All Verbal Energy
When 'terror' doesn't mean 'terrorism'The public conversation loses something when terror – a human emotion – becomes an all-purpose synonym for terrorism, a political or ideological tactic.
Pupils who have yet to unfold their wingsWe get it that pre-K is the hot new thing in education – but are 4-year-olds really 'students'?
- Slipping into my cloak of transparency
Have telecommuting workers adopted the wrong metaphor for electronic face time?
- When did 'sex' become 'gender'?
How Ruth Bader Ginsburg's secretary helped to effect a shift in public discourse.
- In order to omit needless words and cut deadwood
Wherein the Monitor’s language columnist vents a bit on redundancies she loves to hate, but also warns wordsmiths against turning into 'search-and-replace' editors.
- The paradox of property
The two broad senses of the word 'property' shed light on the intellectual property debate.
Abdicating, resigning, or just stepping down?Changes in Rome, the Netherlands, and Cuba illustrate our vocabulary of transition.
- The imperatives of National Grammar Day
Who knew that a day devoted to good grammar could be so much fun?
Shoveling NemoThe linguistic takeaway from a major snowstorm turns out to be that 'blizzard' is a relatively new term.
- What we talk about when we talk about money
A look at the sometimes checkered vocabulary of public finance.
- When diplomatic language isn't just double talk
When a former secretary of State describes the US and China as 'frenemies,' she reminds the Monitor's language columnist that diplomatic lingo isn't all euphemism.
- 'Carmen,' gypsies, bohemians, and 'others'
A performance of 'Carmen' reminds the Monitor’s language columnist how vexed our language for various 'others' is.
- When young women find their 'creaky' voice
The speech phenomenon known as “vocal fry” annoys some curmudgeons but may also demonstrate how young women are the innovators in our language.
- A fascination with vanishing languages
In a world that seems relentlessly bent on homogenization, there's something appealing about languages that so perfectly fit the distinctive tribal cultures of their speakers.
- Stative verbs – I'm lovin' them
You know much more than you think you do about something you may never have heard of.
- Dynamic passives and the 'exonerative past'
A look at the language of responsibility in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
- Vivid verbs defended with verve
Constance Hale's 'Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch' is a good read on writing, especially on the power of verbs.
- Hail to the neologizers in chief
US presidents – and one president in particular – seem to have a knack for coining new terms.
- Etymology notes on a scandal
In the wake of the Petraeus affair, words nerds want to know the derivation of the term 'blackmail.'
- Constitutional copy-editing
Oregonians pass by a landslide a ballot measure to copyedit their state constitution; are there other documents we’d like to tinker with?
