The greatest American debate on English grammar

Only Americans have the humility to call the United States an Imperfect Union. Only Americans have the audacity to promise themselves a More Perfect Union. We don't even care if "More Perfect" makes grammatical sense. But then we are Americans. Grammatical sense be damned.

Grammatical sense be damned? Not so fast.

In 1776 Americans had actually kicked off the greatest grammar debate in the history of the English-speaking world. To make the long story short, some of the American founders argued for "inalienable rights" regarding the early versions of the Declaration of Independence. When it came to the final version, though, they conceded to the majority who voted for "unalienable rights." Interestingly, modern American dictionaries prefer "inalienable" as a proper adjective. 

Unalienable rights, however, have long been declared enough but not exercised enough. Consequently or consequentially, our history shows a gnawing gap between rights declared and rights exercised. With that being said, this gnawing gap keeps narrowing. If that's not progress, I don't know what is.

Can we imagine a world without America? Can we imagine an America without unalienable rights enshrined in its Declaration of Independence?


Author: renqiulan

 

(Google image)

所有跟帖： 

• 沙发~ ~ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:19:51

• Comfy? -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:24:08

• Of course! haha -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:26:38

• Actually, you are in the driving seat. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:34:46

• Absolutely! We're all in this together. ：） -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:14:01

• I'm taking a joy ride. You're doing the heavy lifting. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:46:30

• "inalienable rights" 和 "unalienable rights" 的差别 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:25:47

• Well, "inalienable" originates from a combination of the -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:39:24

• prefix in- and alienable via the Middle French aliénable. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:40:38

• Like inalienable, unalienable originates from the -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:49:26

• prefix un– and alienable via the Middle French aliénable -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:50:10

• and was first recorded in 1610–20. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:50:52

• Thanks for sharing.How do you translate these two words into -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:02:19

• Chinese? What's the difference? ：） -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:03:35

• Could you give it a try, in the context of the -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:11:25

• First Amendment? -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:11:50

• 查了中英字典，都是 ”不可剥夺的“的意思？ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:21:06

• Close. It implies something that is "God-given." -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:25:45

• inalienable: 不可剥夺的。unalienable：未被剥夺的。 -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:18:05

• 多谢居士兄分享 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:25:41

• inalienable: 不可剥夺的。unalienable：没有可剥夺的。 -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:30:59

• Thank you, 方外居士! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:08:30

• They both originate from a Middle French term "aliénable." -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:28:52

• 可以意译作‘’天赋权利‘’吗？ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:31:53

• 应该是这个意思。 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (298 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:33:46

• Goodnight, 盈盈! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:07:13

• Same as 不可剥夺的 -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:34:57

• I doubt it. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:06:20

• “天赋人权”仅仅是用了宗教性的语言来说同一件事，make it holly-like -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:31:51

• All the American founders were religious to a fault. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:52:59

• Last summer I visited Philadelphia. It's an unforgettable -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:32:52

• experience to learn and appreciate American history. -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:35:29

• When I visited the Birthplace of American Independence -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:54:03

• in Philadelphia as a little kid, I thought it was a -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:55:31

• school building! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:55:53

• The Independence Hall in Philadelphia？haha -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:10:18

• And the cracked Liberty Bell... -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:19:03

• so imperfect and yet so indispensable to a noble cause. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:21:42

• No grammar is perfect -Zhuzitaba- ♂ (504 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:34:49

• It goes without saying that nothing is -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:44:17

• truly perfect. Correct me if I'm wrong. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:47:41

• Why? I thought the 2nd was correct. No? -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:35:44

• You have a good answer to your good question. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:07:51

• Second might mean that each of them has more than one head -Zhuzitaba- ♂ (233 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 05:39:25

• Wow, Qiulan is here! 问好！ -66的山梁- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 18:54:07

• Hi,66的山梁! How's it going? -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:00:39

• 欢迎66来美坛，问好 ~ ~ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:15:16

• 恭贺盈盈荣任版主！ -66的山梁- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/22/2023 postreply 16:42:56

• [unalienable rights] = Chinglish :-) -TJKCB- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:34:05

• Just like "long time no see"? -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:37:07

• Yup, that. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:12:07

• 哈哈哈，可否演义一二？ -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:37:11

• 请方外居士作指路明灯！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:14:14

• Would you care to elaborate? Thank you, TJKCB ! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:10:43

• unalienable rights vs. long time no see = Chinglish :-),,,, -TJKCB- ♀ (4796 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 22:21:58

• When a story is that good, its grammar is moot :-) -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 19:45:44

• You are not serious, are you? -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:15:07

• Why not? -7grizzly- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:37:23

• Now you are really serious. I like that. Goodnight! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:48:52

• in- vs un-，感觉头很大，哈哈哈，谢谢秋兰 -颤音- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:09:42

• 同感！头痛病一直没有好过！ -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:12:50

• 方外居士保重！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:22:33

• 开国诸君已投票通过了"unalienable"，这是史实。当然，史实未必符合现实。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:21:13

• 颤音好，谢谢！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:23:25

• Perfect is perfect, perfect can't be more perfect for sure! -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:28:05

• A world without America would be imperfect, -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:32:29

• especially no MYSJ any more :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:34:00

• I hate to break it to you, but a world WITH America is still -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:38:10

• IMPERFECT! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:38:47

• You're absolutely right. -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:42:04

• Anyway, a world WITH America is MORE perfect :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:43:50

• Or less imperfect. Yin and yang. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:48:01

• Yes, less imperfect! Perfect word pick! -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:56:04

• See? I'm shrewd enough to err on the safe side. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:02:44

• Don't get me wrong, though. I mean, chasing perfection is -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:42:34

• like chasing sunrise. We need to see hope on the horizon. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:43:58

• Great thought. I cannot agree more. -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:47:19

• Thanks. Call it chicken soup for the soul. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:51:44

• 心灵鸡汤！ -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:58:03

• Our founding fathers had a good sense of humor, right? -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:35:07

• Yes, they did :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:45:07

• “More perfect” doesn’t make sense semantically, -AutoFill123- ♂ (34 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 20:05:46

• I would say, "More Perfect" makes rhetorical sense. But you -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/23/2023 postreply 06:08:17

• really have a good point. Thanks a million! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/23/2023 postreply 06:09:59

• Great post by a great MYSJ painter Qiulan :) 谢谢秋兰分享。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:38:28

• I'm just finger-painting something, like a preschooler. Haha -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 20:58:03

• You're too humble. If that is the case, then I'm a newborn. -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:00:39

• Speaking of "a newborn," Homer's following verse comes back -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:08:22

• to me: "When the early-born (ērigeneia), rose-fingered -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:10:17

• (rhododaktylos) dawn appeared." This, I'm told, is an -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:12:04

• ancient Greek phrase used by Homer to say -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:13:19

• "when the day broke out." Homer IS truly a painter. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:14:19

• See, you know everything! Thank you for sharing. -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:22:47

• I know NOTHING. I'm trying to dream up something. Goodnight! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:32:15

• Good night. Best wishes to your dream :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 21:53:44

• 哈哈，有趣！Sounds more like a communist country with the unaliena -天玉之- ♀ (24 bytes) () 09/20/2023 postreply 22:25:44

• Thanks for your thoughts. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 19:32:39

• inalienable = unalienable :) In my area, instable = unstable -Zhuzitaba- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 05:46:24

• Ditto in my neck of the woods. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 19:35:38

• According to etymology dictionary, in- means "not, -dhyang_wxc- ♂ (495 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 11:16:06

• From where you took off, you could let your imagination fly. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 19:37:42

• 谢谢秋兰，谢谢网管，The greatest American debate on English grammar -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 20:49:42

• 推荐文学城首页成功 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 09/21/2023 postreply 20:50:02

• 感谢！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 09/22/2023 postreply 11:36:25