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Archiver > TMG > 2003-09 > 1062438530


From: "Patty Gibson" <>
Subject: RE: [TMG] Wording
Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2003 13:48:50 -0400
In-Reply-To: <000001c370aa$11421300$4502a8c0@Cheasa>


Actually, I think it's more of an issue of whether we are recording a
time-related fact or not.

Where someone was or what they did at a specific point in time is a past
tense item. Hence, someone WAS married on such and such date; someone
WAS listed on the such and such year census.

However, the existence of someone's children or the "knowing" about such
existence isn't time related. They either exist or they don't; we
either know about it or we don't. To me that is present tense. I'm
recording what is -- future generations will be smart enough to figure
out that what IS for me, is what WAS for them.

Hope this makes sense.

Patty


-----Original Message-----
From: Teresa Ghee Elliott [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 12:57 PM
To:
Subject: RE: [TMG] Wording


Isn't any event we are recording in the past? I could record where I
will be on the 2010 census, but that is very likely to change. But if I
am recording where I was on the 1990 census, that is not going to change
and it has already happened. It really wouldn't matter who my reader
is.

Teresa Ghee Elliott
For examples of TMG sentences <http://www.tmgsentences.home-page.org>;
Interested in Rutherford County, TN cemeteries?
<http://www.rutherfordcemeteries.home-page.org>;


-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2003 10:42 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [TMG] Wording



It is my belief that when we construct our sentences we need to do so
based
on our intended audience and their view of our reality. When an event
is past
tense to us, it is most definitely past tense to them too. On the other
hand,
when we write about events of today in the present tense, as that is
what
they are to us, future generations will see these events only in the
past tense.


So, who are we writing to, the present generation or future generations?
I
am writing my family history for the eyes of future generations. But, I
will
be happy if the present generation reads it.

This is sort of like touch up painting. When you first apply the paint,
it
doesn't really match. But, give it some time and it blends quite well.


Donald Schulteis


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