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splifingate

macrumors 68000
Nov 27, 2013
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In speech, (in rhetoric), I would argue that there is a subtle - nuanced - difference between when one uses the phrase "raises the question" (which is a standard statement where the question - and subject - are assumed knowledge on the part of one's audience), and stating that something "begs the question" which serves as a sort of ironical reminder, a rhetorical emphasis - much like a high-lighter marking pen - to your audience, whereby they are invited (by the speaker) to follow the argument, or statement, or observation, to its conclusion.

In other words, in my experience, in everyday use, or, rather, everyday speech, they don't always mean quite the same thing.

raises vs. begs highlights the petitioner's confidence and wisdom, no?
 

splifingate

macrumors 68000
Nov 27, 2013
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To the OP's OT:

"Needless to say..."

I work with an associate who--while Golden in every area of his expertise and performance--interjects 'NTS' at least once into just about every dialogue.

Needless to say . . . it's absolutely, fantastically astounding to experience in real-time! ;)
 
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Chuckeee

macrumors 68040
Aug 18, 2023
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Southern California
To the OP's OT:

"Needless to say..."

I work with an associate who--while Golden in every area of his expertise and performance--interjects 'NTS' at least once into just about every dialogue.

Needless to say . . . it's absolutely, fantastically astounding to experience in real-time! ;)
Often phrases like that are used without intent by a speaker to provide a pause in their thought process about exactly they want to say next. They almost never appear in a prepared speaking script.
 
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splifingate

macrumors 68000
Nov 27, 2013
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Often phrases like that are used without intent by a speaker to provide a pause in their thought process about exactly they want to say next. They almost never appear in a prepared speaking script.

Yah; to each, their own ;)

Old Boy is the epitome of self-effacement.

It's an amusing curiosity for me, alone (in my Circle), I guess <smile>
 

halledise

macrumors 68020
To the OP's OT:

"Needless to say..."

I work with an associate who--while Golden in every area of his expertise and performance--interjects 'NTS' at least once into just about every dialogue.

Needless to say . . . it's absolutely, fantastically astounding to experience in real-time! ;)
needless???
i've always been led to believe the word is 'needles'.
needles to say and balls also …
 

DaveFromCampbelltown

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2020
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Americanisms seeping in to English.

Math
Mom
I could care less (the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard)
Communist (used to describe something not remotely communist)

Communist, Socialist, Marxist, Woke all now mean the same thing -- Something that I disagree with.

i.e. "the world is round" --> Communist | Socialist | Marxist | Woke statement.

That reminds me.
If the world truly was flat the cats would have pushed everything off the edge by now.
 

halledise

macrumors 68020
interesting comment this …
There is a linguistic term known as the "drift of the signified," in which a word or symbol remains unchanged, but the meaning of the word or the thing being represented by the symbol changes over time.
For example, the word "gay" used to apply to anyone happy and carefree, whereas now it means something else entirely
 

splifingate

macrumors 68000
Nov 27, 2013
1,871
1,678
ATL
I never understood Nee Ma for grandmother. Does not bother me, more it just leave me wondering “why?”

I've always used "Mee-Ma(w)" . . . colloquial absorbed from others, who absorbed it from others, who . . .

. . . and it sound cool ;)
 
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