Snooty Talk
Maybe it's just me, but I swear there are buzzwords circulating out there that drive me absolutely insane, and whenever I hear them, it's like nails on a blackboard; mainly because their overuse renders an effect just the opposite of their intent- "I am ED-U-CATED, I know whereof I speak" -so they come across as trite, are too oft-repeated, and, well -- yes --'hackneyed as hell'.
Some time ago in my other blog, I complained about the first word that had that effect on me--- "notion".
Listen to any NPR interview and you will hear the word used repeatedly in place of the more usual "idea". Ideas are not ideas anymore....they're not good enough....they are notions to those in the know.
'Notion' is the bar that's raised between a mere 'high school education'... and... 'college... and beyond'.
(I swear, once you become aware of it, it's EVERYWHERE, and yes, it will drive you nuts as well. LOL!!)
Lately I've become aware of an even more irritating repetition. What makes this one truly galling, is that its use is superfluous in any sentence where it appears because it's never needed! It can be omitted entirely everywhere it's used ...(and used, and used.)
Anyone guess it yet?
You'll hear it most often in political interviews, in those question and answer sessions. (I suppose it's fallout from the opacity of the Bush years, and our race to distance ourselves from anything cloaked and murky.) Guess it yet?
Oh, Lord....(groan)....here it is: "clearly". You will hear the word 'clearly' over and over again, often in the same paragraph! You'll hear-- "Clearly, our objective in Iraq has been..." or-- "That seems to be the present conception, but clearly (pause...comma) there is need for..." over and over, that hideous, unnecessary word whose very ommission from a statement would be the best choice.
People.........if it's clear...... you don't need to say it!
O.K. Rant done. It's just one of those festering things bothering me without my realizing it....
until it did.
Today.
NPR.
On the way home in the car.
When I finally started screaming.
Some time ago in my other blog, I complained about the first word that had that effect on me--- "notion".
Listen to any NPR interview and you will hear the word used repeatedly in place of the more usual "idea". Ideas are not ideas anymore....they're not good enough....they are notions to those in the know.
'Notion' is the bar that's raised between a mere 'high school education'... and... 'college... and beyond'.
(I swear, once you become aware of it, it's EVERYWHERE, and yes, it will drive you nuts as well. LOL!!)
Lately I've become aware of an even more irritating repetition. What makes this one truly galling, is that its use is superfluous in any sentence where it appears because it's never needed! It can be omitted entirely everywhere it's used ...(and used, and used.)
Anyone guess it yet?
You'll hear it most often in political interviews, in those question and answer sessions. (I suppose it's fallout from the opacity of the Bush years, and our race to distance ourselves from anything cloaked and murky.) Guess it yet?
Oh, Lord....(groan)....here it is: "clearly". You will hear the word 'clearly' over and over again, often in the same paragraph! You'll hear-- "Clearly, our objective in Iraq has been..." or-- "That seems to be the present conception, but clearly (pause...comma) there is need for..." over and over, that hideous, unnecessary word whose very ommission from a statement would be the best choice.
People.........if it's clear...... you don't need to say it!
O.K. Rant done. It's just one of those festering things bothering me without my realizing it....
until it did.
Today.
NPR.
On the way home in the car.
When I finally started screaming.
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