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	<title>Perspicuous as Mud &#187; Language</title>
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	<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com</link>
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		<title>Reading Menus</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/12/10/reading-menus</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/12/10/reading-menus#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:44:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[It's the way you say it]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=157</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I usually read menus with a mixed feeling of dread and excitement: I know there are going to be some terrible grammatical errors, which I hate; but I also know I have a pen in my pocket, and will fix &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/12/10/reading-menus">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Mixing up the letters</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/10/24/mixing-up-the-letters</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/10/24/mixing-up-the-letters#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:21:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anagrams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rscheearch]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=144</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You&#8217;ve probably seen the email that says that you can mix up the letters in any English word, except the first and last, and yet it will still be legible. The email starts off by declaring: Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/10/24/mixing-up-the-letters">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/10/24/mixing-up-the-letters/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What&#8217;s happening to comparative adjectives?</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/15/whats-happening-to-comparative-adjectives</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/15/whats-happening-to-comparative-adjectives#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:33:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bad Grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adjective]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adverb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Comparative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Degree of comparison]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inflection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Linguistic morphology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parts of speech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social linguist]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I don&#8217;t know if anyone else has noticed, but the English seem to be losing the capacity to use comparative adjectives (hot, hotter, hottest) and are using &#8220;more hot&#8221; and &#8220;most hot&#8221;.  I was at a friend&#8217;s house last night, &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/15/whats-happening-to-comparative-adjectives">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/15/whats-happening-to-comparative-adjectives/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What is a&#8230;. ? Part 2</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/07/what-is-a-part-2</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/07/what-is-a-part-2#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:43:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Stuff people ask]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[acid rain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[adjective]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grammatical gender]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grammatical number]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lexical category]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Linguistic morphology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[metaphor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[noun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parts of speech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[virus]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=115</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Continuing on from the last post on &#8220;What is a&#8230;?&#8221; here is the rest of the list. What is a metaphor? As succinctly as I can put it, a metaphor is a type of comparison that is only true for &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/07/what-is-a-part-2">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What is a&#8230;.? Part 1</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/06/what-is-a-part-1</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/06/what-is-a-part-1#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Stuff people ask]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[database]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prime number]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[verb]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=104</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is the first in a series of very important answers to very important questions as posed by Google&#8217;s query suggestion tool. What is a database? A database is a computer program that stores information in a series of tables. &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/06/what-is-a-part-1">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The stuff people ask</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/03/the-stuff-people-ask</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/03/the-stuff-people-ask#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:20:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Stuff people ask]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=101</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was fooling around with Google today and properly noticed the drop-down box of suggested queries that might be related to your query.  I have of course seen it, but I mostly ignore it it because by the time I&#8217;ve &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/09/03/the-stuff-people-ask">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>It&#8217;s the way you say it!</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/04/08/its-the-way-you-say-it</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/04/08/its-the-way-you-say-it#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:03:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[It's the way you say it]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dramatic pauses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pregnant pauses]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=62</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[But it still annoys me! Pregnant pauses&#8230;. dramatic pauses&#8230;. do you you really think I&#8217;m really that interested in what you&#8217;re saying that I&#8217;m&#8230;. hanging&#8230;. on&#8230;. your&#8230;. every&#8230;.. word? Most of the time, not.  I&#8217;m letting you speak because I&#8217;m &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/04/08/its-the-way-you-say-it">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The absence of one little word complete reverses the meaning</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/03/19/the-absence-of-one-little-word-complete-reverses-the-meaning</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/03/19/the-absence-of-one-little-word-complete-reverses-the-meaning#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:36:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bad Grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passive voice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=45</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When I saw this headline today in the Daily Mail: Leona Lewis paid £1m to sing at phone billionaire daughter&#8217;s 21st birthday party I thought Leona Lewis had paid someone for the privilege of singing at Libby Caudwell&#8217;s birthday party.  &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/03/19/the-absence-of-one-little-word-complete-reverses-the-meaning">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/03/19/the-absence-of-one-little-word-complete-reverses-the-meaning/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>LGA clearly doesn&#8217;t know much about language</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/03/18/lga-clearly-doesnt-know-much-about-language</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/03/18/lga-clearly-doesnt-know-much-about-language#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:32:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jargon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LGA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=44</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I do find it amusing when someone tries to control language.  The Local Government Association has just published a list of 200 words which it suggests &#8220;public bodies should not use if they want to communicate effectively with local people.&#8221; &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2009/03/18/lga-clearly-doesnt-know-much-about-language">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nu-Labour</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/11/14/nu-labour</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/11/14/nu-labour#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:40:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[etymology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nu-labour]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=39</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was reading the Daily Mail online today, and rather enjoying the rather common anti-labour rants that regularly appear there.  Almost without exception any reference to the Labour party was &#8220;Nu-Labour&#8221; &#8211; and in every case it is used pejoratively.  &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/11/14/nu-labour">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Amn&#8217;t I?</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/16/amnt-i</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/16/amnt-i#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:44:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[language]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/?p=26</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I always knew it was theoretically possible; we even talked about it at university sometimes, but I have never heard anyone actually say it in a way that has convinced me that they say it all the time until today.  &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/16/amnt-i">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
<enclosure url="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/padraigharrington.mp3" length="970138" type="audio/x-mpeg" />
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Between an Asbo and a bullet in the head</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/08/between-an-asbo-and-a-bullet-in-the-head</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/08/between-an-asbo-and-a-bullet-in-the-head#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:00:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quotable Quotes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[asbo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[punishment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/1/?p=8</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was listening to radio 2 today, and the discussion was about the growth of thefts of metal.  You know, drain covers, lead roofs, copper pipes and so on.  They were interviewing some chap who was explaining that the market &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/08/between-an-asbo-and-a-bullet-in-the-head">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/08/between-an-asbo-and-a-bullet-in-the-head/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Word order</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/05/word-order</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/05/word-order#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:43:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pseudo cleft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sentence construction]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/1/?p=10</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I saw an advert for a bank on a billboard today, it said something like &#8220;The only surprises you get with our account are nice ones.&#8221; To my mind, why use 11 words when 8 will do?  So I set &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/07/05/word-order">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Phrasal homophones</title>
		<link>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/06/29/phrasal-homophones</link>
		<comments>http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/06/29/phrasal-homophones#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:02:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homophones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[language]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/1/?p=9</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here&#8217;s a nice little phrasal homophone I misheard in a sermon today: &#8220;too low a hope&#8221; vs &#8220;to lower hope&#8221;. Obviously &#8220;too&#8221; and &#8220;to&#8221; are homophones, but so is &#8220;er&#8221; and &#8220;a&#8221; (at least the way I say them) &#8211; &#8230; <a href="http://www.perspicuousasmud.com/2008/06/29/phrasal-homophones">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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