Both Uses of
abrupt
in
Do You Speak American?
- In movies and radio soap operas, according to Labov, the "r"—less accent was abruptly confined to gangsters and comedians.†
Chpt 3 *abruptly = suddenly and unexpectedly
- People think that language evolves slowly over several generations, but sometimes it can change with dramatic abruptness.†
Chpt 3
Definitions:
-
(1)
(abrupt as in: an abrupt change) sudden and unexpected
or (less commonly): characterized by sudden changes or at a steep angle -
(2)
(abrupt as in: she is abrupt) rude or unfriendly because of using too few words or moving too quickly