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[–] -3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

It's not an officially recognized word, but you understood what they were saying, so it still functions the same as the "correct" word.

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  • [–] 17 points 2 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] -3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    Sure it is. I understood what you just said, therefore you successfully used the language. That is how English (and languages in general) works.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago

    Now look ahead two steps and see how absurd that works out in practice. It's not even a hypothetical, we've seen this time and time again throughout history. The internet doesn't need dialect chains.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    I understand my 3yo as well but that doesn't mean they should continue to speak that way just because they can technically be understood.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (2 children)

    Yes, but your 3yo isn't a stranger on the internet that you're condescending to, so the situation is a bit different, no?

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago

    I wasn't condescending to anyone. I presume, based on the incorrect tense form of a very common English word, and the fact that they appreciated learning a bit of Chinese, they might appreciate some polite correction. Not everything has to carry a negative tone

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago

    Not entirely, because if I never corrected them they would be a stranger on the internet to SOMEONE talking that way eventually.

    Ultimately the ability to understand something doesn't make it correct and I get tired of the "language evolves" and "you understood it, right?" arguments because even if true we can also understand "me want job" and "John hungry" but it doesn't mean you shouldn't both attempt to speak correctly and continue to learn.

    I'm learning a second language and I would prefer to be corrected and speak naturally in it as much as possible rather than the bar simply being understood.

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