No, it's not incorrect, it's simply a ColloquiaLILism

I can't help but love word play, especially after having grown up with my grammar, manner and vocabulary conscious grandma, who has earned the fitting moniker of Grammer (which is of course pronounced like "Gramma" since Bostonians have the idear that the " r" fell off the moving cah.) So she lectured me the differences between I & me, so I would know that "she make a Sunshine cake with my sister and me", but only if "Julia and I ate dinner first". And recently I thought that after four years of a private college education taught me everything, I realized that she could still teach me that you can't call something "really unique" because if it's unique, then it's completely singular and there's no need for an superlative or comparative adjective in front of another adjective.

My argument was that it was a colloquialism, since our everyday teenagers and adults alike use this kind of exaggerated, over-adjectified phrase. (I did not win the argument, because there was no stretching or bending the rules of grammar.)

However, I continued to think about the definition of a colloquialism. I feel like our language is so exemplary (maybe embarrassingly so) of colloquialisms all over the country. We've got "y'all" in the south and "that's wicked awesome" up by me. Can you really argue that there's anything wrong with that kind of talk? I'll be the first one to take after my grammar-grandma and defend the use of I not me or "I goes before E except after C", but there's no way you can take away those really unique ways of talking in each part of the country.

And don't even get me started about Italy...I'd love to start writing down all the ways in which they have warped and bent and changed the rules of their language. Each region has it's own!! (well, what do you expect? you know how the Italians love to bend the rules....)

I'll have to think about those words they have when I'm not so tired...then I'll write them down (for all you Grammar and Grandpa's out there!) In the meanwhile, if you'd like to argue that "really unique" isn't a colloquialism, then I'll at least argue that it's a colloquiaLILLism.





PS and if you're curious, here's my defense for a colloquialism, as written in Webster dictionary:
Colloquialisms or colloquial language are considered to be characteristic of or only appropriate for ordinary, familiar or informal conversation rather than formal speech or writing. Some examples of informal colloquialisms can include words (such as "y'all" or "gonna" or "wanna"), phrases (such as "ain't nothin'", "dressed for bear"

Long live Coldplay!!

There is nothing better than watching a 3 year old start on a "why" and "why?", "but why" tirade about my favorite band of all time. What's even better is not knowing how to answer her questions.

bambina: "Why does he sleep alone", she asks.
me: "I don't know..."
bambina:"but you're a grown-up. You're supposed to know."
me:"Grown-up's don't know everything."
bambina:"Why?".....
(and it continues with about six-hundred more "why"s.)

COLDPLAY:
Viva la Vida

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemies eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you'd gone it was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries Wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world