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English is weird
pwhodges:
In language "correct" is a matter of usage alone; deviating from established usage is possible, to widen expressive possibilities, but also leads to the danger of misunderstanding or simple incomprehension which weakens language. You can see both these possibilities happening with attempts to add gender-neutral pronouns to English.
Carl-E:
For some reason, this reminds me of the usage of flammable and inflammable, where the prefix in- usually negates the meaning of the word. In this case, flammable = able to be "flamed" (burnt), and inflammable = able to be inflamed (burnt).
So in this case, they mean the same thing. As a result, the term non-flammable came into use for clarity.
Barmymoo:
I was about to say exactly that. Weird hive mind.
VonKleist:
for unrelated reasons i googled the phrase "inflamable means flamable? what a country!" today and the first hit on google is a funny blog about psychiatry and such things.
Is it cold in here?:
--- Quote from: a book about home inspections ---All chimneys in recent construction must be lined with an inflammable material.
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: recent headline ---Chicagoans support striking teachers
--- End quote ---
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