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Re: (Slight) HUMOUR: Banned Words

Subject: Re: (Slight) HUMOUR: Banned Words
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 07 Nov 2001 13:08:19 -0800

APEERY -at- FAMILYDOLLAR -dot- COM wrote:

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.

Personally, I like to think of myself as being in the third class, the artisians, whose knowledge is greater than that of the priests, but who use their knowledge for practical purposes rather than to show off.

As for the so-called laity, I wouldn't dismiss its language skills so quickly. There's many popular ballads and songs that show more of a feel for language than anything ever written by the priests. I can't help thinking that the laity has the right idea: it uses language for its purposes, rather than letting the language use them. The priests use language as a weapon for status, and usually prefer to be right rather than effective.

--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"The gates of hell are guarded by a pair of vicious dogs,
And Hannibal was thwarted by some flaming Roman hogs
Me, I was defeated by the ferry schedule
Now I'm standing on the dockside in twenty pounds of sopping wool."
-James Keelaghan, "Departure Bay"






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RE: (Slight) HUMOUR: Banned Words: From: APEERY

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