Mirror stereo attachment

[P3D Neil Harrington <nharrington@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike K. writes:

>A Word means what the majority of people think it means.  It's the
definition of
>language.  Dicionaries document it.

Yes, and it doesn't even take a majority.  If compilers of dictionaries
become aware that a substantial number of people believe a word means a
certain thing, then that becomes a dictionary definition.  Some of us aren't
really too happy about that, since it seems to be a kind of abdication of
responsibility on the part of dictionary publishers.  The purpose of a
dictionary is, or should be, to serve as some sort of authority on what
words mean.  If enough people misuse a word through ignorance or
misunderstanding, and that misuse gains currency, then eventually that
misusage is likely to find its way into dictionaries as correct usage.  At
some point one has to ask, Why, then, bother with dictionaries at all?  If
words are to take on new meanings willy-nilly, dictionaries will always be
way behind the curve.  Might as well call submarines "airplanes" if one
feels like it, comfortable in the knowledge that if enough people make the
same mistake, submarines will _become_ airplanes as soon as the dictionaries
catch up.  

>Back to stereo... I agree about framesplitters, and have attempted to use that
>phrase unless I get a blank stare, then I say beamsplitter -- and get a 
>resultant smile of understanding.

With me it would've been the other way around, Mike.  The first time I saw
"beamsplitter" used in this way I was scratching my head trying to figure
out how a semisilvered mirror could have anything to do with producing a
stereo image.  Now I admit "framesplitter" probably wouldn't have been
crystal clear to me either, but at least it wouldn't have misled me.

>P.S. - How about "mirrored stereo attachment"?  Don't talk about splitting
at all.

Perfect!  Or "mirror stereo attachment."  I agree, no need to even mention
splitting.  If I'd seen "mirror stereo attachment" I'd have known
immediately what was meant. 

>P.P.S. - Does a "splitting headache" mean only half the head hurts or that the
>         head has been cut in two and hurts as a result?  English is fun.

I take "splitting headache" fairly literally, i.e., a headache that is in
the process of splitting the head, or feels like it is doing so.

If only half the head hurts, that would be a split-head ache, I should think.

   ;-)



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