16 Jan 13
1 edit
Originally posted by FMF"What is Self effacing humour
Interesting. You said "self effacing" humour. Did you mean "self-deprecating"?
wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_Self_effacing_humour
Self-effacing humor is where people make fun of themselves to get laughs. Many comedians do this... they make fun of their own quirks. You could also tell racial ..."
No, Self effacing works for my purposes.
16 Jan 13
Originally posted by kevcvs57I think it's a misuse of the word which - granted - may well have slipped into everyday usage regardless, as does happen. I see "self-effacing" as meaning shy, reticent, reluctant to draw attention to oneself.
"What is Self effacing humour
wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_Self_effacing_humour
Self-effacing humor is where people make fun of themselves to get laughs. Many comedians do this... they make fun of their own quirks. You could also tell racial ..."
No, Self effacing works for my purposes.
This is not a characteristic of British humour in my estimation.
"Self-deprecating", on the other hand, means conscious of, or drawing attention to, one's own shortcomings.
They do have a sense of 'modesty' in common.
Perhaps people have used "self-effacing" mistakenly so often when they meant "self-deprecating" that wiki.answers cannot be blamed for offering a definition that reflects this.
Fair enough. Personally, I think the difference between these two words was well worth keeping. But I am inclined by instinct to be 'descriptive' rather than 'proscriptive' when it comes to a living language, so I suppose I have to accept that the difference has been eroded, even if I myself will continue to use the two words in a way that preserves the nuance. 😵
16 Jan 13
Originally posted by FMFI used the term because I had heard it used in that context, but on reflection Self deprecating is a more accurate description.
I think it's a misuse of the word which - granted - may well have slipped into everyday usage regardless, as does happen. I see "self-effacing" as meaning shy, reticent, reluctant to draw attention to oneself.
This is not a characteristic of British humour in my estimation.
"Self-deprecating", on the other hand, means conscious of, or drawing attention to, ...[text shortened]... myself will continue to use the two words in a way that preserves the nuance. 😵
The good news is that it was close enough for you to know it needed correction.🙂
16 Jan 13
Originally posted by kevcvs57No gnat is too small to strain, no camel too cumbersome to gulp down for our friend FMF!
I used the term because I had heard it used in that context, but on reflection Self deprecating is a more accurate description.
The good news is that it was close enough for you to know it needed correction.🙂
16 Jan 13
Originally posted by kevcvs57Words are getting merged, lost, narrowed, widened and invented all the time. That's all we're talking about here really. If self-effacing and self-deprecating now mean the same to large numbers of native English speakers, then so be it. I find it an interesting topic. Here is a lecture series I was listening to just before Christmas. http://avaxhome.ws/ebooks/audiobook/2350993.html
I used the term because I had heard it used in that context, but on reflection Self deprecating is a more accurate description.
The good news is that it was close enough for you to know it needed correction.🙂
16 Jan 13
1 edit
Originally posted by FMFPerhaps your proclivity for gnat straining has found a more productive outlet. Etymology interests me immeasurably, but you have, as far as I can discern, provided no historical basis for the development of any of your terms making the appellation, etymological appear rather scantily clad. Lexicography interests me as a useful tool to distinguish nuances of meaning which are pertinent to scriptural understanding.
Are you not interested in stuff like etymology and lexicography then?
16 Jan 13
1 edit
Originally posted by robbie carrobieEtymology concerns the development of the meaning of words. So you are of the opinion that "self-effacing" and "self-deprecating" are more or less synonymous?
Perhaps your proclivity for gnat straining has found a more productive outlet. Etymology interests me immeasurably, but you have, as far as I can discern, provided no historical basis for the development of any of your terms making the appellation, etymological appear rather scantily clad.
16 Jan 13
Originally posted by robbie carrobieWould you describe Bristish humour as "self-effacing"? I would not.
There are nuances of differences, to what degree depends upon the context.
It sounds as if the meaning of "self-effacing" and "self-deprecating" - in the context of 'taking the mickey out of oneself' - may have merged in many English speakers' minds.
16 Jan 13
2 edits
I understand self-effacing means: reluctant to draw attention to oneself.
I understand self-deprecating means: poking gentle fun/mockery at oneself.
Quite different meanings, but I suspect for most English speakers today they would be used interchangeably. So, yes, I agree with your last statement. I note that kevcvs's source is answers.com, where anyone can create a definition and no dictionary or other references are given.
16 Jan 13
Originally posted by KewpieIt's a process I find fascinating. And with some people hanging on to distinctions that other people are no longer observing, it's an ever changing source of fascination!
Quite different meanings, but I suspect for most English speakers today they would be used interchangeably.