Ding dong "the Thread" is dead!
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Central Massachusetts
Vindication. Bah. You guys have now completely obfuscated the meaning of the word"nauseous." I've never heard it used in the manner you mention, John. However, if the OED says that it can mean "causing nausea," I won't dispute it. All I know is I'm nauseous; interpret that as you will! 
In this case, I'd actually say "common usage" wins. At least it disambiguates the word. Lord knows, we hate ambiguity in English!
James, please fix this friggin' language!
If computer languages had been designed anything like English, we'd be in a world of hurt!
In this case, I'd actually say "common usage" wins. At least it disambiguates the word. Lord knows, we hate ambiguity in English!
James, please fix this friggin' language!
If computer languages had been designed anything like English, we'd be in a world of hurt!
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: FCUK
Actually I think that we would all have heard it in the context to which John refers ..... for instance .....
"That guy Chazmo is such a nauseous character" In this context I would not generally understand it to mean that Chazmo was feeling unwell, I would understand it to mean that Chazmo caused a feeling of nausea to other people.
I really am not sure where you are coming from when you say that English is an ambiguous language. If you have ever studied the likes of Chinese THEN you would know what an ambiguous language is !!!
"That guy Chazmo is such a nauseous character" In this context I would not generally understand it to mean that Chazmo was feeling unwell, I would understand it to mean that Chazmo caused a feeling of nausea to other people.
I really am not sure where you are coming from when you say that English is an ambiguous language. If you have ever studied the likes of Chinese THEN you would know what an ambiguous language is !!!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 42,315
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From: Central Massachusetts
Actually, TJ, seriously speaking, I've never heard a sentence using nauseous as the subject creating nausea.
As far as ambiguity is concerned, natural languages of all kinds are so ambiguous it's not funny. As a legal mind, I'm sure you've been down that route.
"I went to the store and I shot the clerk" (implies "temporal" causality, but you can't tell that from the sentence structure)
"I bought M&Ms or Mars bars" (did I buy both?? natural language is actually usually an "exclusive" OR, not an inclusive OR).
I could go on and on... (and have probably gone on too long already!
)
Oh, and I'm quite certain that Chazmo does indeed cause a feeling of nausea in other people!
I've been told that many times. But when I say I'm nauseous, I'm not insulting myself.
As far as ambiguity is concerned, natural languages of all kinds are so ambiguous it's not funny. As a legal mind, I'm sure you've been down that route.
"I went to the store and I shot the clerk" (implies "temporal" causality, but you can't tell that from the sentence structure)
"I bought M&Ms or Mars bars" (did I buy both?? natural language is actually usually an "exclusive" OR, not an inclusive OR).
I could go on and on... (and have probably gone on too long already!
)Oh, and I'm quite certain that Chazmo does indeed cause a feeling of nausea in other people!
I've been told that many times. But when I say I'm nauseous, I'm not insulting myself.
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From: FCUK
I guess I just don't see it as being that ambiguous because I naturally tend phrase things in an unambiguous way ...... this, as you rightly say, comes from legal work .......
I must admit that I very often pick people up when they say something that they obviously don't mean but have been very lax in the way that they use the language.
I must admit that I very often pick people up when they say something that they obviously don't mean but have been very lax in the way that they use the language.
