Fight Against Slovenly Language 1

From today's WSJ Opinion Journal:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110009350

First paragraph:

If there is a better losing cause than the fight against slovenly language, I am unaware of it. The first rule of language is change, but why, those of us who have signed up for the fight never cease wondering, does 80 or so percent of this change seem to be for the worse?

 

[Welshbird]

I'm with you. Let's start a campaign!

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[KenCunningham]

I'm with you too. Let's open the champagne!!

I don't mind people who aren't what they seem. I just wish they'd make their mind up.

 

[Dagon]

I think some of the things Fiske is against seem incredibly pedantic and I'm not surprised the circulation of his magazine has fallen to under 1000. Criticising people for saying things like "the important point is.." is excessive. These phrases are a normal part of language and help to connect sentences together or emphasise particular points.

Examples of slovenly language do, however, abound. The worst of them, in my view, is the incredibly annoying "Giving 100 percent isn't enough. You have to give at least 110 percent". There was a particularly atrocious example today from the cricketer Damien Martyn, who has just retired:

Such challenges require people who are more than 100% committed, dedicated, disciplined and passionate about the game, what it seeks to achieve and how those involved in the game can best serve cricket, sport and the wider community.

 

[Welshbird]

That annoys me too Dagon - but I'm not sure that is language so much as inaccurate use of measures!

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[GwydionM]

I'm supposed to take directions from someone who says 80 or so percent when they mean 80 percent or so? And could more sensibly say four-fifths?

------------------------------
An old man who lives in the UK

 

[Ladyazh]

You have to KNOW that 80% is 4/5.
Not always though...

 

[SantaMufasa]

You have to KNOW that 80% is 4/5.

Here, all along, I thought that 80% was 80/100. <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[SilentAiche]

aaaaarrrrrggghh! Can't stand it any more!!


Does anyone else find the phrase "slovenly language" offensive to the ear?

Isn't "slovenly" reserved almost exclusively for descriptions of humans? "One who is careless in habits or appearance; untidy."

LANGUAGE cannot be slovenly, but it's user can (in his attire, or in his use of language)!

Tim



[blue]
_________________________________________________________________________
I love logging onto Tek-Tips. It's always so exciting to see what the hell I said yesterday. [/blue]

 

[RodKnowlton]

SilentAiche, it's correct usage, according to Dictionary.com's American Heritage citations:

slovenly, sense 2: Marked by negligence; slipshod.
language, sense 5: A characteristic style of speech or writing: Shakespearean language.


- Rod

 

[SkipVought]

I will contribute a fifth to the champagne!

Skip,
[sub]
[red][/red]
[/sub]

 

[gbaughma]

"Giving 100 percent isn't enough. You have to give at least 110 percent".

I always give 110%.
20% on Monday.
20% on Tuesday
30% on Wednesday
30% on Thursday
10% on Friday.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly exchanged his dilithium crystals for new Folger's Crystals." -- My Sister
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[2ffat]

I will contribute a fifth to the champagne!

I thought you'd contribute a fifth OF scotch. ;-)


James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
[sup]I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229![/sup]

 

[Ladyazh]

I remembered a joke.
New manager came to a workplace and he said to his co-workers:
-We are adapting new rules in this workplace now when I am in charge.
Monday - we are resting from wildly spent weekends.
Tuesday - we are going to be getting ready to work hard.
Wednesday -we are going to working hard.
Thursday - we are going to resting from Wednesday's hard work.
Friday - we are going to be making plans for Friday night....

-Any questions?
There hand went up in audience and new boss went
- WHAT? (he wasn't ready for questions, he though everyone will just cheering up)
The man who raised his hand shyly asked
- I want to just make sure...are we going to really be busting our butts on Wednesdays like you had mentioned?


So gbaughma, it is about 30%?