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dorkvader -> RE: =MQ= MechQuest Staff OOC News! (2/24/2010 23:31:06)
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Normally I don't frequent this forum. I shall do my best to abide by the rules. This post is about Korin's grammar, or, more appropriately the lack thereof. here I will discuss my philosophy of language and communication, and how it applies, a recommendation, etc. After that, I'll meticulously attempt to fix the sentence posted in the recent design notes primarily relying on the fact that semicolons can be used to artificially-extend related sentences. If anyone can stand Faulkner's writings, surely they will agree this is true. (he was famous for lengthy sentences).
As far as I know, this topic does not beak any rule, except perhaps #9, by which I must categorise the game's design notes as part of the game itself insofar (at least) as they announce updates, news, bug-fixes, and plot updates. Not the least of these is the last, which is critical to the plat. As such, I feel you will agree that this post is as much about the game as one discussing other plot references in the Design Notes. I ask that any disagreement on this point be posted or Pm'd to me so that I may debate it on philosophic terms.
To begin: It seems Korin doesn't feel his writing style is perhaps frowned upon by elementary, middle, or, perhaps High-school teachers. I suppose this could be correct. First we must define a sentence and a run-on sentence, then we will compare the two. First as sentence is a piece of language, either written, or typed, or communicated in some other standardised form of communication usually beginning with a capital letter, and always ending in a period (or a period-ellipsis like so....) signifying the end. It is used to clearly mark out one complete coherent thought. Sentences usually contain a Noun and a Verb (either of which may be implied). A subordinate clause is a clause (containing a noun and a verb) that can stand alone as a regular sentence, so some concatenation is allowable. A run-on sentence is defined as : "An ungrammatical sentence in which two or more independent clauses are conjoined without a conjunction" ( http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=run-on%20sentence). From this, we can assume that any sentence, with proper conjunction use is not a run-on. The grade-school teacher's definition seems to include any sentence with more than two subordinate clauses, or with more than two distinct thoughts expressed.
The erudite reader will see that based on this, as long as Korin includes proper conjunction use, his sentence should appease those teachers, especially if he provides the documentation here. For the purpose of our edification, we will assume more is at stake and attempt to re-write it use a minimum or conjunctions, and a maximum of semicolons. This will allow Korin to have a grammatically proper sentence that will look polished, neat, and appeasing to the close scrutiny of those teachers.
to begin, Here is Korin's Master-work in full:
quote:
First, I know we fixed a few bugs and Maegwyn has made a lovely little list for me to post which I will do sometime near or around the end of this sentence which is a run-on sentence which I heard was bad to do ever since they taught me in English but I can't remember if it was High School English or Middle School or even Elementary School but all I remember is that run-on sentences are bad and that you shouldn't do them because if you do a Moglin loses it's ears which is just a myth as far as I'm concerned so you really shouldn't worry about it but don't do it anyway and this makes me wonder how many words are in this sentence even though I'm making a joke about run-on sentences when you shouldn't be making them and pretending like I never make them even though I'm making one now should at least get a chuckle out of some people but it still seems like I should be concerned about how many words are in the sentence because it's looking like a giant paragraph right now but that's absurd because so far I don't see any periods which is amazing because I thought I at least made one normal sentence at the top of this paragraphy but apparently I didn't which is really weird but enough stalling and I hope you laughed but here is Maeqwyn's Fix List and never use run-on sentences because they're bad.
From the first word, we can see this sentence should include a list somewhere. We can separate it into separate items
I.
1. fixed a few bugs
2. maegwyn has a list for him to post
-break for run-on definition-
Since all the list items are delineated before the sentence diverges, we can break up item II, the run-on part, into bits.
-he heard run-ons are bad
-His English teacher said so It was either
a. high school or
b. Middle School or
c. elementary school
-they are bad
-you shouldn't do them or a moglin loses it's ears
-which is just a myth as far as Korin's Concerned
-Even still you shouldn't worry about it
-but don't do it anyway
-#words?
-even though:
-he's making a joke at the same time as you should'nt be making them
-at the same time, he's also pretending like he never makes them even though he's making one now
-this fact should get a chuckle
-it seems he should be concerned about word count
-it's looking like a giant paragraph
-which is absurd because he doesn't see any periods
-which is amazing because he thought he made at least one normal sentence above
-but apparently he didn't, which is weird
-but enough stalling; hope you laughed
-here is the fix list
-never use run-on sentences because they're bad
---
the middle section was broken up because it seems to be a run-on sub-sentence, that is, two parts are related (the fact that he's making a run on whilst pretending not to should get a laugh)
Each of these individual ideas can be combined with the next one by only adding words and punctuation (marked). Here is an attempt:
quote:
First, I know we fixed a few bugs and Maegwyn has made a lovely little list for me to post, which I will do sometime near or around the end of this sentence, which is a run-on sentence, which I heard was bad to do ever since they taught me in English, but I can't remember if it was High School English, or Middle School English, or even Elementary School English, but all I remember is that run-on sentences are bad, and that you shouldn't do them, because if you do: a Moglin loses it's ears, which is just a myth as far as I'm concerned, so you really shouldn't worry about it, but don't do it anyway, and this makes me wonder how many words are in this sentence, even though I'm making a joke about run-on sentences when you shouldn't be making them and pretending like I never make them even though I'm making one now should at least get a chuckle out of some people, but it still seems like I should be concerned about how many words are in the sentence, because it's looking like a giant paragraph right now, but that's absurd because so far, I don't see any periods, which is amazing because I thought I at least made one normal sentence at the top of this paragraphy, but apparently I didn't, which is really weird, but enough stalling and I hope you laughed, but here is Maeqwyn's Fix List and never use run-on sentences because they're bad.
One can see all that needs to be added are some commas. They were used here to separate out the individual thoughts, and draw the reader's attention to all the legitimately used conjunctions. note that Korin in urged to change the word "paragraphy" to "paragraph", as this may be a typographical error.
Now that that is settled, we must consider whether it was necessary. My Philosophical idea on language and communication is as follows:
1. language is a tool used to communicate thoughts to others
2. If a thought is successfully communicated, no matter what the manner, the method of language has succeeded.
A corollary is:
a. Proper spelling and grammar need net be used, but they are still necessary as they serve as a standard such that it facilitates the purpose of language: to communicate. If a thought is communicated successfully with improper grammar, language succeeded, but the chances of successfully communicating rise the more proper the language used.
This explains the need both for standardized language and the need for proper spelling and grammar. Korin's post was likely understood by us all, and although his methods are a little gauche, since the point was made, no amendment is necessary. Discussion to follow: was korin's post funny? Which part of his sentence was the hardest to understand? Is grammar really necessary? etc. I urge readers to try cramming in more semi-colons and taking out conjunctions. I will post a further edited version later, after I'm done working on waht takes me away from my posting here.
Here is some information about long sentences that may be humorous to readers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_English_sentence
I bid you great thanks for reading this far. Cheers!
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