Saturday 1 September 2012

Malign English II

Some linguists "accept" that as English changes all change must be merely accepted without much question as to whether the words and terms entering the language can do much to distort the very process of thinking that underlies the very coining of the words themselves.

This will not do. Numerous words have entered the language as though they are merely substitutes for older words that somehow no longer do justice to reality. In which case, it might be well to try to understand what reality it is that the words are somehow seeking to represent or even re-present

One stupid word is "bling" . As opposed to stating what the word represents in actual words that make it clear what it means-the ostentatious and vulgar showing off of supposed "wealth"-the word tends to be used instead of "flashy" to mean something vaguely acceptable as such, even ironically. 

This is clearly desirable to a silly person with numerous gold chains around his neck or a "pimped up car" to mean that he or she is not merely a poncing fool, an insecure posturing person of little interest  but somehow a worthy, if slightly showy, individual of "the community".

"No-brainer" is another idiotic term. Apart from those aspiring to be complete morons, nothing in life should entail not having a brain, wanting to use it or using it to make a quick decision. There is absolutely no use at all in using this hideous word instead of something akin to "a snap decision".

"Snap decision" is a far better way to express an actual decision as opposed to using a word that would mean the presumed decider is some form of zombie. The only possible use of "no-brainer" is a person who has has had his brains exploded out of his brain by being shot at close range with a pistol.

The worst recent word coining is  "chillaxed" . It should be axed forthwith from the lexicon. I fail to see how such a term ( And I refuse to accept it as a word ) differs or has any meaning other than existing expressions that mean what is meant, without the implication of being 'so stressed out'. 

This term is used by ultra 'stressed out' corporate clone bores who cannot just 'relax' or 'put their feet up' but have to insinuate that their relaxation amounts to a combination of relaxing and "chilling out big time". Presumably as all machines that are overheating must chill down. 

As a term used to imply a person needs 'time out' to ponder upon a decision, the term is not at all helpful either. 

One reason why it is a term used by the PR man David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Britain. Maybe in the coming future dystopia, carping critics will be subject to compulsory "chillaxation" programmes in huge freezing warehouses and "rendered" like hung meat carcases encased in ice.

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