June 1, 2008

  • Lingo Rehab

    It might be too late to rehabilitate, “special,” and give it back the meaning it used to have.  It was probably too late about the time when it started being used as a noun, and not just as an adjective.  As long as we had only special editions, special trains, and the like, then “special” was synonymous with individual, particular, and specific. 

    Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity wasn’t called “special” because it wore ribbons, won medals, or was cuter than General Relativity.  It is special because it is narrow in scope, applicable to only specific, restricted conditions.  The “special circumstances” you might encounter in a courtroom are nothing to be proud of or pleased about, either.  They tend to result in harsher sentences.

    Usages such as daily specials and the Orange Blossom Special muddied those semantic waters.  After having been cheapened through association with discount prices, “special” took on a specious prestige from usage in Special Forces, Crown Royal Special Reserve, etc.  I think it was that cachet that led to its ultimate downfall as the word became associated with excellence and privilege, and then was used euphemistically in place of, “oddball,” “disabled,” “defective,” “dysfunctional,” etc.

    It is pointless to regret a language’s natural evolution.  Only dead languages don’t change.  Euphemism is a different matter entirely.  It often is the force driving some of the most egregious changes in popular usage, and it often has some unfortunate unforeseen consequences.  In yesterday’s discussion, loveandpolitics pointed out that euphemisms that replace offensive words will then become offensive themselves.

    Trying to improve shit’s image by changing its name to sugar is more likely to make people hate sugar than it is to make them love shit.  I advocate unequivocal speech and forthright communication.  If you don’t know the precise word you want, but you can approximate it, you can zero in on it using a dictionary or thesaurus, or by calling a reference librarian if you don’t have anyone like my guys in your household to supply le mot juste.

    If you know exactly what you want to say but you cannot bring yourself to say it, you’re in trouble.  If the thing you want to express or discuss involves body parts or bodily functions or just about anything that people can be uncomfortable discussing, you can skirt around a lot of the discomfort without distorting the message by using anatomical or medical terms or professional jargon. Sometimes it is preferable to send people scurrying to their dictionaries than to have them suppressing the gag reflex, or failing to suppress it.   …and, sometimes the most impactful word is the one that best conveys the thought.

    If your reticence arises from your thought’s being offensive or taboo in itself, and you are worried about what people will think of you, then your trouble isn’t semantic or linguistic, it is psychological.  In that case, coming right out with it can be liberating, enlightening, and therapeutic.  Try it.  It can be fun.  It might become a habit.

Comments (5)

  • Well, they way I see it language exists as a form of communication, and as a result I prefer to make my meaning exactly clear. I don’t have time to learn the endless euphemisms people are always employing to say something. Frankly I find it dishonest.

  • i just make up words,,, or use a general term,,, any tool, part or substance used to repair a motor vehicle,,, or anything for all that matters, i refer to as fixaflat.

    hahahahaha,,,, some people have made the mistake of taking me literally,,, wallythemerchant had a leak in his radiator,,, and i suggested fixaflat,,, meaning a radiator sealer,,, he was lucky a while later amazingdoggo wandered by as wallythemerchant stood there in front of his vehicle wondering how to put the fixaflat in his radiator,,, amazingdoggo being more familiar with my vocabulary told him it was best to not put it in his radiator and best to first of all try to get the literal translation of what i said,,,

    it was ok tho,,, wallythemerchant had a little store here,,, so he just put the fixaflat on his shelf and probably eventually sold it,,,,

  • Well, you certainly CAN spell and form coherent sentences, even with this Mercury Retrograde hooplah messing with the communication aspect of it all.  I honor that, Kathy.

    I give you props for following up and being even more precise than is typical for you.  YaY!

  • @mejicojohn - ROFLMAO  Seriously, man, that’s nuts!  I’m so glad you’re not my next door neighbor.  I am too literal-minded.

  • “Well, isn’t that SPECIAL!”  — The Church Lady

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