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Inflectuation
Like emoticons, but different^
 
(+2, -2) 		  [vote for,
against]


How about some simple punctuation marks that indicate inflection?

I think there is a little area between written and spoken communication where written is not appropriate, but spoken may not be practical. Namely, whenever some intensity exists in the exchange between two people -- generally at a distance -- there is the opportunity for lost meaning because one person may "read into" something a bit of content that is not really there.

I'm suggesting a simple bunch of new punctuation marks that would enable the writer to include fairly accurate and subtle inflection in the sentence.

I think it would be especially useful when trying to quote a verbal conversation in an email.

Thoughts?^ (^ = slight uptalk at the end of a sentence, for instance)

zigness, Nov 11 2005

Transcription symbols http://homepage.ntl...n/transcription.htm
Gives a discussion on discourse analysis and transcription, with examples near the bottom. [Adze, Nov 11 2005]


Short name, e.g., Bob's Coffee

Destination URL. E.g., http://www.coffee.com/

Description (displayed with the short name and URL.)







       We already have underlining, italics and bold, exclamation points* and question marks. What more do you need?   

       * which indicate the very thing you ask for.
DrCurry, Nov 11 2005
   

       Maybe, in text, just below the line of writing, there should be musical symbols.   

       ex: accents over words to stress them, crescendos and decrescendos, and the much-needed accelerando.
jellydoughnut, Nov 11 2005
   

       In case you can't understand me, I'll write vvvvveeeeeeerrrrrryyyyyyyy slooooooooooowwwwwwwllllly.
pathetic, Nov 11 2005
   

       "(^ = slight uptalk at the end of a sentence, for instance)"
Surely that's already indicated by presence of the question mark.
st3f, Nov 11 2005
   

       OMG! WTF? PEOPLE JUST <u>NEVER</u> GET HOW TOTALLY <b>INTENSE</b> I AM!!!</sarcasm>   

       .... seriously though, email and chat slang has done a lot of what you are trying to accomplish here. We use the same indicators as before but in new ways. --sorta baked.
Zuzu, Nov 11 2005
   

       Preheated by Samuel Delaney in some of his earlier work, where he not only dabbles in such things, but periodically mentions details of competing systems in his wonderful, albeit thick and chewy prose.
normzone, Nov 11 2005
   

       There's a whole range of symbols used in transcriptions for discourse analysis - everything from variations in the speed of speech, inflections, even the type of laughter.
Adze, Nov 11 2005
   

       //Surely that's already indicated by presence of the question mark.// However, not every sentence that would have this would be a question.   

       [Adze], do you have a link?(^)
zigness, Nov 11 2005
   

       See link as requested.
Adze, Nov 11 2005
   

       Your [zigness], on reading this post I was alternately aroused, repulsed, enraged, bemused, edified, assuaged and obtused. Now I am simply spent. I fear what more you might do with the symbols you propose.
bungston, Nov 11 2005
   


 
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