Comments on: A few words about Obama’s language http://blog.babbel.com/a-few-words-about-obamas-language/ Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:07:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mara http://blog.babbel.com/a-few-words-about-obamas-language/comment-page-1/#comment-466 Mara Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:42:43 +0000 http://blog.babbel.com/?p=635#comment-466 Hey Matthew, I certainly read the article, I just most likely did not get it correctly. As far as I understand it, a split infinitive IS a split verb, it's just an alternate terminology. I am however not a linguist... Please explain it if it is otherwise, I'd be interested to know the difference! An English verb in its infinitive form is two parts, for example, "to go", and when you place a word after the "to", such as "quickly", that is splitting the (infinitive) verb. So Roberts reacted grammatically to the text of the oath by placing the adverb at the end rather than between the two parts of the verb, in other words splitting the infinitive. Or have I misunderstood it? Hey Matthew, I certainly read the article, I just most likely did not get it correctly. As far as I understand it, a split infinitive IS a split verb, it’s just an alternate terminology. I am however not a linguist… Please explain it if it is otherwise, I’d be interested to know the difference!

An English verb in its infinitive form is two parts, for example, “to go”, and when you place a word after the “to”, such as “quickly”, that is splitting the (infinitive) verb. So Roberts reacted grammatically to the text of the oath by placing the adverb at the end rather than between the two parts of the verb, in other words splitting the infinitive. Or have I misunderstood it?

]]> By: Matthew http://blog.babbel.com/a-few-words-about-obamas-language/comment-page-1/#comment-457 Matthew Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:22:20 +0000 http://blog.babbel.com/?p=635#comment-457 Hey Mara, if you actually read the Steven Pinker article you linked to, you'll find that Roberts "corrected" a split verb, not a split infinitive. Also, chances are that Obama actually did correct it for legal accuracy rather than flow—I'm sure he had rehearsed the oath before taking it. Hey Mara, if you actually read the Steven Pinker article you linked to, you’ll find that Roberts “corrected” a split verb, not a split infinitive. Also, chances are that Obama actually did correct it for legal accuracy rather than flow—I’m sure he had rehearsed the oath before taking it.

]]> By: Lorenz http://blog.babbel.com/a-few-words-about-obamas-language/comment-page-1/#comment-415 Lorenz Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:43:04 +0000 http://blog.babbel.com/?p=635#comment-415 Hi Justin, as you can read here: http://blog.babbel.com/inside-babbelcom-curiosity-is-key/ Turkish or Portugese are next - but Japanese won't come, at least not in the near future. Hi Justin, as you can read here: http://blog.babbel.com/inside-babbelcom-curiosity-is-key/ Turkish or Portugese are next – but Japanese won’t come, at least not in the near future.

]]> By: Justin Bailey http://blog.babbel.com/a-few-words-about-obamas-language/comment-page-1/#comment-374 Justin Bailey Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:20:38 +0000 http://blog.babbel.com/?p=635#comment-374 What is the possibility that Babel.com will include tools for learning Japanese in the foreseeable future? What is the possibility that Babel.com will include tools for learning Japanese in the foreseeable future?

]]>