Scuba dove? Scuba dived?

[dkktsunami]

The English language is a mess, ain't it?

 

[Walter]

Weeeeell, technically octopodes is correct, but archaic. It's the Greek plural form of octopus. So, it is still correct, just not commonly used.

AskOxford: What are the plurals of 'octopus', 'hippopotamus', 'syllabus'?



(Don't mind me, I'm here for the long argument about semantics. )

I love it!

 

[Hoomi]

The English language is a mess, ain't it?

You'll probably love one of my favorite quotes about the English language:

"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that
English is about as pure as a cribhouse *****. We don't just borrow
words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways
to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
--James D. Nicoll

 

[NudeDiver]

I think there may be some WWII veterans of the Germany army here

 

[dkktsunami]

You'll probably love one of my favorite quotes about the English language:

Hoomi, I like your quote.....thanks.

 

[hartl0602]

Well, dived has always seemed off to me personally. I mean if you were to ask someone how they got from point a to point b; and thier answer to you was "I drived here", you might think that person slow. So i go with dove; or i went diving (well i will once certified).

sean

 

[nessum]

This actually came up in my linguistics course last year; not in regards to scuba in particular. The consensus was that while dived seems to be correct, the tendency to mimic classic strong verbs leads 'dove' to be used in frequently in colloquial english and my prof, believing in the organic evolution of language deemed both to be acceptable. Those who insist on framing the language in hard and fast rules ignore its history and even the diversity in present day english. For instance, what I consider the 'correct' way to spell 'colour', 'neighbour' and 'realize' may differ from yours, with neither being more or less right or wrong.

 

[David Wilson]

In British English, the verb goes: "I dive, I dived, I have dived". I've never heard "I dove" anywhere in the UK. American English occasionally differs from British English, hence variations such as "dove". There are many varieties of spoken and written English around the world and what is accepted usage in one English-speaking country isn't necessarily so in another.

As others have said, the form "I dove" probably came about because it was influenced by "I drove". The problem with that influence is that no alternative form has emerged for the past participle "dived" as in "I have dived". If we logically followed the pattern of "drive", we would say "I have diven", but I don't think any examples of that form exist.

 

[NudeDiver]

Well, dived has always seemed off to me personally. I mean if you were to ask someone how they got from point a to point b; and thier answer to you was "I drived here", you might think that person slow.

But "to drive" is an irregular verb. Suppose if the method by which they were driving involved a race. In this case, would you say, "I raced here" or (I guess), "I roce" here.

 

[NudeDiver]

Those who insist on framing the language in hard and fast rules ignore its history and even the diversity in present day english. For instance, what I consider the 'correct' way to spell 'colour', 'neighbour' and 'realize' may differ from yours, with neither being more or less right or wrong.

I agree with your point on variation. But does variation necessarily mean that rules mean nothing?

This sentence consider please you do.

OK....someone could figure out what it means. Maybe it is even an "allowed variation" (maybe not). But is it standard American English? No.

The idea that variation is superior to rules, or that common usage is correct, simply by virtue of the fact that it is common usage leads to all kinds of things that dumb down the language. I'm sure you're familiar with the various "common misuse" lists that abound. Also consider that while general ignorance may, over time, alter the language, that doesn't mean it is desirable.

Consider adverbs. SOOOOOOOOO many people will say something like, "yeah, we drove to the store pretty careful" rather than "...pretty carefully". Just because so many people (maybe even the majority these days) will say "pretty careful" doesn't make it standard. By the same token, a classic one is the misuse of the apostrophe to indicate plural (14 times in what recent post on here) - esp. in relation to an acronym or date. How many times have you seen things like "I have 400 CD's in my collection" or "All my music is from the 1980's". Such things are incorrect, plain and simple, according to the standard. The fact that so many people do it only alters the usage, not the standard.

For instance, what I consider the 'correct' way to spell 'colour', 'neighbour' and 'realize' may differ from yours, with neither being more or less right or wrong.

Depends on the standard. Standard American English, or some other standard of English.