Journal Chacham's Journal: Verbiage: Slow reader, catch mistakes, continuity. 15
So, i'm a slow reader. I'm still trying to improve it, and with mild success. I now preview books and authors, and overview a chapter before reading it. All in all it helps, but my actual speed is slow.
There is an advatage, however. I catch mistakes. While many people assume what the word says, i don't. And that may be why i am so slow. Which makes me wonder as to which is the cause, and which is the effect.
Oddly enough, i make spelling mistakes myself that i don't catch on the proofread. Yet, if i read it again at a later date, i do. Probably the re-read material is glossed over, since i already know what it says, and thus don't do an actual read.
Latest caught mistake is in "The Career Programmer", reviewed on solidus full-stop a short time ago, by Christopher Duncan. On page 138, third line, at the end, it says "desert" where it should say "dessert".
Other people catch mistakes in movies. That is something i'm not so good at. My conjecture, therefore, is that continuity and accuracy are not related, at least as perceived by the mind. Just something to think about.
[
Wow. Stop.
Such short thoughts. Stop.
Oh well. Stop.
]
I have the same ability (Score:2)
I have no love for the specific names or parts of language, but I know what "fits" and what looks right. Some claim that's inherent with learning the language natively, but I disagree... some native speakers are the worst spellers and grammaticists I've ever seen.
I also do not pick out contin
Re:I have the same ability (Score:2)
So many reason can be said. Perhaps its just if someone cares. Or has an appreciation for language in general.
Ahh yes, the printed word. (Score:2)
Re:Ahh yes, the printed word. (Score:2)
My favorite was an ad i saw in a Jewish newspaper. The city was "Boro Park", yet they spelled it "Boro Pork". Now *that* was funny.
"No trespassing violators will be prosecuted." (Score:3, Funny)
"No trespassing; violators will be prosecuted."
It makes a difference.
Re:"No trespassing violators will be prosecuted." (Score:2)
Along with "slow children", these signs are a good laugh.
Re:"No trespassing violators will be prosecuted." (Score:2)
Re:"No trespassing violators will be prosecuted." (Score:2)
On that note, i love the expressway entrance ramp signs showing no left turn.
And, in Canada, near one of the entrances tro the Ambassador Bridge (Windsor/Detroit) there are traffic lights that instead of giving a green light, gives two arrows. <- ->. It has got to be the most confusing light. Perhaps i shall grab that picture one day.
Re:Ahh yes, the printed word. (Score:1)
Beer
Scotch
Fur
Pine
The "beer" was the normal signage for the bar, the "scotch" just happened to be right below the "beer." Then, "fir" is the proper spelling for the tree, whereas "fur" conjures some odd ideas about PETA activists.
One thing my wife and I like doing is looking for signs that have certain letters burned out of them. The best one
Re:Ahh yes, the printed word. (Score:2)
Re:Ahh yes, the printed word. (Score:1)
Misreadings (Score:2)
I suffer from exactly the opposite -- I sometimes read so fast that I make up new mistakes on the go :)
And yes, I too tend to find typos all the time, although they don't irritate me. But what's much worse is all kinds of errors someone has made in translation. A lousy translation can simply ruin ev
Re:Misreadings (Score:2)
I've suffered from that when i *thought* it said something else. Then do a double take.
And translations can be bad. In anime, and movies in general, i prefer subs to dubs, to minimize the issue.
Proofreading (Score:2)
Re:Proofreading (Score:2)
Neat idea.
Nice comment.