Re: Dissing the phrase "begging the question"

[Without Papers <wop -at- SEACOAST -dot- COM>]

Could someone please use "to beg the question" in a sentence. I mean, I
don't think I've ever heard it used with what you call its real and intended
meaning... not once in my short life.


>Good point, but . . . this isn't quite the same thing...
>Adding the new word "dissed" to the language is not the same as
>destroying the meaning of the word "disrespected", which is still
>available to anyone who wants to use it. In fact, now having the word
>"dissed" along with the word "disrespected" gives us the ability to add
>nuance -- because, as you point out, the "impact" of the two words is
>not identical.
>
>The effect of adding to the language is to enrich the range of
>meaning(s) we can express in the language.
>
>The effect of stripping the meaning from words/phrases that were already
>in the language is to impoverish the available range of expression.
>
>The misuse of the phrase "to beg the question" has the effect of
>taking-away a meaning, without adding anything in return.  "To RAISE the
>question" was a phrase we already had; the misuse just erases the
>difference between that phrase and "to BEG the question", which used to
>have its own meaning -- a meaning which is hard to express in any other
>way, without using lots more words.
>
>Not to veer overmuch into philosophy, but:  to lose the "name" of a
>thing is to lose the thing itself.
>--------
>Ernie Tamminga
>Director, InfoEngineering
>Digital Sound Corporation
>-----------------------------------------------
>Opinions expressed are my own, and not necessarily those of Digital
>Sound Corporation
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From:  Michael Wilder [SMTP:mwilder -at- smtplink -dot- deltecpower -dot- com]
>>Sent:  Thursday, June 12, 1997 7:29 AM
>>To:    Tamminga, Ernie; TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
>>Subject:       verbal abuse of "begging the question" -Reply
>>
>>Someone said#
>>The fine phrase "to beg the question" is very fast becoming
>>synonymous with "to RAISE the question".   I first remember hearing
>>this usage on a
>>TV commercial for some toothpaste, a couple of years ago. Something
>>about showing a dentist in his own bathroom brushing his teeth, and
>>this
>>"begging the question" of what toothpaste he used.
>>
>>I remember crying out in pain when I heard this. ...and I've had to
>>cringe repeatedly since, as the new usage gradually forces-out the
>>real meaning of the phrase.
>>
>>The real meaning of "to beg the question" is: TO EMPLOY AN ARGUMENT
>>THAT
>>ASSUMES AS VALID THE VERY SAME ARGUMENT THAT ONE IS TRYING TO PROVE
>>
>>Michael Wilder retorted:
>>
>>Language is a living, evolving entity used as a tool of expression.
>>As meaning changes so does language.
>>
>>For example, the importance of respect in minority communities and
>>need for rapid expression has forced  the word disrespect to become
>>the word dis. (There are lot of other reasons I sure.)
>>
>>"Hey man, you disrepected me"
>>"Hey man, you dissed me"
>>
>>The word dis is much more effective in conveying its intended
>>meaning.
>>
>>Just some thoughts
>>
>>MIke W.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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Joseph M. Chodat
Nina-Giovanna Esile
Without Papers
wop -at- seacoast -dot- com

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