[Prowler]

Originally Posted by venuvedam

So it is true that we lose the language if we do not actively pursue it? I am losing my grip on Tamil (my mother tongue) because it is only with my parents that I get to speak it. I was a voracious reader and writer a decade ago and while grammar had always haunted me, I did have a better grasp of English back then.

It is not really essential to have a large repertoire of a vocabulary to be 'strong' in a language. It is more of using the right word at the right place within the accepted norms of the rules of the language. It is the precision of the language and use it precisely the way a surgeon uses his scalpel.

It is another thing that a larger vocabulary helps the cause. Several studies indicate a direct correlation between a strong vocabulary and a higher ranking on the corporate ladder. In other words, people with strong language skills tend to move up the social ladder with relative ease.

The late Karunanidhi was probably one of the greatest proponents of the Tamil language. His strength was simplifying the language in its usage so that even people in normal walks of life could understand the richness of the language without requiring a masters degree in Tamil Literature.

There was one Herpetologist in Madras - Harry Miller, who used to write columns in several Newspapers. His articles were always a treat to read - easy conversational tone and he used to write about animals and Nature.

[Thad E Ginathom]

I received some spam email from an organisation offering English tuition. It is associated with The Hindu. I think this is called irony.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I think this is called irony.

Or rather, a step in the wrong direction .

Disclaimer: No affiliations whatsoever.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Indeed, dailydriver

Here's small thing from today's The Hindu. Right at the end of a good article on the history of Indian tea, "... a 170 years ago." That's like a Personal Identification Number number. (and who hasn't said "PIN number" sometimes?). We read "170" as a or one hundred and seventy. The "a" is not required, unless the numbers are spelt out in words.

[dailydriver]

The impugned text:

...a sneaky Scottish Mandarin who patiently trekked up the mountains north of the Fijian and Jiangxi provinces in China A 170 years ago.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Here's small thing from today's The Hindu...The "a" is not required, unless the numbers are spelt out in words.

True.

However,

1. The article was in yesterday's paper.
2. Somehow, you forgot to add an a before small thing.

Irony?

[Thad E Ginathom]

So I did! Yet more evidence of the imperfection of my own writing!

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

So I did! Yet more evidence of the imperfection of my own writing!

Would you ever want to live in a perfectly curated world?

I wouldn't!

I couldn't!!

Allow me to quote Dejan Stojanovic.

Trying too hard to be too good,
Even when trying to be bad,
Is too good for the bad
Too bad for the good.

Perfection seems sterile;
It is final, no mystery in it;
It's a product of an assembly line.*

To accomplish the perfect perfection,
A little imperfection helps.

*Emphasis mine.

[Thad E Ginathom]

I'd hate to live in a museum

But I think it can be expected that my brain/finger coordination actually types the words that are in my head. Experience tells me to be prepared for disappointment!

[samaspire]

Newspaper headline "YMCH doctors carry out robotic kidney transplant"

Now when did robots get kidneys?

[binand]

Originally Posted by samaspire

Newspaper headline "YMCH doctors carry out robotic kidney transplant"

Now when did robots get kidneys?

The copy writer didn't know the meaning of the word "robotic", I think. Should they have used "robot-assisted"? Is there a non-hyphenated adjective that conveys the same meaning?

robotic (adj): having the characteristics of a robot (MW)

(The headline as it is now means that the kidney has the characteristics of a robot. Not that robots have kidneys).

[samaspire]

Originally Posted by binand

(The headline as it is now means that the kidney has the characteristics of a robot. Not that robots have kidneys).

You are correct.

So the sentence could also be " ... robotic transplant of kidney", right?

[binand]

Originally Posted by samaspire

So the sentence could also be " ... robotic transplant of kidney", right?

My vote is for "YMCH doctors carry out robot-assisted kidney transplant".

[venuvedam]

Originally Posted by binand

My vote is for "YMCH doctors carry out robot-assisted kidney transplant".

How about making it simple? "YMCH Doctors Carry Out Kidney Transplant - Using Robots"

Guess, it doesn't have the "punch" though.

[binand]

Originally Posted by venuvedam

How about making it simple? "YMCH Doctors Carry Out Kidney Transplant - Using Robots"

This is a newspaper headline we are talking about. Those have space constraints and therefore need to be terse and to the point.

Plus assist != use. Doctors perform transplant operations using scalpels, and nurses assist them.

[Thad E Ginathom]

OK, so I'll add my suggestion: Doctors use robots in Kidney transplant.

Getting the meaning across is the first aim of headlines. It should not say something other than what is intended, but there are certainly no grammar exams. One of my complaints about the BBC News website is that I regularly click on a headline just to find out what on earth it means. Maybe that is what they want!