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General Category => General Talk => Topic started by: hero_bash on November 13, 2011, 01:37:03 am

Title: English Language Question
Post by: hero_bash on November 13, 2011, 01:37:03 am

My primary language isn't english so often times I'm quite not sure how it works. Right now I'm stumped about how to use 'believe in'

When you say 'I believe in aliens' is it automatically implied that you believe in the existence of aliens rather than your believe in aliens (as in 'I believe in you' - an assurance of trust). I know that when you say that people will automatically think about your belief in the 'existence' depending on the object (God, aliens, etc.) but is it really formally correct?

Title: English Language Question
Post by: dada on November 13, 2011, 12:38:19 pm

Formal correctness is overrated. But yeah, it's correct because the word "belief" has multiple meanings (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/belief) (it can be a conviction or confidence or faith), and believing in someone implies that you have faith in them, whereas believing in, say, single-payer healthcare implies you have a practical conviction or opinion.

But there's really no difference in my opinion. When someone's about to play an important football match and you tell them you "believe in them", you're really saying you're convinced of their ability to win or otherwise perform well.

Title: English Language Question
Post by: tuxedo marx on November 13, 2011, 01:46:11 pm

I BELIEVE IN YOU 11 PLAYERS. GET OUT THERE AND EXIST.

Title: English Language Question
Post by: Faust on November 13, 2011, 08:23:46 pm

Quote

Formal correctness is overrated.

I would expect as much from a slovenly Dutchman!

Hero Bash: If I'm understanding correctly (which I may not be) you're wondering whether or not both meanings of "believe" are correct? As in, they are both accurate? If so, yes they are.

Title: English Language Question
Post by: dada on November 13, 2011, 10:27:55 pm

Quote from: Faust on November 13, 2011, 08:23:46 pm

Hero Bash: If I'm understanding correctly (which I may not be) you're wondering whether or not both meanings of "believe" are correct? As in, they are both accurate? If so, yes they are.

I think he was mostly wondering whether it's correct that the meaning of a word can be modified based on what the other words in the sentence are. And yeah, it can, and it's correct. Words have multiple definitions and which definition is right depends on the context. It's like that in every language.

Title: English Language Question
Post by: DDay on November 13, 2011, 11:02:47 pm

Hero Bash is my god and I believe in him.

Title: English Language Question
Post by: Terrorantula on November 14, 2011, 12:29:49 am

*Smiles at the above* Yeah. A lot of language is contextual.  Again, if you were in Henderson, Nevada, you might say  "I believe in the Aliens." (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Henderson-Aliens-Football-Team/112056358806413)