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The ocean is a strange place after dark

bbc.com

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Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#11

Post by dragonwriter »

colechristensen wrote: post #10
smnrchrds wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Merriam-Webster dictionary disagrees: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus

What's popular isn't always correct and dictionaries by definition reflect usage. That is unless it doesn't literally kill you that literally now actually means figuratively too.

“Literally” doesn't actually mean figuratively, even in use; it's used (figuratively itself) as an intensifier applied to some other figurative expression. This actually has the opposite effect to “figuratively”, which by explicitly stating that a use is figurative acts as a qualifier, rather than an intensifier, of the figurative expression it modifies.

Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#12

Post by gnaritas »

colechristensen wrote: post #10
smnrchrds wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Merriam-Webster dictionary disagrees: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus

What's popular isn't always correct and dictionaries by definition reflect usage. That is unless it doesn't literally kill you that literally now actually means figuratively too.

> What's popular isn't always correct and dictionaries by definition reflect usage.

What's popular is correct by definition, that's why dictionaries reflect usage, they don't prescribe it. Language is about communication, not syntax, people do use "literally" when they mean figuratively and you know it, I know it, so they are communicating, the word has obtained new meaning. Words are not static things.

Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#13

Post by ystvn »

smnrchrds wrote: post #8
kmonad wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The squid symbiosis is mentioned in the article. Oh and btw, it's octopuses or octopodes (greek not latin, fyi).

Merriam-Webster dictionary disagrees: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus

Oxford Dictionary disagrees with Merriam-Webster:

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/octopus

Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#14

Post by Gustomaximus »

sandworm101 wrote: post #4

Most all waves glow at night. But to see it with the naked eye you need proper darkness. Ocean + waves + darkness = bad idea. So i cannot suggest anyone go looking for this.

There are significantly different levels of bioluminescence. You see some regularly. Occasionally it's truly glowing. Once I saw it at incredible levels. I was fortunate to be with friends and a spot we could swim. We were diving from about 3m above the water and watching our bodies go through the water leaving these tunnels of glow. If you were the diver and looked back your skin was glowing. Very cool and I can suggest everyone getting this experience assuming usual safety is covered.

Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#15

Post by pvaldes »

kmonad wrote: post #6
giarc wrote: post #2

Here's another story/fact that should be included. There's a species of octopi that live in groups. On nights with bright moon, predators can identify them because they cast a shadow. They have evolved an organ to intake particular bacteria that use what's called quorum sensing to detect when there's enough of them around. When the organ is full of these bacteria, the bacteria glow and therefore stop the shadow of th…

The squid symbiosis is mentioned in the article. Oh and btw, it's octopuses or octopodes (greek not latin, fyi).

Both forms are correct and are used as synonyms although referring to different things. Octopoda is an order, Octopus is the common name of animals in this order. On the other hand, octopuses normally are solitary and bottom attached; squids like the jewel squids do that countershading by light. Octopuses do not need this kind of defense normally. On the other hand squid countershading will not work with its smartest predators.

Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#16

Post by mmjaa »

giarc wrote: post #2

Here's another story/fact that should be included. There's a species of octopi that live in groups. On nights with bright moon, predators can identify them because they cast a shadow. They have evolved an organ to intake particular bacteria that use what's called quorum sensing to detect when there's enough of them around. When the organ is full of these bacteria, the bacteria glow and therefore stop the shadow of th…

Social Octopuses? GTFO? Really? I must know more (as I am an avid octopus junky) and I thought that octopus were not social .. Got any more specifics?

Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#18

Post by bunderbunder »

colechristensen wrote: post #10
smnrchrds wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Merriam-Webster dictionary disagrees: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus

What's popular isn't always correct and dictionaries by definition reflect usage. That is unless it doesn't literally kill you that literally now actually means figuratively too.

I was walking across campus with a friend and we came upon half a dozen theoretical linguists committing unprovoked physical assault on a defenseless prescriptivist. My friend was shocked. She said: "Aren't you going to help?"

I said, "No; six should be enough."

(copypasted from http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002938.h...)

Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#19

Post by danesparza »

SophieHR wrote: post #17

Saw a document once about red octopuses called red devils that attack in pack during night. Definitely not a fun thought to have.

Turns out the 'red devils' you are referring to are squid not octopuses: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_squid

It's OK -- I didn't know either, until right now. Thanks for the tip!

Re: The ocean is a strange place after dark

#20

Post by chrisbennet »

colechristensen wrote: post #10
smnrchrds wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Merriam-Webster dictionary disagrees: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/octopus

What's popular isn't always correct and dictionaries by definition reflect usage. That is unless it doesn't literally kill you that literally now actually means figuratively too.

Adam Ruins Everything had a episode that covered this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu5XDrdD7KM

In short: The dictionary isn't the "law", it lags behind the language as it is actually used. Once the "reverse" definition of "literally" became common in usage it became the new definition - not what a dictionary used to define it as.

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