Job Discussion Forums

[Guy Courchesne]

Technology changing preposition use?

We had the Brit/Yank argument before over at the weekend, on the weekend, but how is technology changing preposition use?

For example, are you now at Dave's or on Dave's?

Is it in your genes?

Any other brainteasers that have come up for you?

[dyak]

Surely the most absurd area of the English language; i've had too many conversations like this:

T: Where was your last holiday?
S: In the beach.
T: ON the beach.
S: But teacher, you say you were in the mountain.
T: Yes, but in the mountainS.
S: Uh?
T: Wait, let me draw it.
S: Ahh, ok, so i can be in the beaches, no?
T: No, and it's beeeeeeeeeches.
S: But i go to three beeeeeeches.
T: No cigar.
S: Ok, but planes fly on the sky, no?
T: Yes, why not.
T: Class dismissed.

[carnac]

In hospital
at the hospital
in the hospital
in/at who the hell knows?
Drives me crazy!
at hospital? Why not?
At/in the university?
(then)
The football club (it) is doing well
The football club (they) are doing well
British vs. American English.
Technology:
On the Internet? Why not "in"? Or "at"? Or even "within"?
"On my computer" in the same sense as "on a horse", no problem, in the sense of "using". But "on a horse" means "astride". So what is "on"? Astride your computer?
I would seriously NOT enjoy learning English as a language and expect to gain fluency. English is very difficult. (but Japanese and Arabic are more so)
Carnac