Words in Flux

 

“Words, word meanings, word senses, and how people react to words are constantly in flux. And whenever we set pen to paper and use words, in spite of how hard we try to be clear, unambiguous and precise, we run the hazard of being misunderstood. 

“There is no way to predict how the reader might react to a particular word, or set of words, because their world view, and experiences, are different from ours.”

—Thomas J. Hinnebusch, professor emeritus of linguistics and African languages at UCLA, in Kelly McBride's “Public Editor” column, NPR, Feb. 10, 2022. 

• Editorial Comment: What d’ya mean by that crack, buster?

PeezPIX 

Dudleya

 

This February, Senior News is Finding Friendship.    

FREE! TODAY'S WORD ON JOURNALISM This free “service” is sent to rafts of subscribers worldwide more or less every weekday morning during WORD season. If you have recovered from whatever illness led you to subscribe and don’t want it anymore, send “unsubscribe” to ted.pease@gmail.com. Or if you want to afflict someone else, send me the email address and watch the fun begin. (Disclaimer: Don’t shoot the messenger. I just quote ’em, I don’t necessarily endorse ’em.)

 

“I don’t think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.”—Tom Stoppard

_____________
Edward C. Pease, Ph.D.
Professor & Department Head Emeritus
Department of Journalism & Communication
Utah State University
Today's WORD on Journalism