Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2007 3:20:44 GMT -5
I've noticed that this has been discussed in a couple of other threads, but I thought I would start a new thread just about this topic. Is it just me, or does it really bother anyone else that Karen NEVER (or hardly ever) uses contractions? I mean, come on, what 7-year old uses perfect grammar? I know she's smart for her age, but really, the fact that she never uses contractions seems a little far-fetched.
Kind of off topic, but it always bugged me a little bit that she insisted her Krushers t-shirt be spelled with a "C" instead of a "K".
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Post by aln1982 on Aug 9, 2007 8:21:00 GMT -5
^ I've actually never noticed the lack of contractions or been bothered by it. Until about a year ago, I assumed that all books had to use perfect grammar, though, so maybe that's why. And I used to not use contractions in my writing (not that you could tell this now with my "wonderful" grammar and punctuation and spelling on here ;D) but now do it just for convenience sake. My dad doesn't use them, either, because he does a lot of technical, professional writing so maybe this is why I never miss them in the LS books. In some ways, I think Karen is a perfectionist like I am, which is why I like her more and more as I see all the things I can relate to her on (including being a stickler for something like spelling ;D)
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mckay
Junior Sitter
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Post by mckay on Aug 9, 2007 12:25:19 GMT -5
The lack of contractions bugged me a bit as a kid, but really bother me now. Even if Karen refused to write "can't" or "don't," I really can't envision a seven-year-old actually speaking so precisely. Plus ever since I read (and saw the movie based on) Loverboy, a child speaking like that kind of gives me a vicarious spine-chill.
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Post by sotypical42483 on Aug 9, 2007 13:25:35 GMT -5
I HATE HATE HATE it. It is so ridiculous. Are contractions really thought of as "bad" grammar, anyway?!
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Post by aln1982 on Aug 9, 2007 16:54:26 GMT -5
I don't speak the way I write (use plenty of contractions while speaking and always have ;D) so maybe that is what Karen does too. But this is just me and I can see why some people are annoyed by the lack contractions (especially since I know how much you both "love" Karen anyway ;D)
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Lauren
Sitting For The Newtons
Posts: 2,026
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Post by Lauren on Aug 9, 2007 17:02:30 GMT -5
It seems like it would take a lot of time and effort to never speak with contractions.
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Post by aln1982 on Aug 9, 2007 17:28:10 GMT -5
^ My aunt tries to do it and it is so annoying. Of course, she's an English teacher so she thinks it makes her sound more "professional" ;D
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Post by sotypical42483 on Aug 10, 2007 11:29:55 GMT -5
Karen isn't writing LS books, though. They're just her thoughts.
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Post by maddieruns on Aug 10, 2007 13:12:22 GMT -5
ugh, the no contractions bug me so much! I've never thought of contractions as improper grammar anyways... as long as the apostrophe is in the right place and all.
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Post by booboobrewer on Aug 10, 2007 16:26:18 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't know why Ann thought kids speak like that. I can understand "No I do not" or "No you cannot" once in awhile, but not all the time. Although I just read an LS recently where Karen actually said don't or can't or something. Plus, she used contractions from time to time in BSC, didn't she?
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Post by aln1982 on Aug 10, 2007 16:41:27 GMT -5
^ I actually read a LS book (was looking for it this time) this morning where I noticed several contractions. I will have to keep my eyes open for this now - or maybe not since concentrating on things like this usually detracts from my enjoyment of the books. ;D
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Post by secondhandshoes on Aug 10, 2007 17:25:05 GMT -5
I felt bad for whoever wrote those books for having to avoid contractions. It would be very difficult for me to pull that off. It just...bugs me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2007 11:22:10 GMT -5
I hate the fact that Karen doesn't use contractions. It sounds so stilted and pretentious, and I absolutely cannot believe that a seven-year-old, or any native English speaker, would talk like that. Perhaps when contractions first came into use they were akin to slang or informal speech, but the use of contractions is so widespread today I think that concept is completely antiquated. The only place contractions are frowned upon today are in formal papers, and I think even this is utterly ridiculous.
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Post by sotypical42483 on Aug 28, 2007 12:33:52 GMT -5
I wonder why they made that an aspect of her personality. To show much "smarter" she is than other kids? It just baffles me that they'd sit down and make the conscious attempt to make sure she doesn't use contractions.
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Post by greer on Aug 28, 2007 14:05:02 GMT -5
Do any of the other characters in the LS books use contractions?
The other weird thing is that they have Karen always writing in all upper-case letters. You think such a grammar/spelling freak would be more into having "correct" handwriting.
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