4 ms·

> Same goes for Isaac Newton. He’s practically been elevated to godhood for his contributions to calculus and physics. The way British write confuses many peop

> Same goes for Isaac Newton. He’s practically been elevated to godhood for his contributions to calculus and physics. The way British write confuses many people. "Newton is the greatest of the greatest", "Shakespeare is the mos prolific writer that ever lived", ""... British writers love hyperbole. The fact that the writing style aligns with national pride helps to create a positive feedback of "grandiose writing". That does not mean that there is ill intent. The target consumers of the writing are the British readers themselves, and almost all societies have a good self esteem. The fact that globally we communicate in English has tip the balance towards sharing American and British views of the world over the rest and created an over hype of some charismatic national myths.

throwaway_pdp09 6y ago
Such excessive writing only occurs amongst very few people, them who feel their job is 'culture'. I've heard far too much of it about shakespeare, and I think it undeserved. He's not that great. Emperor/clothes etc. I've really not heard anything similar about newton though. Don't confuse those very few who surf their own hyperbole with the average brit (I'm one).
- Hokusai 6y ago
  > Don't confuse those very few who surf their own hyperbole with the average brit (I'm one). I see your point. And, as any generalization, my point does not apply to all British citizens. But, that grandiose talking is not uncommon (funny thou): https://www.reddit.com/r/INGLIN/comments/1p76kk/good_to_see_the_doctor_agrees/ https://www.reddit.com/r/INGLIN/comments/1p76kk/good_to_see_...
- chongli 6y ago
  There are loads of people who don’t like Shakespeare (possibly due to being forced to read his plays in school) and that’s fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion of him. What is much harder to argue against is his influence on the English language. Shakespeare introduced, into everyday use, a monumental staggering number of words, phrases, idioms, metaphors, and ideas. And that’s just the text of his work. His influence on the institution of theatre and its role in the development of actors is equally staggering. The comparison with Newton (and his influences on mathematics and physics) is apt.
  - Izkata 6y ago
    > There are loads of people who don’t like Shakespeare (possibly due to being forced to read his plays in school) and that’s fine. I'm one of them, but after one of my English teachers decided to bring us to see one of his other plays as a treat (Much Ado about Nothing), I can't help but think it's because schools are obsessed with the bad plays. I've never gone out of my way to read/see other plays, but that one was actually entertaining and I think if it was used instead of Romeo and Juliet & etc, less people would dislike Shakespeare.
    - throwaway_pdp09 6y ago
      Yeah, we did romeo and juliet. We had to pick apart the text to get at it. Shred it, almost. Why, what were we supposed to get from that? I remember the teacher pointing out the cheap sexual innuendos in there (IIRC 'on the prick of noon' was one). In retrospect I find it hypocritical, she only drew our attention to it because it was shakespeare, and she seemed to laud it because it was shakespeare. In any other contexts she'd have dismissed it, but this was shakespeare! So saddo nob jokes ok. A few years ago I tried to watch titus andronicus (this one, with Famous Actor https://www.amazon.co.uk/Titus-Blu-ray-Import/dp/B00HGGUO70/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Titus-Blu-ray-Import/dp/B00HGGUO70/). I probably rewound[1] every section of speech at least once, and had the subtitles on, to try to understand. Christ what an effort, and for what. [1] Thank you VLC for your easy 10 second jumping keys, one of mymost used controls ever. (but glad MAAN worked for you)

throwaway_pdp09 6y ago

Such excessive writing only occurs amongst very few people, them who feel their job is 'culture'. I've heard far too much of it about shakespeare, and I think it undeserved. He's not that great. Emperor/clothes etc. I've really not heard anything similar about newton though. Don't confuse those very few who surf their own hyperbole with the average brit (I'm one).

Hokusai 6y ago
> Don't confuse those very few who surf their own hyperbole with the average brit (I'm one). I see your point. And, as any generalization, my point does not apply to all British citizens. But, that grandiose talking is not uncommon (funny thou): https://www.reddit.com/r/INGLIN/comments/1p76kk/good_to_see_the_doctor_agrees/ https://www.reddit.com/r/INGLIN/comments/1p76kk/good_to_see_...
chongli 6y ago
There are loads of people who don’t like Shakespeare (possibly due to being forced to read his plays in school) and that’s fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion of him. What is much harder to argue against is his influence on the English language. Shakespeare introduced, into everyday use, a monumental staggering number of words, phrases, idioms, metaphors, and ideas. And that’s just the text of his work. His influence on the institution of theatre and its role in the development of actors is equally staggering. The comparison with Newton (and his influences on mathematics and physics) is apt.
- Izkata 6y ago
  > There are loads of people who don’t like Shakespeare (possibly due to being forced to read his plays in school) and that’s fine. I'm one of them, but after one of my English teachers decided to bring us to see one of his other plays as a treat (Much Ado about Nothing), I can't help but think it's because schools are obsessed with the bad plays. I've never gone out of my way to read/see other plays, but that one was actually entertaining and I think if it was used instead of Romeo and Juliet & etc, less people would dislike Shakespeare.
  - throwaway_pdp09 6y ago
    Yeah, we did romeo and juliet. We had to pick apart the text to get at it. Shred it, almost. Why, what were we supposed to get from that? I remember the teacher pointing out the cheap sexual innuendos in there (IIRC 'on the prick of noon' was one). In retrospect I find it hypocritical, she only drew our attention to it because it was shakespeare, and she seemed to laud it because it was shakespeare. In any other contexts she'd have dismissed it, but this was shakespeare! So saddo nob jokes ok. A few years ago I tried to watch titus andronicus (this one, with Famous Actor https://www.amazon.co.uk/Titus-Blu-ray-Import/dp/B00HGGUO70/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Titus-Blu-ray-Import/dp/B00HGGUO70/). I probably rewound[1] every section of speech at least once, and had the subtitles on, to try to understand. Christ what an effort, and for what. [1] Thank you VLC for your easy 10 second jumping keys, one of mymost used controls ever. (but glad MAAN worked for you)