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Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang.
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Subject: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Rick Fielding Date: 27 Jun 00 - 01:45 PM The germ of this popped up in another thread and it got me thinking: How I loathed it when the noun "party" became a verb. Yechhh! When I would hear someone say "Let's party", or "yah, we partied the other night etc." I'd equate their communication skills with those who said "Like I go, and then he goes...." in place of "I said...". Same with the "verb", "dis". I know it comes from African-American "disrespect", which some call "ebonics" and others call "bad grammer", but then I started thinkin' a bit further. The vocabulary of musicians is FILLED with "Black slang", and I don't just mean folkies or Jazzers. Most Classical players under a certain age know the terms "gig, riff, head, quote from, shit (that's dope OR good playing) as in "That's SOME shit he layed down!" Anyway, I've started to use the "word" dis, so I guess it'll end up being as comfortable as any other "modern" term. But I STILL hate "party"! Any other favourites? Rick |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Áine Date: 27 Jun 00 - 01:50 PM My all-time especially hated new "word" is -- proactive -- stupid, insipid, just down right WRONG!!! -- Áine (steamin' at the ears just thinkin' about it!!) |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: little john cameron Date: 27 Jun 00 - 01:58 PM Weel Rick, like,ah guess,like,that lets me oot like ,as ah dinnae ken oney ,like,new words. Like,ah'll jist huv' tae mak' dae,like ,wi' the auld anes,like. Little John Cameron,like. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Homeless Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:00 PM Homes, homey, reoccuring, pre-existing, orientate. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:01 PM "Network" as a verb, comes to mind. Malcolm |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Jon Freeman Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:15 PM Not a new word but I think my biggest dislike is the modern useage of gay. Thinking of computer words how about data being used as a singular noun as in "the data is used to..."? Jon |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Jim the Bart Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:15 PM At my last job, the company had reached the stage of de-evolution that is commonly known as "management by consultants". The place was infested with 'em, asking us what we knew and then feeding it to the suits in the corner offices. Little packets of previously rejected wisdom, now acceptable because of the outrageous fees attached. (Bitter? I am not bitter.) Consultant-speak is, IMHO, the lowest, most annoying form of communication available. "down-sizing", "right-sizing", the aforementioned "pro-active", "talking points", "action items", and eventually for me "out placement" - there are so many that make my skin crawl. But the one that I found most-irksome in it's sanitized cuteness was the call for a "bio-break". I guess when your business is slinging crap, you don't want to come out and say that you have to take one. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: The Shambles Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:17 PM Slater.
I used to hear this name called out all of the time and think that it must be a bloke I should know. In fact, due I think to the influence of 'soaps', it is actually...See you later. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Bev and Jerry Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:20 PM We call a lot of schools and usually ask for the principal. Now, school secretaries generally come from the shallow end of the gene pool but when they say, "He's conferencing with a parent", we want to say, "Do you mean he's talking with someone?" Bev and Jerry |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: GUEST,Peter T. Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:24 PM Two worst words in a single word: "prioritize" or "priorize" (except in the sense of founding a priory). Yuuchh. "Impact" is pretty bad too: "That idea really impacted on us." (I would give everyone who uses impacted an impacted wisdom tooth. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: GUEST Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:25 PM The way the verb 'do' is used as in, "let's 'do' lunch." Or, used as a noun in the cop shows, "The 'doer' fled the scene." Or as a euphemism for sexual activity: He was 'doing' her. She was 'doing' him. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: kendall Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:25 PM Just a few.. the cutting edge, state of the art, pushing the envelope. I always eschew obfuscation.. why doesn't everyone? |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: GUEST,Peter T. Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:28 PM I should say that I have become fond of the computer jargon term "wombat". I use it all the time. ("waste of money, brains, and time"). yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Richard Bridge Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:40 PM Actually, I hate "talking with" in stead of "talking to" almost as much as I hate "visiting with" in stead of "visiting". |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: kendall Date: 27 Jun 00 - 02:50 PM What really drives me around the bend is listening to people who should know better mis-pronounce words such as: Particularly, it has 5 not 4 syllables. Nuclear, not NEWKILLER, (you listening Dubbya?) he's guilty of both. So is the Governor of Minn. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: GUEST,dan evergreen Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:14 PM I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific."I hate "horrific." AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH... |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Whistle Stop Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:25 PM Wow, this is painful. I'm the one who mentioned "dis" to Rick and evidently encouraged him to start this thread. But then I read Bartholemew's posting, and realized that I'm not immune. I also work in a field that is overrun with consultants (of the environmental sort), is subject to fairly intense government regulation (that's where I come in), and is a breeding ground for litigation. Combine the consultant-speak with the government jargon and the legalese, and before you know it Ebonics starts sounding like the Queen's English. "Data" as a signular noun is everywhere in my line of work; similarly, people often refer to "media" as a singular term (either in reference to mass communications, or to a particular type of material). I am also quite accustomed to hearing (and using, I'll admit) "proactive," "pre-existing" and "pushing the envelope" on a regular basis. But my personal favorite is kind of specialized jargon in the environmental field -- we don't clean up hazardous waste sites, we "remediate" them. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Kim C Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:33 PM "Pre-owned" instead of "used." How many people actually own something without ever using it? Yes, I know, it can happen, I've bought consigment clothes with the tags still on em. But I doubt anyone's ever owned a car that nobody drove. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Peter T. Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:36 PM The big problem of course is that English is prone to making new verb forms (like "remediate") out of nouns, which only sound ugly because they are new. Shakespeare created all sorts of these verb/noun forms, as did the Elizabethans generally. There are three different issues here: is the new word filling a function that a previously useful word was handling perfectly well ("impact" as opposed to "affected by"? does the new word just sound ugly (prioritize)? does the new word capture something ugly in the society that we don't like, and we attack the word because it refers to the thing we don't like? yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Midchuck Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:47 PM Messing up the use of "effect" and "affect" (which is four words, since each one is both a noun and a verb, with four different meanings in all). I once saw a document that used "implement viable funding alternatives" (meaning "find a new way to scarf up some bucks") with a straight face, I presume. Of course, after a lifetime of lawyering I should have grown a shell.... Peter. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Áine Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:48 PM Peter T. -- Those are very interesting points you've brought up. I believe that many of the "new" words are mere inventions by television/radio presenters and/or writers who are looking for a verbal 'hook' for their stories. This words or phrases are meant to add punch to their (to use another grossly overused phrase) "soundbytes". And to name another word that sends shivers up my spine -- facilitate -- May all the body parts of all users of that little gem become and remain 'facile' . . . -- Áine |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: kendall Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:49 PM I worked for the U>S> government, the champion of obtuse lingo. They once sent me to report writing school for writing reports in plain English. The school encouraged us to write in plain English. As a prime example, the instructor said.."If you wish to say, Mary had a little lamb, then, for chrissake say Mary had a little lamb. Dont say, Mary possessed a diminutive sheep." I continued to refuse to refer to potential trouble spots as "Critical High response areas" .I used to puzzle over reports from other agents that were so full of governmentese that I literally could not fathom what the hell they were saying. Yes, Spaw, I know what you are thinking, but, I'm not the dullest knife in the drawer. It is my firm belief that they did not want anyone to understand what they were saying. Why? because they. in fact, were saying nothing at all!! |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Fiddlin' Big Al Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:54 PM Weaselspeak all. Circumlocutors speak in twisted phrases hoping to display their intelligence and training. Bio-break indeed. What happened to shit & piss, defecate and urinate. I say bullbio-break on overpaid business consultants and other spreaders of verbal vermin. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Micca Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:55 PM A friend in the communications industry ( where a lot of these Neologisms occur) printed a grid out of Excel with a "new" word in each box and took it to a meeting , as each word came up in the course of the meeting he struck it off the grid, when they were all struck off he stood up and yelled BINGO!!! loudly... Luckily his boss had a good SOH... One of my pet hates is pecularialy English and that id pronouncing the word written" Certificate" as if it was "Serstifficate" I LOVE these language threads on the 'cat!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Amergin Date: 27 Jun 00 - 03:56 PM And then there's aine which means site crasher.... |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: lamarca Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:00 PM Peter, I like to refer to that odious practise as "verbing nouns" I verb a noun. You verb a noun. He/she/it verbs a noun. Ex: party, impact, message ("He messaged me this morning" - Aarrgghh!), verbing... I work for the federal government, one of the worst sources of "new" words or constructs. One of my pet peeves is the lengthening and complication of names for things to either hide their true meaning or make them sound more important. Some examples:
Library - Interactive Media Center (IMC) (just because it has more than books doesn't mean it's not a library...) I could go on, but I'm getting annoyed just thinking about it. I guess I'm achieving early curmudgeonhood...(ECH)
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Llanfair Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:11 PM At a Social Services meeting in the '80's, a social worker declared that she was about to "share" some information with the rest of the meeting. I fell about laughing, and then discovered that they were all taking it seriously!!! Oh, these caring, sharing Oh so right-on social workers, sorry, "care managers"!!!!!! I couldn't get out soon enough!!! Hwyl, Bron. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: SINSULL Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:23 PM Anything "...challenged". I was recently accused of being "Case Challenged" when I accidentally tuned on the Capslock feature. Except Song Challenged. Aine could set one up to see who could use the most annoying number of the above mentioned "eses" in a single song. Then we could watch Midchuck get affected by the effect, like. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Bert Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:25 PM like? |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: SINSULL Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:38 PM Bert, "Like" is LJCameron's favorite word to hate. Like, read the thread, Homey...OK???? Or are you time-challenged and Nevermind! "I feel your pain". (Another personal favorite). SS |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Giac Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:55 PM I hear you.
or
I heard 'at! |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Áine Date: 27 Jun 00 - 04:59 PM Man, do you know what I'm sayin'??
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: BlueJay Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:10 PM As a nurse, I see lots of wierd lingo. How many of you know off the top of your head that "bradycardia" refers to a slower than normal heart rate? Stuff like that is fine, mostly Latin and Greek combinations designed by physicians to impress the lay public and each other. It's easy to learn. What bothers me is when they start elevating simple words to that level. My pet peeve is "orientated", commonly used to describe how to do a job. "I was orientated to the new unit", for example. This has always stuck in my craw. I can't say it. I see no use whatsoever for the extra syllable. Show me how to do a job. Show me the ropes. Even orient me, but please don't orientate me, I find it insulting. I know, "orientate" is listed as a synonym for "orient", but I still hate it. On the subject of "verbizing" nouns. In my corner of the world, a caboose at the end of a train is also called a "waycar". Virtually nonexistant these days. Somehow, the noun "waycar" became a verb, as in "Go waycar track #3, meaning to put a caboose on track#3. Horrible usage, but such examples are becoming more common. Quit "verbizing" our nouns! BlueJay |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Bill D Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:19 PM wussup?...and 99% of everything above... "verbing" is a particular pain...saw 'surface' used awhile back.."My staff has surfaced some new material on this".. 'like' 'you know' and 'yuhnowhadimean'will get me frothing... Heard a black woman on a talk show a few years ago touting and defending Ebonics as a subject worthy of being TAUGHT in schools! SHE was perfectly fluent in English, too, but was willing to allow inner city kids to grow up unable to compete in job searches because Ebonics was not tolerated in most businesses above the janitor level. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Homeless Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:21 PM I once made up a word just to be obnoxious. When working with someone on the computer I asked them to "biggerize" the window. While at first laughed at, other people in our company started using it, and much to my chagrin I have to hear it quite often now. Other words... asap, foobar (sic), snafu, asp, com. These are acronyms, people! Others on my pet peeve list... OTOH, IMO, IMHO, LMAO, etc., but most of all C U L8R |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Mbo Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:22 PM WHat I can't stand: Pronouncing "elementary" as "ellamennery" Pronouncing "interesting" as "inneresting" Pronouncing "important" as "impordant" Pronouncing "horrible" as "hoorable" Not to mention: "Ya know what I'm sayin'" "And whatnot" And the queen mother of detested words "basically"!! ARGGGGGG!!!! --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Mbo Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:36 PM Of course, my sister and I are NOTORIOUS for inventing new words, especially verbs, such as "gruffled," "soused," and "quirked." Others words include "conundrumaic," "actionate," "chilth," "gwarp," "boko," "putrino," etc. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: SDShad Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:42 PM Oh, no, Embow, I beg to differ. The Queen Mother of all detested words for me is "irregardless." There's "regardless," and there's "irrespective." But "irregardless" simply isn't a friggin' word! I'm also bothered by "useage" and "utilize" in place of the perfectly acceptable "use," and incorrect useage of the verb "comprise." You know, and whatnot, basically. IMHO. Shad
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Kim C Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:42 PM Nobody's mentioned You Da Man! I have to confess, though, being a Southerner, I am very fond of regional colorful speech. Let me say, I was an English major, I know the rules of grammar and will use them when necessary. But it ain't always necessary. And now, I reckon I'm fixin to mosey over yonder. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: little john cameron Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:47 PM Right,no question about that,that being said,this thread could last for years. Absolutely right on man! VJC"VERTICALLY CHALLENGED JOHN CAMERON" |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Kim C Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:51 PM I forgot "expresso" for "espresso" and "Calvary" for "cavalry." Drives me BATTY! |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Mbo Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:51 PM Oh, Kim, I love "You da man!" I especially like the "Yeah..I'M THE MAN!!" from the Wednesday commercial. Another one I detest is "no-brainer." And for any one who has watched the Today Show, or anything else on NBC, their over use of the word "that." It really bugz me! As in "That little Cuban boy," "That forest fire," "That airplane crash." Like it's just some kind of unimportant topic that maybe you'll remember or something... --Mbo |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: wysiwyg Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:57 PM HOW do you PRE-DRILL a pilot hole for a screw??? Don't you just DRILL it???? And what is THE HOMELESS??? Isn't IT a THEY? Would it take that much more air time for the TeeVee newsreader to say, HOMELESS PEOPLE or PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS???? And TWEAK. I edit copy for people, and real skill is involved-- and when someone talks about TWEAKING a written piece I want to TWEAK them! (Or better yet, PUNCH them up a bit.) For awhile things had to have SIZZLE. Now there are two ugly words making the rounds in home decor circles.... the color POPS the room or the thing has WHIMSY. Good. Now we can all VERBALIZE our feelings and VALIDATE each others' about this stuff. Not that I care-- I am nicely DETACHED about it. Well. You know. It's a PROCESS. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Rick Fielding Date: 27 Jun 00 - 05:58 PM MBO RULES! There, I've used my all time least favourite word....and I feel much better. BUT......those who say "EXCAPE, EXPRESSO, and....give me strength...EXCETERA", well....just stop doing it...hear? Little John, just remember your diminutive stature made all the ladies think you were "cuddly". Never remember Kay complaining! Quite the opposite....and that woman DID talk! Rick |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Mbo Date: 27 Jun 00 - 06:05 PM Aw, c'mon Rick, I love the word "rule," "rules, "rulz". BTW if I said you rule, would you take it as an insult? I also like "This/you/he/she/it/they ROCK/S!" |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Rollo Date: 27 Jun 00 - 06:07 PM "... O mi! How giddy I is! Perhaps it is along of the cliff of Ain Giddi: perhaps of the glass of sherry & water close by - only I ain't drank it yet..." (Edward Lear in a letter to Chichester Fortescue)
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Lonesome EJ Date: 27 Jun 00 - 06:10 PM I think its fantastic that we can all share like this, I mean it's really cool. I could listen to this stuff 24/7 and still be good to go. Know what I mean? Fogeddaboudit! Speaking of "orientating", I used to work for a distributor of graphic arts products, and it was very desirable to handle a manufacturer's line exclusive of other dealers. Somehow this exclusive relationship was deemed exclusativity. I cringed when I first heard this, but it got worse. Exclusativity was like a contagious virus infecting everyone in the company. I would look for opportunities to use the proper term, exclusivity, whenever I could, but no one seemed to know what I was talking about."OH! You mean exclusativity," they would say. It began to have a physical impact on me, like a hammer blow between the eyes ...exclusaTIVity. Ouch. Enough to make you go crazy and run around butt naked. Don't get me started... |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Mbo Date: 27 Jun 00 - 06:24 PM I also hate "preparedness." And EJ, there is a pizza place 40 feet from my apartment called "Fuh-Gedda-Bout-It Pizza" ! My sister and I say this over and over in the "unnastan?" voice to annoy people on purpous... |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Peter T. Date: 27 Jun 00 - 06:27 PM Like I'm like, "like is like not as", and like, she's like, "like" is like 'not as'? Like, sure (as if)!", and I'm like, "like", you know, it's like, similar to" and she's like, "Like similar to what, like, really?" you know; and like, really, I'm like, "similarity, like a simile, like", and she's like, "like compared to what?" and I'm like, "no, "as" compared to what, that's the difference." And she's like, "What?" And I'm like, ""As", and she's like, "As what?" and I'm like, "Exactly!" and she's like, "You are as an asshole, like really." And as I go away, I'm like thinking, as I must, is that like all there is to it? (AS IF!!) yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Worst New Words in the 'English' Lang. From: Áine Date: 27 Jun 00 - 06:30 PM Hey LEJ, The appropriate phrase is, I believe, butt nekid -- Remember, if you naked, you are simply without clothes; if you are nekid, you're up to something nasty!! *BG* -- Áine |
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