Evolution of language

[warooa]

Just reading John Peel's comments in the writing workshop where he touched on the evolution of our language.

Has anyone else noticed what seems to me quite a recent change - a seemingly pointless need to tag the word "event" onto things. The most obvious is the recent weather "events". It seems a flood is no longer simply a flood, but a flood event.

I find this as annoying as those who repeatedly bleat the word "absolutely" instead of yes.

This 'event-itis' seems to be spreading, the other day there was a bit of a riot up in Aurukun and the newsreader on the radio, believe it or not, called it a "riot event".

Madness, me thinks.

I can handle the plethora of acronyms that Y gen have bombarded us with via SMS and social media and abbreviations are as Aussie as an old holden with a boot load of meat pies, but this unnecessary use of extra words in just annoying.

Anyone else?

Marty

[Heather]

Perhaps an "event" makes it newsworthy Marty - a weather event sounds much more important than the weather! I hadn't heard the "riot event" use before - seems it must be spreading. I always thought an event was something like a parade or festival... evolution at work.....

[Cryptic]

Quote that reminded me of what you said hehe.
George Carlin:
People add extra words when they want things to sound more important than they really are. "Boarding process". Sounds important. It isn't. It's just a bunch of people getting on an airplane. People like to sound important. Weathermen on Television talk about shower activity. Sounds more important than showers. I even heard one guy on CNN talk about a rain event. I swear to God. He said, "Louisiana's expecting a rain event". I said, "holy shit I hope I can get tickets to that!"

[Neville Briggs]

I know what you mean Marty. I think this contagion spread from the old US of A, where words always have to be bigger to be more meaningful. Tansportation( transport ) affirmative ( yes ) , ground beef ( mince ) at this point in time or as we speak ( now )
Sometimes now isn't even necessary. We are searching now. Doesn't that mean the same as, we are searching. And all those horrid....isations.

One of the silliest ones is the urge to use big wording then reduce it by making an acronym. Weapons of mass destruction means bombs. But we cut it down to WMD, if it is to be cut down, why not just say bombs.
Global Financial Crisis, which the clever people say as GFC. Depression is the word.

As long as we don't allow this virus to infect our poetry.

Ooowah..there is an "Events" section on the forum.

[warooa]

Yeah I thought the Seppo's were to blame, Nev.

And I think George Carlin nailed it with his quote, Cryptic.

Maybe I'm turning into a pedant but I'm also noticing (and getting a bit annoyed) about how people say words. All of a sudden I'm hearing people say vulnerable with syllables and letters missing as "vunrable".

And overused terms, absolutely done to death is "moving forward".

[Vic Jefferies]

Yes I know where you people are coming from and we are on the same page. Absolutely totally agree with the overarching proposition that some people use too many words!

[Bob Pacey]

YES


Bob

[Neville Briggs]

Dunno about Queenslanders Marty. But yesterday on QI, I heard Peter Garrett refer to
" casualisation of the teaching profession " And he's the Minister for EDUCATION !!

[manfredvijars]

Maybe I'm turning into a pedant but I'm also noticing (and getting a bit annoyed) about how people say words. All of a sudden I'm hearing people say vulnerable with syllables and letters missing as "vunrable".

... sort of like Aus-tray-lya instead of Aus-tray-lee-ya ???

Shall we revive the topic on silly-bill count - again??

[Neville Briggs]

Unfortunately Marty P, we can't turn back the evolutionary tide of language.
It might sound horrible to make vulnrable into vunerable. But then to some it may have sounded wrong to make colonel into "kernel", or lieutenant into "lefftenant".
What about Wednesday, or is it "Wensday", and sadly I think that the library will certainly become the "lybree".
Of course it is entirely understandable that in the uncouth world of Saterdy arvo sport, cricket has become " crigget " , football has become "foopbor" or " foody " ( rhymes with woody as in Woody Woodpecker ) I just pray with great fervour and supplication that ask will never be established as " arx "