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Subject: 
Re: Geek Speak?
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.fun, lugnet.off-topic.geek
Date: 
Wed, 13 Nov 2002 03:33:46 GMT
Viewed: 
9 times
  
In lugnet.off-topic.fun, Dave Schuler writes:
In lugnet.off-topic.fun, Jeff Jardine writes:

here's a misuse that really
cheeses me off: overuse of the word 'impact,' especially as a verb.
It used to be a noun meaning a physical collision, but is often used when
the speaker should be using 'affect' or 'effect.'  The aggravating part is
not so much the misuse, but rather the people who use it - they almost
always seem to be trying really hard to sound like an expert on whatever
topic they're discussing.  I'd really like to impact those people right in
the head.

As far as I'm aware, the first on-screen use of that "verb" was in Star
Wars, when someone observed that proton torpedos "didn't go in, just
impacted on the surface."

My university would always say a major was "currently impacted" instead of
"full."  Geez.


Other pretentious workplace words that are annoying:
Functionality - it has a FUNCTION, not FUNCTIONALITY!
Methodology - What's wrong with 'method?' Why use five syllalbes when two
will do?

"Proactive" is a particular bugaboo re: workplace pretensions, but it
pales in comparison to "irregardless" and the corrupted use of "flaunt" to
denote a willful and demonstrative disregard for something (ie, "He flaunted
my warning and ate the rancid meat anyway.").

There seems this mass delusion that the word "flaunt" is the word "flout".
Why would he wave your warning about in a brazen fashion?  I don't get it.  :-)

But then I whine about people who seem to think the word "whoop" (yell and
carry on loudly) is the ebonic version of whip (which is "whup").  Maybe
this is just a Fantasy Basketball thing.


  While we're at it, I've
noticed that meteorologists love to refer to "rainshower activity," which
uses seven syllables when one ("rain") would be just fine.
But for me, "signage" and "verbiage" cause the most annoyage.  I know that
these words have been around for quite some time, but they still vex me.

Does anyone else out there has their own linguistic pet peeves?  I'm
literally all ears. ;)

Popped off about the "whoop" and "impacted" thing too early...

-->Bruce<--



Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Geek Speak?
 
(...) As far as I'm aware, the first on-screen use of that "verb" was in Star Wars, when someone observed that proton torpedos "didn't go in, just impacted on the surface." (...) "Proactive" is a particular bugaboo re: workplace pretensions, but it (...) (22 years ago, 12-Nov-02, to lugnet.off-topic.fun, lugnet.off-topic.geek)

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