[78-L] Grammatically incorrect

David Lennick dlennick at sympatico.ca
Sun Sep 20 21:13:31 PDT 2009


Steven C. Barr wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bud Black" <banjobud at cfl.rr.com>
>> I personally get my back up when someone uses a phrase similar to "he
>> dis-respected me."  Shouldn't it be "he showed me no respect?"
>>
> The harsh reality is that "DIS(s)" meaning "disrespected" emanates from a
> cultural (usw.) minority NOT noted for observing, or even comprehending,
> grammatical details of our mother tongue...?! The actual surprise here is 
> that the offended parties could come up with "dis" (disrespected?!), since
> the root word isn't exactly in common use...?!
> 
> Steven C. Barr
> ________________________________

"Disrespect" as a verb is in my Webster's, 1963 edition. Granted, the 
definition is something like "to have disrespect for". I wouldn't call it an 
obscure word..an' hey, Tony Soprano used it as well, as in "He disrespected the 
Bing".

dl





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