The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #57509   Message #906804
Posted By: Amos
10-Mar-03 - 04:42 PM
Thread Name: BS: Nouns as Verbs: 'to summit Everest'
Subject: RE: BS: Nouns as Verbs: 'to summit Everest'
Part of the problem stems from the incompatible uses of language. Those seeking to communicate appreciate the subtleties that using language well provides, and they like them because ti makes greater communication possible. Greater communication is based on greater discrimination between similarities, which asymptotically approaches the communication of truth as understanding increases.

Others wish to use the same tool for the purpose of control and "operating" people's minds for them, not communicating. To this group, any association of syllables that will produce a desired behaviour, willing or not, understanding or not, is endowed with legitimacy because it seems to forward their shabby purposes. They have no concern for understanding, only for reaction induced. George Bush and advertisers are birds of this feather. People who slang up the language in a sloppy way often do so because they are trying to impress and NOT trying to communicate -- so they paint bizarre "scenarios" and use word like "leveraging" and "branding" and "bottom-line" to make themselves sound smart, tight, hip and effective, when what they are really doing is simply advertising their egos. Been there. Got the tee shirt!

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