A view of part of Oxford University
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Why this Blog?
A place where I can lament the changing times; for eccentric comments on current affairs and for unfashionable views, expressed I hope, in cogent style; also occasional cris de coeur largely concerned, I regret to say, with myself.
Friday, 7 November 2008
3 comments:
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cm said...
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My knowledge of English is not very good, as you know, but for my understanding there is a big difference between "gifted" and "given" the first term being mostly used in a psychological context.
Wikipedia -
11 November 2008 at 21:39
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Paul said...
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Yes,do you mean "gifted" as in "she was an exceptionally gifted child"? This of course is fine.
What I object to is for example from sports commentators who will say e.g. "Hamilton was gifted the win by Massa who spun off at turn 19." -
11 November 2008 at 21:45
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Paul said...
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My objection was fundamentally the same as that to the horrible verbs "birthing" and "parenting"
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11 November 2008 at 21:46
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Wired.com reports today that a group of researchers at Oxford University has compiled a list of "The ten most irritating expressions in the English language."
The list is as follows:
Readers are invited to add their own choices in the comments section. My contribution to this most satisfying project are as follows:
"Parenting", and even worse "birthing" - one bears children, one does not "birth" them.
"Gifted"(in the verbal sense): pathetic: What's the matter with "given"?
"Having said that" or "that said". Irritating.
"Chair" meaning "chairman"; "actor" meaning "actress"
Finally "innit" as in e.g. "I'm goin' dahn uh pub, innit". Horrible.
More have come to mind since I posted my comment:
"Going forward" e.g. "I should like you to take more responsibility going forward." Rubbish.
"Negative growth" Pathetic euphemism.
"To grow one's business" Stupid.
"Logistics" - meaning transport; grossly affected and pretentious.
There'll probably be more...
Meanwhile how about a comment or two from some of you? I am sure you have your own pet hates.
Until the next time.