Tuesday, June 21, 2011
A TUESDAY BONUS FROM THE GRAMMAR AND LINGUISTICS DESK: The Language Log fills in the blank -- "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain _________ Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
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http://www.jeffersonhour.org/ On a somewhat related note, anybody else here listen to the Jefferson Hour?
ReplyDeleteMy mind is blown.
ReplyDeleteI have pointed this out before. http://throwingthings.blogspot.com/2008/07/word-from-your-editor-tom-great-first.html. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteIt was "unalienable" when I had to memorize it in fourth grade, therefore that is the correct answer.
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to it!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter what the modern usage is, the original words matter. Otherwise, what is the point of memorizing them or quoting them? It would be enough to recall the gist of it. To borrow a line from Toby Zeigler, "No, if I'm going to make you sit through this preposterous exercise, we're going to get the [words] of the damn [Declaration of Independence] right."
ReplyDeleteWest Wing quotes always win.
ReplyDeleteIn 7th grade, I got into an argument with my civics teacher about this. She insisted it was inalienable, but I was positive it was unalienable. She also said unalienable wasn't a word, so I got docked the point or two. It must've meant the difference between an A and a B because I still remember how mad I was about it. I brought in reference texts the next day, but she wouldn't budge.
ReplyDeleteWhen in doubt, take John Adams over Jefferson, is all I'm saying.
ReplyDelete