Job Discussion Forums

[JimDunlop2]

Lovechild & PAULH.... Quite this pi$$ing match you have going on here.

If it sheds any light on it at all, my definitions won't come from a dictionary. Here is really what it comes down to: common usage and how natural you sound. You can argue to the death that your dictionary definition makes it correct. Unfortunately, if it's not used idiomatically in the sense you are trying to apply the term, you will sound awkward at best. A good example is the rule of pluralizng Latin (versus Greek) origin words ending in "i." For instance, "cactus" and "virus." Though the rule dictates that you should change either word to "cacti" and "virii," respectively, it has become so common to apply the "+es" rule, especially in spoken language, you will rarely ever here "virii" anymore, unless you are speaking to some geek, Grammar Nazi or old-school English professor. Everyone says "viruses" nowadays. However, even though the American Heritage Dictionary ALLOWS the pluralization of the word "cactus" to become "cactuses," you will much more readily hear the traditional pluralization: "cacti." Without getting into arguments about prescriptive vs. descriptive language rules, let's just say that the goal of effective communication should be to sound as natural as possible, whether a language is your native toungue or not.

There is an excellent book written (mostly) in Japanese.. It's called SOMETHING like: "How you Sound to Native Speakers" and it includes many common mistranslations, awkward-sounding sentences and many plain-out incorrect forms.

Anyway, back to the issue at hand.... In common usage (for the part of Canada I come from) a "lover" IMPLIES an illicit (or secret) relationship between two people. Not always, but usually. If you said to someone:

"I'm going out with my lover to see a movie tonight," people would think you are a little strange. Although this sentence is gramatically correct, only a non-native speaker would say something like this. Common usage would dictate that this be said a little differently:

"I'm going with out my girlfriend to see a movie tonight." This sounds a lot more natural.

In addition, where I come from, a "lover" also can mean a boyfriend/girlfriend of the SAME sex. However, this is also not common. For that, we generally use the generic term "my partner."

I have never heard that "boyfriend/girlfriend" are terms used by young people but that adults use "lover." I'm sorry, but that's just incorrect. If you wish, I can cross-reference this with a friend of mine. He is a PhD in English literature and teaches in a local university here in Japan. I will ask him what his understanding of this term is if you like.

Cheers y'all.

JD

[Dr.J]

You should keep your mistakes constant to preserve the image.

Try using babel fish as a model then tweaking it; much more believable.

But you seem to be doing fine...