John McWhorter: Twitterish | The New Republic
An interesting article on what is, or really isn't, happening to the English language. And full of great vocabulary for us, too!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Grammar Makes Love Songs!
After we talked so much about when to use which grammar when talking about the future, I thought of some songs that use different grammars to talk about the future. In today's Grammar 1/2 Review class, we looked at the lyrics of and listened to a Death Cab for Cutie song called "I Will Follow You Into the Dark." Here are some of the beginning lyrics:
I Will Follow You Into the Dark
Now, we first discussed that "the dark" is death or the unknown. Already romantic, huh? But if we look at the use of "will" we can decide that the meaning of this future talk is that of prediction. The singer is saying his love will die someday. Prediction. He will follow her in death (or die also soon after to find her soul again). Prediction. She won't have to go alone. Some of us might say now, "Oh, my... how romantic!" I suppose I would agree.
But think about the same idea with different grammar to talk about the future. How does the meaning change: "Love of mine, someday you're going to die, but I'm going to be close behind; I'm going to follow you into the dark." What did we learn it means to use "be going to" for the future?
Plans!
Is it still romantic if the singer has PLANS for his love to die and PLANS to be close behind and PLANS to follow her? Eek!!! I certainly hope not!!! In fact, this sounds extremely creepy and threatening now! The love song just became a completely different song!
If someone sings you the song using will, kiss him. If someone sings you this song using be going to, call the police. ;)
I Will Follow You Into the Dark
by Death Cab For CutieLove of mine
Someday you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white
Just our hands clasped so tight
Waiting for the hint of the spark
If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
Now, we first discussed that "the dark" is death or the unknown. Already romantic, huh? But if we look at the use of "will" we can decide that the meaning of this future talk is that of prediction. The singer is saying his love will die someday. Prediction. He will follow her in death (or die also soon after to find her soul again). Prediction. She won't have to go alone. Some of us might say now, "Oh, my... how romantic!" I suppose I would agree.
But think about the same idea with different grammar to talk about the future. How does the meaning change: "Love of mine, someday you're going to die, but I'm going to be close behind; I'm going to follow you into the dark." What did we learn it means to use "be going to" for the future?
Plans!
Is it still romantic if the singer has PLANS for his love to die and PLANS to be close behind and PLANS to follow her? Eek!!! I certainly hope not!!! In fact, this sounds extremely creepy and threatening now! The love song just became a completely different song!
If someone sings you the song using will, kiss him. If someone sings you this song using be going to, call the police. ;)
See? Grammar makes love songs.
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