[lit-ideas] Kith Or Kin

Zeno Vendler

In a message dated 2/27/2009  3:29:24 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
donalmcevoyuk@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>  Get a move on, masses, immediately
> Smile on your comrade!
>  Everyone assemble!
> Attempt to devote yourself to the group right  now!
> 
> 
> FAILURE TO ASSEMBLE, SMILE, AND LOVE YOUR COMRADE  WILL
> IMMEDIATELY BE
> PUNISHED BY DETENTION IN RE-EDUCATION CAMPS  ... RIGHT NOW!
> 
> 
> Look, mommy, firemen, there's going to  be a fire!

Of course, we aren't to infer from this that Eric's parents  were incestuous, 
fascist pig-dogs who screamed a lot over v.  little.

----

No. 

I think Eric's point, amongst many is  Zeno Vendler.

I learned about Zeno Vendler reading David Holdcroft,  "Words and Deeds: 
problems in the theory of speech acts" -- a criticism of J. L.  Austin. Vendler 
wants to say that some verbs are _never_ grammatically well used  in the 
imperative:

----- Smile on your comrade!

-- Enjoy the  dinner!

-- Devote yourself to... [sh*t].

-----

The things  we can order are the things we used for  dogs:

"Sit!"

cfr.

"Don't eat _that_!"

etc.

I  always first try my imperatives first on my kin and _then_ on my kith  

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