Tag Archives: language

On The Word “Teabagger”

Rachel Maddow defends her use of the word “teabagger” which has hurt the witty-bitty feelings of the wingnuts. Maddow points out that the teabaggers themselves first used the word, and says that the expression first came into the pop culture via John Waters’ 1998 movie Pecker. I don’t know about that, I dimly recall first seeing the word in the …

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Twitter: 2009’s Most Popular Word

Earlier this month, Oxford American Dictionary declared “unfriend” to be the word of 2009. Now some outfit called the Global Language Monitor has named Twitter as the most popular English-language word of the year. The Global Language Monitor has announced that Twitter is the Top Word of 2009 in its annual global survey of the English language. Twittered was followed …

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The Problem With “No Problem”

A columnist in the Boston Globe notes the problem some folks have with “no problem.” As “no problem” has caught on and spread, replacing “you’re welcome” in situations ranging from casual personal encounters to business deals, the number, vigor, and shrillness of the complaints in etiquette columns and Internet forums has spread along with it. The reasons given – or …

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Word Of The Year: Unfriend

The Oxford American Dictionary’s word of the year for 2009 is “unfriend.” unfriend – verb – To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook. As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.” “It has both currency and potential longevity,” notes Christine Lindberg, Senior Lexicographer for Oxford’s US …

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You Can’t Say “Blowjob” On Cable?

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Olbermann: The GOP Urban Dictionary

“Pulling a Palin.” “Hiking the Appalachian trail.” And more.

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Merriam-Webster: Where Have YOU People Been? We Did That Six Years Ago

It turns out that the wingnuts are a little behind the curve with all this screaming about Merriam-Webster updating the definition of marriage. According to the company, they made the change in 2003. Actually, it’s kind of mind-blowing that nobody on either side has picked up on that in six years. Yesterday Merriam-Webster responded to all the nasty emails coming …

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Marriage Has Been Literally Redefined

Well kids, we have done it. We have literally redefined marriage. And I say “literally” in the literal sense of the word. Check out the new definition of marriage according to Merriam-Webster.Of course, we’d rather see Section 1 of that definition as only one line saying: “Marriage: the state of being united to another adult in a consensual or contractual …

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Friendly Voices – Ashton Kutcher

(Via Rebecca Armendariz @ Washington Blade)

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Today Am National Grammar Day

Indeed, it be. What’s your pet grammar grievance?

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Redundonyms

Today in pedantry: the redundonym – the use of an acronym followed by a word that is part of the acronym. Examples: ATM machine, PIN number, SAT test, GRE exam, HIV virus, UPC code, SPF factor, RPMs per minute, IM message. What else? (Via Slog)

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“Tranny”

There’s a mini-storm of controversy sweeping the gay blogosphere regarding the use of the word “tranny” to describe a broad range of gender nonconforming people – transsexuals, drag queens, cross-dressers, etc. The use of the word is being vigorously objected to by some trans folks and their supporters, but is also strongly defended by some trans people themselves. GLAAD’s media …

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Top Ten Most Irritating Phrases

Oxford University has issued a list of what they consider to be the top ten most irritating phrases. 1 – At the end of the day2 – Fairly unique3 – I personally4 – At this moment in time5 – With all due respect6 – Absolutely7 – It’s a nightmare8 – Shouldn’t of9 – 24/710 – It’s not rocket science (Via …

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Words We Can Totally Go Without Ever Hearing Again After November 4th

-Hockey mom-Swing state-Under the bus-In the tank-Bradley Effect-Wasilla-Joe the plumber-Bridge to nowhere-ACORN-Undecideds-Battleground-Maverick-My friends-Madrassa-Rev. Wright-Nobama-McSame What else?

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Elderspeak

Not only does using terms of endearment when speaking to seniors piss them off, studies show it damages their health. Professionals call it elderspeak, the sweetly belittling form of address that has always rankled older people: the doctor who talks to their child rather than to them about their health; the store clerk who assumes that an older person does …

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Wanda Sykes And Hillary Duff Fight Teen Usage Of “That’s So Gay”

Semi-out comedian Wanda Sykes and actress Hillary Duff have joined with the Advertising Council and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in a national campaign to discourage teenagers from saying “that’s so gay” to refer to things they don’t like. The campaign, which is scheduled to be announced by the council in Washington on Wednesday, will seek to …

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Name Clash For Gay Student Groups At San Diego Community Colleges

This should provoke some interesting discussion. In San Diego, gay student associations at two community colleges are clashing with administrators over the acronym for their name: FAGS. Members of gay and lesbian clubs at two San Diego community colleges say campus administrators have violated their free speech rights by repeatedly blocking attempts to advertise their shared acronym: FAGS. Frye stands …

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Diagramming Sarah

Over on Slate, grammarian Kitty Burns Florey attempts to diagram this Palin gem: “I know that John McCain will do that and I, as his vice president, families we are blessed with that vote of the American people and are elected to serve and are sworn in on January 20, that will be our top priority is to defend the …

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Okoge

From a Times article about rice cookers: Japanese cooks, however, consider toasted rice overcooked and highly undesirable. The unwanted crust left stuck to the bottom of the rice cooker is called okoge — the same word used as slang for a single woman who spends a lot of time with gay men. And now you know.

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On “Christianists”

I’ve gotten a number of emails inquiring and/or complaining about my use of the word “Christianists” to describe the Christian right. The word’s origin is not, as some have suggested, a portmanteau of “Christian” and “activist”, although that seems a logical conclusion. If I recall correctly, I first saw the term in a 2006 article by Andrew Sullivan in TIME. …

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