Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Semantics

I'm about to breech a topic that I have been avoiding for quite some time now. I don't know how people are going to take this, but I need to, once and for all, get this off my chest. Over the past year I have read my fair share of blog entries, and I must say that I find the phrase "love on..." extremely jarring. I am open to every one's beliefs, reasoning for adoption, plans a, b, c, political views and so on, but I cannot understand the need to use the phrase "love on..." What is so difficult about saying something to the effect of "please give my babe all the love I send to them," or "I cant wait to cuddle with our baby," why "love on...?" I did not learn formal English until my family moved to Southern California, so it could just be me, and I thought that for some time now, but I have a few friends whom I've sucked into this blog reading business, and they find it just as awkward. Obviously there aren't very many of you out there that agree with me, because otherwise, you would not be perpetuating this semantic oddity.
PS You must know how much refrain I have shown!
PPS When you've been postponed for as long as we have and for the inane reasons we have experienced you too will focus on the silliest things.

8 comments:

Shelly Roberts said...

I had to chuckle reading your post, because it's true .. we all have different quirky sayings. Ex: "rock on", or "you rock" .. I've never "gotten that" and probably never will. :)

SO eager to hear good news coming from your way today!!! and better yet seeing pictures soon of you with your daughter in your arms. :)

Take Care~ Shelly

Karen said...

I think you're quite entitled to your opinion...Having English as a second language myself, I tend to just pick up whatever phrases others use, and I have to admit I'd never heard of or known of "love on" until we started the adoption process. And apparently I used it in my last post. Maybe I should go change it...:-)

mama becca said...

This is hilarious. You are totally entitled to your opinion! You are correct too... this phrase is grammatically incorrect. I never heard it until entering the adoption world, either. I guess it's a good way to express, quickly, what you would like people visiting your baby to do... give them some love! love on them! I don't know... who knows where these things originate- I guess it's just a culturally relevant phrase. Very fun to think about though, because I'm going crazy waiting for my phone to ring :). Thanks for the entertainment! GOOD LUCK today... I'll be checking here a LOT!
love
becca

Lori said...

People in Mississippi say this all the time. I think it's a Southern thing? I don't say it, but I think it's cute.

DrewCareyShow said...

ha ha, I think you're digging deep. I for one must be a guilty loving-on party. And I can't even blame being from the South. Because I'm one So-Cal girl through and through. I think it's just one of those warms turns of phrase... loving on... doting on... party on? Oh wait. That one doesn't work. Oh well, party on! (And you can't tell, but I'm loving on you as I type this...) XOXOing on you! =) Carey

Anonymous said...

I just thought it was a southern thing - I'm from Southern California and hadn't heard it before reading adoption blogs either!

Anonymous said...

I am from Alabama and have heard and said "love on" my whole life. I do think it is a southern thing. I find it interesting that it has had such an effect on you. I never would have given it any thought. It does not indicate lack of education or class it is just an expression very common among people in the south. To love on someone is to give them a hug with a lot of love behind it.

-Samantha- said...

I never thought it was "lack of education or class" just odd. I have never been to Alabama or the South for that mater, so I just haven't been exposed. At any rate, I still find it jarring...even after all the fun that has been had at my expense.