Category: Language Matters
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Immigration Policy Comes First
I have been discussing Islamist terrorism with a couple of Brits who are open to the sorts of things I say. One of them I know is a conservative; the other I think is. What struck me is that both make a curious lefty move. The move is well-described by Heather Mac Donald: Defenders of…
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Dropping Prepositions
It seems to be acceptable in British English, as witness: Donald Trump received a glittering welcome from leaders in Saudi Arabia on the first day of his first international tour, as the two countries agreed a series of military deals worth nearly $110bn (£85bn). That offends my linguistic sensibilities. If I were editor, I would…
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Word of the Day: ‘Eructation’
Merriam-Webster: Eructation is simply a fancier, and some might argue a more decorous, word for "belch." "Eructation" was borrowed from Latin in the 15th century; the verb eruct, meaning "to belch," followed in the late 16th century. Both have their source in the Latin verb eructare, which is the frequentative form of erugere, meaning "to…
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‘That’ and ‘Who’
Incorrect: There are confirmed worldlings that simply do not understand religion. Correct: There are confirmed worldlings who simply do not understand religion. Simple rule: 'that' for things, 'who' for people.
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The Sentence Fragment Fully Fragmented
I was taught to avoid sentence fragments. And that is what I taught my students. But being as flexible and reasonable as you all know me to be, I would allow the occasional exception. Suppose you have just crafted a paragraph summarizing Kant's views on space and time. I would allow you a 'Thus Kant'…
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Of Bocce and Blog
I just got off a language rant and now I'm warmed up. Here's another. Snowflakes turn back now. The name of the game is bocce, not 'bocce ball.' Do you call tennis 'tennis ball'? Soccer 'soccer ball'? Golf 'golf ball'? Get on the ball. And there are still idiots who refer to a blog post…
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On ‘Reaching Out’ and ‘Educate’
Language rant up ahead! All language lemmings to their safe spaces. Last Fall I made an appointment to speak with an auto salesperson. I arrived at the dealership on time, but she didn't. After waiting five minutes, I consulted the general manager. His response was that if she didn't arrive soon, he would "reach out…
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Hyperbole
Every word they write is a lie, and every syllable they speak. Their mendacity extends even unto the syntax of their sentences. Their periods prevaricate and their dashes dissemble.
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Why Physical Culture?
In part it is about control. I can't control your body, but I can control mine. Control is good. Power is good. Physical culture is the gaining and maintaining of power over that part of the physical world that is one's physical self. Self-mastery, as the highest mastery, must include mastery of the vehicle of…
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Do You Speak English?
Then you are guilty of 'cultural appropriation' unless you are English. Addendum 4/12: A philosophy professor comments: The claim in your post today, strikes me as clearly false. Just because someone speaks a language (even as a primary language) doesn't mean they are cultural appropriators guilty of something. Imagine the English colonize your land…
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Top Dog
Being crown of creation, man's wolf is man himself. …………… Is the above sentence grammatical? If it isn't, then it shows that from time to time grammaticality is justifiably sacrificed on the altar of aphoristic elegance. Related articles Peter Kreeft on the Gender-Neutral Use of 'He'
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On the Misuse of ‘Theology’
This is an addendum to my post, On the Misuse of Religious Language. In the left-wing rag of record, the NYT, we find: “When you buy gold you’re saying nothing is going to work and everything is going to stay ridiculous,” said Mackin Pulsifer, vice chairman and chief investment officer of Fiduciary Trust International in…
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On the Misuse of Religious Language
A massage parlor is given the name Nirvana, the implication being that after a well-executed massage one will be in the eponymous state. This betrays a misunderstanding of Nirvana, no doubt, but that is not the main thing, which is the perverse tendency to attach a religious or spiritual significance to a merely sensuous state of…
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Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien
Attributed to Voltaire. "The better is the enemy of the good." Supposedly from the earlier Italian Il meglio è nemico del bene, attested since 1603. (Wikipedia) The thought is perhaps better captured by "The best is the enemy of the good." In an imperfect world it is folly to predicate action upon perfection. Will you…
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Why Are Lawyers So Unhappy?
Martin P. Seligman explains. Seligman! Now there's an aptronym for you. Selig is German for happy, blessed, blissful, although it can also mean late (verstorben) and tipsy (betrunken). So Seligman is the happy man or happy one. Nomen est omen? Give some careful thought to what you name your kid. 'Chastity' may have an anti-aptronymic effect.…