tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695628.post111085722388979092..comments2023-11-03T18:36:19.291+08:00Comments on East Cathay: biffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03375614656620158697noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695628.post-1110942579799267772005-03-16T11:09:00.000+08:002005-03-16T11:09:00.000+08:00Thanks for the remarks. I've little idea of what I...Thanks for the remarks. I've little idea of what I'm doing fiction-wise. I almost never read fiction, which is of course a great hindrance...haha...though I've been forcing myself to do so, from time to time. As to how people express themselves in English, even in this regard I'm pretty clueless. I'm so used to being the only person with anything to say on the topics that interest me, that I usually do most of the talking. That doesn't help. Neither does my usual impatience with what most people have to say about any subject. I have to get back in circulation, keep my mouth shut and listen to what people say and of course watch what people do. Writing fiction is probably one of the things I'm least qualified to do...haha... And I mostly speak Chinese, not English. Yet another barrier. <BR/><BR/>This is my fourth bad novel, though not nearly as bad as the others. At least I'm taking this one seriously. I still don't even have a clear conception of the mindset of each character. Next week, I'll start reviewing the whole thing and clean it up and make it more consistent. Then I'll print out a few bound copies and hand it to a few people here who will cut and slash through it mercilessly. Time will tell if it turns out to be something readable...<BR/><BR/>The lads are trying to be cool. But that's only this week's flavor (maybe) and is rather inconsistent with last week's I'm sure. What I'll do with 'the wife' and so forth remains to be seen. I was shocked a few years back to hear an educated haughty friend from Berkeley California refer to his wife as 'wifey'. Maybe I should use something along these lines...haha...<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for taking the time to comment. <BR/><BR/>Biffbiffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03375614656620158697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6695628.post-1110917989786257182005-03-16T04:19:00.000+08:002005-03-16T04:19:00.000+08:00I've always found the collocation 'the wife' or 't...I've always found the collocation 'the wife' or 'the girlfriend' quite condescending. Women rarely use the term 'the husband' as it has a rather cold and detached ring to it.<BR/><BR/>Does 'the wife' not have a name? Does 'the wife' denote the person you're married to? Does 'the wife' realise she is being referred to in such an impertinent and patronizing manner? <BR/><BR/>Of course 'my wife' denotes ownership, but is most often the chosen possessive pronoun to signify your relationship. Alternately, using a definate article to imply that 'the wife' is the wife of yours, of whom you are speaking...just seems to be a lexical trend among laddish males trying to act cool. <BR/><BR/>Otherwise, your blog IS very cool in many respects notwithstanding the longwindedness. But please don't be offended by my cheekiness. Just a hint from your friendly neighbourhood feminist.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com