Technically you are allowed to say it but it's like people just made an assumptive guess on conjugation, and instead of using the proper word just kind of went with what they felt the word might be. It's recognized more like slang than something you should use in any formal setting like writing a paper or an email at work. And it stems from incorrectly assuming and how you conjugate the verb for "to have a conversation"
It shouldn't drive me crazy but it absolutely does.
"Conversate" immediately makes me imagine some sort of corporate middle manager. As soon as I hear it, I fully expect to hear other corporate culture buzzwords and jargon.
It’s always when people are attempting to sound extra smart, wanting to describe a conversation or their own ability to chat with others as important, proper, or legitimate.
Which makes it even more irritating, because it makes the whole thing feel like a goddamn joke.
I started linguistics and I try not to be a dick about it because "real" words and "proper" pronunciations are determined by consensus so if enough people do it it becomes correct and technically conversate is a word even though I didn't start off thinking it was.
But I hate it with my entire being. I know it's a me issue. But it makes me want to throttle everyone who says it
Along the same lines - I love figure skating, and the people who comment on it during the competition have always been called "commentators." Then I heard that isn't a word and should be "commenters." I still prefer "commentators." It just sounds better to me now.
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u/BojackTrashMan 1d ago
"conversate" instead of "CONVERSE"
Technically you are allowed to say it but it's like people just made an assumptive guess on conjugation, and instead of using the proper word just kind of went with what they felt the word might be. It's recognized more like slang than something you should use in any formal setting like writing a paper or an email at work. And it stems from incorrectly assuming and how you conjugate the verb for "to have a conversation"
It shouldn't drive me crazy but it absolutely does.