• CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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    11 days ago

    Language changes over time (like looong periods of time) as cultures grow and merge and I recognize and respect that

    How much time is required before something is allowed to change?

    When “Iegland” was first spelled as “Island” that was wrong. It was incorrect and stupid. It wasn’t okay because “Iegland has been around long enough so we can change it now.” It became correct because that is how people started using it.

    It’s not the amount of time, it’s how language is used and understood.

    • y0kai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      11 days ago

      How much time is required before something is allowed to change?

      However long it takes for something to be more or less universally accepted. GIF’s pronunciation, despite being defined and sounded out for people, is not currently widely accepted in either pronunciation, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

      When “Iegland” was first spelled as “Island” that was wrong. It was incorrect and stupid.

      How is this different from the argument that GIF being pronounced with a hard G is incorrect and stupid? It was wrong then and over much time became right.

      It’s not the amount of time, it’s how language is used and understood.

      It takes time for linguistic changes to propagate and it doesn’t happen because one person decides it should change. If you walked around back when island was first invented and said “nice island” to a bunch of leglanders, they’d think you were an idiot because there hadn’t been enough time for people to start using it.

      • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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        11 days ago

        is not currently widely accepted in either pronunciation

        It is widely accepted in both pronciations. “Aluminum” has a different pronouciation in the UK then it does in the Americas. Both are correct depending on where you are. If you hear someone use the pronouciation you’re not used to it might take your half a second to mentally adjust, but you’ll understand just fine and can continue the conversation.

        How is this different from the argument that GIF being pronounced with a hard G is incorrect and stupid? It was wrong then and over much time became right.

        Correct. Over time the hard G became right because that’s how it was used. Notice how I am not arguing the people should actually be using “Iegland”.

        it doesn’t happen because one person decides it should

        Which is exactly what you are arguing for.