Text 54, 70 rader
Skriven 2004-09-05 09:16:05 av Bob Lawrence
     Kommentar till en text av Robert Bull
Ärende: Pterry for Christmas
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BL> New words usually send me screaming from the room (the use of
BL> "grow" as a verb - to"grow" your business when they mean
BL> "expand," or "fragrance" to fragrance a room) but occasionally
BL> they get it right.

RB> I'm not sure your concern about "grow" is correct, because
RB> gardeners here speak of "growing potatoes," meaning doing
RB> things to cause the spuds to grow. That's a long-accepted use.

 Fair enough... it's not the verb I object to but the context and
connotations that spin doctors are expoiting. If I grow a potato, it
inplies a certain amount of tender care, green shoots, and something
nice at the end. If I promise to "grow" a business, the dickhead
handign his hard-earned to the conman has all those things in his
mind, but the bank or the money-manager does none of those things.

RB> one of y pet bugbears in the wonderful world of managerspeak,
RB> "progressing [something]" - Urghhh....

 Aargh! That's another one! They link the connotation of "progress"
which is generally thought of as something nice, to the mundane
process of chasing pissant details, and at the same time disguising
their lack of actually going anywhere.

 My lawyer has been "progressing" Mum's estate, and I'm about to give
him a rocket. In one case, the word "rocket" conveys what is actually
going to happen (accelerate the action), but "progressing" disguises
the reality. It's the use of language to spinmeister *disguise* that
upsets me.

BL> It's known as "evergreening!"

RB> That's probably dependent on which patent office they're filing
RB> under, because the rules vary from country to country.

 They always file in the USA... where lawyers rule okay.

RB> In many cases the patent would be ruled invalid - but I think
RB> your point is that the threat of having to engage in expensive
RB> legal battles in itself is a deterrent to third parties.

 That's exactly right. Do you know the correct lagal name for that...
using the process of Law as the deterrent, rather than the penalty
which is probably doubtful? There is a name for it (like barratry is
another abscure crime). We had a Premier of New South Wales who
specialised in it (Premiers have their legal fees paid by the public),
and the word has haunted me for years!

BL> the spirit of the act as well as the meaning. English rocks!

RB> ;-) I'm sure Strine has its own special usefulness.

 The problem is that anyone outside Oz misses the connotations that
make Strine work. To an American, "Pommie bastard" misses all the
affection, or all the insult in "Septic" (septic tank - Yank). A
spetic tank is full of shit. In Australia (and England), "bastard" can
be a term of endearment. "Pommie" itself, is neutral.

 I've just finished Pterry's WEE FREE MEN and gee, he gets the
Scottish dialogue right! You can almost hear Billy Connoly whenever
the Nac Mac Feegle speak. I *love* the names he gives his female
characters. Perspicacia Tick! Every time I read something like that,
I get the image of Pterry giggling as he types. 

Regards,
Bob
      

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 * Origin: Precision Nonsense, Sydney  (3:712/610.12)