I guarantee that you don’t speak “standard” English 100% of the time, so you shouldn’t be so scornful of the “idiots” who speak a different nonstandard dialect than you.

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

@JuliaNotAmused @chelseahandler We’re discussing standardized language, and the summary I posted applies every bit as much to individual words as it does to entire dialects.

[Bad Linguistics Takes @BadLingTakes]

@towandamcq @chelseahandler If a language trend is common, by definition it can’t be incorrect.