Message Forum: Re: How does one refer to oneself?

Re: How does one refer to oneself?

Posted By: Sam, on host 24.61.194.240
Date: Friday, May 10, 2002, at 13:03:38
In Reply To: Re: How does one refer to oneself? posted by Sam on Friday, May 10, 2002, at 12:47:59:

> > I happen to like the passive voice, and I don't think it makes the language weaker, as such.
>
> It really does, even if it's just on a subconscious level.

Sorry to reply to my own post, but I thought of a potential point of confusion after the fact.

When you say "...it makes the language weaker..." do you mean "the English language" or "a passage written in the passive voice"?

I was assuming the latter, but if you meant the former, then I agree. The fact that English HAS a passive voice construction only makes the language stronger, because that's one more option available to those who have a particular need to be precise about what tone they convey.

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Message:	> > > I happen to like the passive voice, and I don't think it makes the language weaker, as such. > > > > It really does, even if it's just on a subconscious level. > > Sorry to reply to my own post, but I thought of a potential point of confusion after the fact. > > When you say "...it makes the language weaker..." do you mean "the English language" or "a passage written in the passive voice"? > > I was assuming the latter, but if you meant the former, then I agree. The fact that English HAS a passive voice construction only makes the language stronger, because that's one more option available to those who have a particular need to be precise about what tone they convey.
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