"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master — that's all."
Words change their meaning over time, and the pace of change varies. New words come and old words go, and those who look for a pattern find only social variations.
Five decades ago, the word "gay" had no hint of sexual orientation, and the verb "diss," to insult or disrespect someone, had not come into general usage.
At that time, a used car could be had for less than $100, and $2 would fill up the gas tank. But times change, and so does language usage.
In a way, Humpty Dumpty the master linguist was right. Words mean only what people -- speakers and hearers -- intend them to mean. And if the hearer or reader does not grasp the intended meaning, the speaker or writer has failed the mission.
And that, friends, is the primary purpose of language: to communicate.
Granted, language changes, and there are regional as well as social variations in any language -- they're called dialects.
It is a writer's duty to aim prose at the intended audience. Academics do not use rap dialect, and rappers would be ignored if they were to use the polysyllabic, convoluted prose favored by academics.
This is not to say that they cannot or should not use various dialects and styles. The goal, after all, is communication.
Words mean what the general audience accepts them to mean. Otherwise, the speaker/writer is chattering gibberish.
Therefore, heed the words of Humpty Dumpty: "The question is, which is to be master."
Or those of Albert Einstein: "If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself."
In sum, know your audience.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Word Smithers
When not sure of the meaning of a word, try taking it apart.
The word "acronym" has been enjoying wider usage, and has been applied to any set of initials. But the word itself is derived from two Greek components, acro- as in high, and -nym as in name or word. Thus, "high word," or a word formed by using capital letters, or the initial letters of a phrase. Examples include "radar," from Radio Direction And Ranging, or "laser," from Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. NATO is another, formed from North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
In brief, if you can pronounce it as a word, it's an acronym. If not, it's a set of initials. IBM, CIA, and FBI are not acronyms, since you cannot pronounce them as words.
And while it's true that some more recent dictionaries may recognize the use of acronym in referring to just a set of initials, it's good to keep in mind that some dictionaries function more as history books, describing what people say, rather than as law books, which stipulate what people should say.
Meanwhile, use acronym if you can pronounce the initials as a word. If not, don't.
A question came in about the use of the word "gingerly." It refers to something being done cautiously and carefully. It has little to do with ginger, the spice, unless you feel that a little goes a long way, and the spice is to be used cautiously.
Some words become suddenly popular and are fads, finding their way into nearly every conversation and news report. Such a word is "iconic." Properly used, it refers to something that is a prime example of a set, or is one of a kind and easily recognized. Recently, news reporters have been using "iconic" every time they report on anything that is easily recognized, even if it's not very attractive.
Another is the weather forecasters' fascination with "nor'-easter," to refer to any storm of consequence coming out of the northeast. And we are suddenly overwhelmed with products that are "artisanal," as if every product on the shelf is hand-crafted by artisans. I don't think so.
News writers have fallen for the military's reference to opposing forces as "fighters," rather than as "soldiers," and to their bombs as "improvised explosive devices." It seems the military feels that using other terms somehow diminishes the legitimacy of the people and their weapons and tactics.
Remember, one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. The British government in the 18th Century referred to General Washington's army as rebels, not soldiers. Similarly, in the early 20th Century, rebels in Ireland were known as terrorists, but to the Irish they were freedom fighters.
The word "acronym" has been enjoying wider usage, and has been applied to any set of initials. But the word itself is derived from two Greek components, acro- as in high, and -nym as in name or word. Thus, "high word," or a word formed by using capital letters, or the initial letters of a phrase. Examples include "radar," from Radio Direction And Ranging, or "laser," from Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. NATO is another, formed from North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
In brief, if you can pronounce it as a word, it's an acronym. If not, it's a set of initials. IBM, CIA, and FBI are not acronyms, since you cannot pronounce them as words.
And while it's true that some more recent dictionaries may recognize the use of acronym in referring to just a set of initials, it's good to keep in mind that some dictionaries function more as history books, describing what people say, rather than as law books, which stipulate what people should say.
Meanwhile, use acronym if you can pronounce the initials as a word. If not, don't.
A question came in about the use of the word "gingerly." It refers to something being done cautiously and carefully. It has little to do with ginger, the spice, unless you feel that a little goes a long way, and the spice is to be used cautiously.
Some words become suddenly popular and are fads, finding their way into nearly every conversation and news report. Such a word is "iconic." Properly used, it refers to something that is a prime example of a set, or is one of a kind and easily recognized. Recently, news reporters have been using "iconic" every time they report on anything that is easily recognized, even if it's not very attractive.
Another is the weather forecasters' fascination with "nor'-easter," to refer to any storm of consequence coming out of the northeast. And we are suddenly overwhelmed with products that are "artisanal," as if every product on the shelf is hand-crafted by artisans. I don't think so.
News writers have fallen for the military's reference to opposing forces as "fighters," rather than as "soldiers," and to their bombs as "improvised explosive devices." It seems the military feels that using other terms somehow diminishes the legitimacy of the people and their weapons and tactics.
Remember, one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. The British government in the 18th Century referred to General Washington's army as rebels, not soldiers. Similarly, in the early 20th Century, rebels in Ireland were known as terrorists, but to the Irish they were freedom fighters.
Euro Virus
With a couple of exceptions, a fiscal virus is spreading through the nations of the European Union. And since the financial market is a worldwide bourse, the virus may spread to America.
Recent economic statistics show a recovery under way in the U.S., but many nations across the pond are still struggling.
Third quarter GDP in America grew by 2.7 percent, according to the number crunchers, with the unemployment rate dropping. In Europe, meanwhile, the recession continues and the jobless rate rises.
During the same period, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a generally accepted gauge of economic performance, and adjusted for seasonal variations, fell by about half a percentage point in both the 17 countries that use the euro as their national currency, as well as in all 27 countries of the European Union.
The unemployment rate throughout Europe during October reached an all time high of 11.7 percent, up from 11.6 percent the month before and 10.4 percent a year ago. In the U.S., the jobless rate has dropped below 10 percent.
And while Democrats in America luxuriate in the warmth of improving statistics, the chief of the European Central Bank warns that the euro won't recover from crisis until late next year. Moreover, government austerity will stunt economic growth.
The exceptions to the European economic malaise are Germany and Austria, where the unemployment rate is steady or falling. In Germany, the rate is steady at 5.4 percent, and in Austria, the jobless rate dropped a notch to just 4.3 percent, according to published data. Unemployment in Spain, meanwhile, rose to 26.2 percent, and in Italy to 11.1 percent.
The obvious consequence of the differing rates is that those in the south of Europe without jobs will migrate to the areas where workers are needed. It's the same phenomenon that has brought workers to America. People go where the jobs are.
The lesson for America is to avoid the fear factor, and not let the financial specter haunting Europe emigrate to the U.S.
This fear factor has pushed governments to reduce spending to bring down borrowing rates, and bankers have been reluctant to lend, making less cash available for private sector investment, which leads to less hiring and more unemployment, which leads to less consumer spending, which aggravates a recessionary trend.
The borrowing cost (interest rate) for the Spanish government is above 5 percent, compared to less than 2 percent for Germany. The American government's borrowing cost also remains extremely low, a market indication of fiscal health. Investor yields for two-year and five-year notes have fallen below 1 percent, and for ten-year Treasury securities below 2 percent.
This means that the U.S. government -- and that of Germany -- can easily borrow in the world financial market to finance its spending plans, while the government of Spain cannot.
But fear can carry a fiscal virus, leading to calls for austerity here, even as such calls are heard in Spain and other European nations. And if the money flow is blocked, a national economy suffers a painful stroke.
Yet there are some who say a nation must endure the pain and patiently wait for the private sector to rescue itself.
This, too, shall pass, they say. Such an attitude works well for those who have the wherewithal to endure. As for those who are not as fortunate . . .
Recent economic statistics show a recovery under way in the U.S., but many nations across the pond are still struggling.
Third quarter GDP in America grew by 2.7 percent, according to the number crunchers, with the unemployment rate dropping. In Europe, meanwhile, the recession continues and the jobless rate rises.
During the same period, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a generally accepted gauge of economic performance, and adjusted for seasonal variations, fell by about half a percentage point in both the 17 countries that use the euro as their national currency, as well as in all 27 countries of the European Union.
The unemployment rate throughout Europe during October reached an all time high of 11.7 percent, up from 11.6 percent the month before and 10.4 percent a year ago. In the U.S., the jobless rate has dropped below 10 percent.
And while Democrats in America luxuriate in the warmth of improving statistics, the chief of the European Central Bank warns that the euro won't recover from crisis until late next year. Moreover, government austerity will stunt economic growth.
The exceptions to the European economic malaise are Germany and Austria, where the unemployment rate is steady or falling. In Germany, the rate is steady at 5.4 percent, and in Austria, the jobless rate dropped a notch to just 4.3 percent, according to published data. Unemployment in Spain, meanwhile, rose to 26.2 percent, and in Italy to 11.1 percent.
The obvious consequence of the differing rates is that those in the south of Europe without jobs will migrate to the areas where workers are needed. It's the same phenomenon that has brought workers to America. People go where the jobs are.
The lesson for America is to avoid the fear factor, and not let the financial specter haunting Europe emigrate to the U.S.
This fear factor has pushed governments to reduce spending to bring down borrowing rates, and bankers have been reluctant to lend, making less cash available for private sector investment, which leads to less hiring and more unemployment, which leads to less consumer spending, which aggravates a recessionary trend.
The borrowing cost (interest rate) for the Spanish government is above 5 percent, compared to less than 2 percent for Germany. The American government's borrowing cost also remains extremely low, a market indication of fiscal health. Investor yields for two-year and five-year notes have fallen below 1 percent, and for ten-year Treasury securities below 2 percent.
This means that the U.S. government -- and that of Germany -- can easily borrow in the world financial market to finance its spending plans, while the government of Spain cannot.
But fear can carry a fiscal virus, leading to calls for austerity here, even as such calls are heard in Spain and other European nations. And if the money flow is blocked, a national economy suffers a painful stroke.
Yet there are some who say a nation must endure the pain and patiently wait for the private sector to rescue itself.
This, too, shall pass, they say. Such an attitude works well for those who have the wherewithal to endure. As for those who are not as fortunate . . .
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Drifting
All news is local.
We hear a lot about ocean-borne debris fouling the beaches of Hawaii and America's West Coast as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Will we hear as much about debris from storm damage on America's East Coast fouling beaches in Europe?
Don't mess with Mother Nature. She'll get you in the end.
For those who deny global warming, ask them when they last saw ice skating on Central Park Lake in Manhattan, or on any local pond. Or ask the Flexible Flyer company about sled sales. Or ask why some bird species no longer migrate. Or ask why mockingbirds are no longer limited to the American South.
The issue is not whether the climate is changing, but how much people contribute to it, and how we can change our ways so we don't self-destruct.
Justice is blind. And sometimes more than that.
The Shooda Stood in Bed Award goes to the Italian weather forecasters who faced criminal charges for not predicting the extent of earthquake damage.
The Why Bother Award goes to those in Europe who require folks to purchase travelers insurance. Unless you're over 65, in which case you are rejected because of age and you can't get it even if you do want it.
We hear a lot about ocean-borne debris fouling the beaches of Hawaii and America's West Coast as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Will we hear as much about debris from storm damage on America's East Coast fouling beaches in Europe?
Don't mess with Mother Nature. She'll get you in the end.
For those who deny global warming, ask them when they last saw ice skating on Central Park Lake in Manhattan, or on any local pond. Or ask the Flexible Flyer company about sled sales. Or ask why some bird species no longer migrate. Or ask why mockingbirds are no longer limited to the American South.
The issue is not whether the climate is changing, but how much people contribute to it, and how we can change our ways so we don't self-destruct.
Justice is blind. And sometimes more than that.
The Shooda Stood in Bed Award goes to the Italian weather forecasters who faced criminal charges for not predicting the extent of earthquake damage.
The Why Bother Award goes to those in Europe who require folks to purchase travelers insurance. Unless you're over 65, in which case you are rejected because of age and you can't get it even if you do want it.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Allegedly Troublesome
Don't get heartburn in the first place. -- Larry the Cable Guy
Ample use of the word "allegedly" doesn't get you off the hook and can get you in trouble.
The standards of usage are upheld by copy editors at newspapers, magazines and online publications in America and other English-speaking countries around the world.
They are unknown and unsung. They get no bylines, yet they save those who do from looking foolish every day. It is serious work, with serious consequences.
This is not to say that copy editors are humorless and always take themselves seriously. Some of the best one-liners ever perpetrated have come from copy editors -- many are unprintable and understandable only in the context of the moment.
A rule learned early by every good writer and copy editor is this: If you don't want to see it in print, don't put it in the computer. And don't rely on the next guy to invoke the CYA rule and take it out or otherwise fix it. Do it yourself. (CYA = "cover your a...")
If you must make jokes with the copy, keep it verbal.
This rule was forgotten by the copy editor who inserted "allegedly born in Hawaii" into a story about the President, and expected the next editor to catch the joke and delete the word "allegedly." He didn't.
Ample use of the word "allegedly" doesn't get you off the hook and can get you in trouble.
The standards of usage are upheld by copy editors at newspapers, magazines and online publications in America and other English-speaking countries around the world.
They are unknown and unsung. They get no bylines, yet they save those who do from looking foolish every day. It is serious work, with serious consequences.
This is not to say that copy editors are humorless and always take themselves seriously. Some of the best one-liners ever perpetrated have come from copy editors -- many are unprintable and understandable only in the context of the moment.
A rule learned early by every good writer and copy editor is this: If you don't want to see it in print, don't put it in the computer. And don't rely on the next guy to invoke the CYA rule and take it out or otherwise fix it. Do it yourself. (CYA = "cover your a...")
If you must make jokes with the copy, keep it verbal.
This rule was forgotten by the copy editor who inserted "allegedly born in Hawaii" into a story about the President, and expected the next editor to catch the joke and delete the word "allegedly." He didn't.
Multiplier
If common sense is so common, how come no one thought of it before?
A genius is one who sees where others do not look.
The concept of the multiplier effect only took hold in the 1930s -- some 80 years ago -- in the lifetime of many now living. Yet it's now accepted in economics as "common sense."
Here's an example: The Haynes Kayak Co. gets an order for 100 additional boats. This requires that the company hire one more worker, who in turn spends his wages on food, clothing, shelter, etc. To get to work, he buys a car, which means more gasoline sales. More auto sales in turn generate additional income for the car sales representative, support staff including secretary, bookkeeper and mechanic, as well as gas station employes, truckers who deliver the fuel, drillers, refinery workers, engineers who operate the oil wells, and those who benefit from their additional income.
It matters not whether the additional first order came from government or from the private sector. The effect of multiplying benefits through the entire economy is the same.
A genius is one who sees where others do not look.
The concept of the multiplier effect only took hold in the 1930s -- some 80 years ago -- in the lifetime of many now living. Yet it's now accepted in economics as "common sense."
Here's an example: The Haynes Kayak Co. gets an order for 100 additional boats. This requires that the company hire one more worker, who in turn spends his wages on food, clothing, shelter, etc. To get to work, he buys a car, which means more gasoline sales. More auto sales in turn generate additional income for the car sales representative, support staff including secretary, bookkeeper and mechanic, as well as gas station employes, truckers who deliver the fuel, drillers, refinery workers, engineers who operate the oil wells, and those who benefit from their additional income.
It matters not whether the additional first order came from government or from the private sector. The effect of multiplying benefits through the entire economy is the same.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Idle Thoughts
Q/ What do you think of open borders?
A/ Close the borders. There are too many Canadians clamoring to come here to take advantage of our health care system.
Kudos to Jon Stewart of The Daily Show for taking aim at a Fox News host and guest who lamented the changing demographics of America, with the rush of new immigrants endangering the traditional American way of life.
The host and guest were named O'Reilly and Goldberg.
A commentator noted the reluctance of the conservative wing of the GOP to see what might be happening to their party. "It's one thing to be on the Titanic. It's another not to know an iceberg has struck."
There's a need for people who can't hear "no."
There's a thin line between confidence and arrogance.
Education is never wasted.
Religionists discovered marketing as a way to spread their influence. When that didn't work, they turned to violence.
Religion begets politics, but not the reverse.
What if he got in touch with his inner Thurston Howell, but no one was home?
The TV graphic noted that the electric company replaced more than 2500 polls.
(So who needs Gallup?)
A/ Close the borders. There are too many Canadians clamoring to come here to take advantage of our health care system.
Kudos to Jon Stewart of The Daily Show for taking aim at a Fox News host and guest who lamented the changing demographics of America, with the rush of new immigrants endangering the traditional American way of life.
The host and guest were named O'Reilly and Goldberg.
A commentator noted the reluctance of the conservative wing of the GOP to see what might be happening to their party. "It's one thing to be on the Titanic. It's another not to know an iceberg has struck."
There's a need for people who can't hear "no."
There's a thin line between confidence and arrogance.
Education is never wasted.
Religionists discovered marketing as a way to spread their influence. When that didn't work, they turned to violence.
Religion begets politics, but not the reverse.
What if he got in touch with his inner Thurston Howell, but no one was home?
The TV graphic noted that the electric company replaced more than 2500 polls.
(So who needs Gallup?)
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