New Year's resolution: Clean out the language
With 2009 already well under way, it's prime time to take account of what worked last year and what didn't.
Lessons must be learned about what did and did not work with the cultural language of the last year. New terms and linguistic trends became popular in 2008, and a few should stay in 2008.
One of the earliest trends in 2008 was toward using the ultra-slick, Diablo Cody-penned slang from "Juno," such as referring to people as "Homeskillet." This should cease immediately, as its cleverness expired approximately eight months ago. Replace with lines from "Tropic Thunder" until an appropriate replacement can be determined.
A moratorium must be put on any election-time jargon, mainly the tired trifecta of "maverick," "bailout," and "change." Please note that "change" is often found immediately before or after "hope."
We don't need to hear about how much of a revolutionary or a rebel a politician is. The election is over, so let's move on to new catchphrases for a new era, like "getting things done," and "fixing this mess of a country."
This very newspaper isn't without fault, either. The use of phrases like "Maced tailgater," "Gift Grinch," and "Dennis Lennox" should be discontinued immediately. Replacement phrases could include "President Rao on campus," "fairly paid faculty," and "typo-free."
With all respects to Butch Jones, "Hold the Rope" has got to go.
The more appropriate catchphrase for the team next season is far easier to remember: "DEFENSE!"
lifeline@cm-life.com
