TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:RE: (Slight) HUMOUR: Banned Words From:APEERY -at- FAMILYDOLLAR -dot- COM To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 7 Nov 2001 09:18:16 -0500
A theory for your delectation:
<rank speculation>
I think these are two aspects of the same phenomenon: linguistic
self-aggrandizement. I think we all do this to some extent. (Note my use
of "self-aggrandizement"!) The "priests", those with extensive knowledge of
language, wield their vocabulary partly with an eye to being impressive,
even if unconsciously. The "laity", those without well-developed language
skills, try to achieve the same effect by coining new words. Still others,
hearing the neologism, can't wait to unleash it at their next board meeting.
Sure, sometimes they come off like Don King, and end up looking ridiculous.
But sometimes they force even the best of us to mutter, 'I've never heard
that word...better get my dictionary.' And in those few moments before we
look the word up, perhaps we are, if not impressed, at least prepared to be
impressed, by the other's knowledge. :)
</rank speculation>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marguerite Krupp [SMTP:mkrupp -at- cisco -dot- com]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 8:36 AM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: RE: (Slight) HUMOUR: Banned Words
>
> Several people have wondered about WHY people create mangled new words
> when
> we already have several good words that mean the same thing.
>
> What worries me is not so much the CREATION of these new words, but the
> fact
> that they rapidly gain currency, particularly among those who "should know
> better."...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Be a published author! iUniverse gives you: a high-quality paperback, a
custom cover design, and distribution to 25,00 retailers. Join our almost
10,000 published authors today. http://www.iuniverse.com/media/techwr
Your monthly sponsorship message here reaches more than
5000 technical writers, providing 2,500,000+ monthly impressions.
Contact Eric (ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com) for details and availability.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
