tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post6543944309960311812..comments2024-01-20T23:55:26.269-08:00Comments on The Detritus Review: At Least the Title Was AptUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post-36743977236901707702010-08-21T07:26:52.853-07:002010-08-21T07:26:52.853-07:00Danny,
Based on the rest of the article (that is ...Danny,<br /><br />Based on the rest of the article (that is to say, in context), is the use of "literally" here a) polysemic, or b) lazy/poor use of English?<br /><br />Also, that's a great anecdote. I guess that, by these criteria, any performance of "An American in Paris" that did not literally [sic] contain an American playing in Paris would be "ironic." Like when Flight of the Bumblebee is played, but not by a bumblebee.Sator Arepohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00006808744513156317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post-37695717207789090252010-08-19T11:48:07.575-07:002010-08-19T11:48:07.575-07:00@ Danny
Good point, but I think most people use i...@ Danny<br /><br />Good point, but I think most people use it without being aware of the fact that they are intentionally misusing a word for polysemic (?) effect. I've figuratively corrected this error on about 6,235,643 student papers. It usually just comes off as a bad habit (a la Joe Buck's "he literally exploded up the field", my all-time favorite). Maybe I'm not giving Joe Buck enough credit. Wait, nevermind... <br /><br />Also, that sounds like an awesome concert.AnthonyShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13162009600236566716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371351138596055444.post-79413316312403311112010-08-19T09:11:11.476-07:002010-08-19T09:11:11.476-07:00Literally also means figuratively, especially for ...Literally also means figuratively, especially for the sake of exaggeration. It's called polysemy -- words often have more than one meaning depending on the context.<br /><br />Back on topic, James Levine once put An American in Paris after Varese's Ameriques, which he called "A Frenchman in New York." No irony there, but a great juxtaposition.Dannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07294716220776027168noreply@blogger.com