Category: Language Matters
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‘Whose’ and ‘Of Which’: How Punctilious is Too Punctilious?
Which of the following is correct? 'He presented an argument whose logical form is Modus Tollens.' 'He presented an argument the logical form of which is Modus Tollens.' The second. But it would be absurd to insist on a punctilio such as this in a world going insane. Besides, you are not going to write,…
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From the Transgressive Left to the ‘Conservative’ Left
Perhaps you have noticed that radicals are rather less interested in speaking truth to power after they get power than before. Their transgressive speech and behavior becomes curiously 'conservative.' Giving umbrage gives way to taking umbrage. Debra Saunders: What happened to shrugging at an opinion with which you disagree and leaving it at that?…
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A Leftist Assault on Grammar as Racist
The destructiveness of the Left extends even unto our alma mater, the English language. London Karl, who sent me the YouTube link, comments: Guardian writer declares that those who like to use correct grammar are likely to be 'whiter' 'older' and 'wealthier' than those they correct. The irony of her being an editor on a…
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White Elites versus White America
My man Hanson. I can't touch him, so I quote him: There are two characteristics common to popular uses of the term “white”: It is almost always used pejoratively, and it is mostly voiced by elites of all backgrounds — and usually as a slur against the white working and “clinger” classes. So “the Latino…
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Is it Racist to Refuse to Rent to Criminals?
Contemporary liberals use 'racist' as an all-purpose semantic bludgeon. It can mean almost anything depending on what the lefty agenda is at the moment. For example, if you point out the dangers of radical Islam you may get yourself labeled a 'racist' even though Islam is not a race but a religion. Examples are legion. …
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Senses of ‘Abstract’ with a Little Help from Hegel
For Eric Levy, who 'inspired' me to dig deeper into this material. ………………………………… Keith Campbell and others call tropes abstract particulars. But what is it for something to be abstract? It may be useful to sort out the different senses of 'abstract' since this term and its opposite 'concrete' are thrown around quite a lot…
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A Waste of a Good Hyphen
A reader doesn't get the point of my earlier entry: Use-Mention Confusion Dennis Miller: "Melissa Harris-Perry is a waste of a good hyphen." So let me explain it. Miller is a brilliant conservative comedian who appears regularly on The O'Reilly Factor. If you catch every one of Miller's allusions and can follow his rap you…
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Zuhdi Jasser, Profile in Civil Courage
I have had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Jasser speak twice, a few days ago right in my own neighborhood. He is an outstanding American and a Muslim, one who demonstrates that it is possible to be a moderate Muslim who accepts American values including the separation of church/mosque and state. I have reproduced, below…
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Word of the Day: Levigate
To grind into a smooth powder.
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Is There Any Place for Gentlemen in Post-Consensus Politics?
We are in the age of post-consensus politics. We Americans don't agree on much of anything any more. As our politics comes more and more to resemble warfare, the warrior comes more and more to replace the gentleman. Here is the best description of a gentleman I have encountered: The True Gentleman is the man…
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PC Claims Another Victim
One good thing about leftists is that they eat their own. So here is a leftist professor who is attempting to confess her 'white privilege.' She mentions the word 'nigger.' She is not using it any more than I just used it: she is not applying it to anyone. She is talking about the word. …
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‘Dog Whistles’ and Liberal Scumbaggery
I need to bone up on my 'dog whistles.' I wasn't aware until now of most of the following: For Obama backers, identifying racist “dog whistles” became a favored pastime in 2012. Words like “angry,” “golf,” “skinny,” “Chicago,” “food stamps,” “apartment,” and even “Constitution,” were ascribed some darker meaning that supposedly only white nationalists could hear…
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Speech
The existence of this god-like power elevates us above the rest of the animal kingdom. Would that the same could be said of our use of it.
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Jeb Bush did not Suspend, he Ended his Campaign
In this Internet age the availability of accurate on-line dictionary definitions makes the misuse of language by so-called journalists inexcusable. The Merriam-Webster's definition of 'suspend' receives the coveted MavPhil nihil obstat. Suspensions are temporary. But we all know, and Jeb! knows, that he ain't coming back, leastways not in this election cycle. Part of the…
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Phrase of the Day: ‘Ideologically Ambidextrous’
Bret Stephens applied it to Hillary in today's Wall Street Journal. The meaning, I take it, is that she can move either right or left in pursuit of her personal ambitions depending on the circumstances. But we ought to consider whether 'ideologically ambisinistrous' might fit her better, given her being a two-fisted lefty. Related articles…