Click on the photo to see the entire image
I consider myself fluent in English – it is, after all, my ‘mother’ tongue. I also have a pretty decent grasp of British and American variants of the language with a smattering of Aussie and Kiwi tossed into the mix, partly because I read – a lot. I grew up reading British children’s stories as much as I did American. One of my very first favourite authors was Enid Blytton (sp?) I have always watched a lot of British tv programs, especially history or science, but also generally.
I also speak weaving with a smattering of spinning, some bobbin lace, knitting (although my knitting language skills are pretty dated) and embroidery.
I believe that language matters. If we do not use language that we all understand, then communication becomes more difficult than it needs to be. In my humble opinion, of course.
Generally I try to use correct words for weaving and spinning. For example, the two yarn packages to the left in the photo are cones. The yarn package to the right is a tube. Or spool, although I feel that a spool should have flanges to be truly accurate. But at least I can understand when someone asks me for a ‘spool’ of cotton – I’m pretty sure I know that they want a tube.
The internet is written communication. Therefore I try very hard to not only use the correct word, but to spell it correctly. It’s ‘sley’, not slay or sleigh. It’s ‘treadling’, not threadling. (Do they mean threading? Or treadling? – Sometimes context will give meaning, but not always.) And a pet peeve is ‘dying’ when people mean dyeing.
Auto (in)correct plays havoc on technological terms but it can be taught. I’ve managed to get both my ipad and my new phone (mostly) to at least give me the weaving term option.
If the use of ‘proper’ words isn’t important, then it isn’t important. To me it’s very important.