17 November 2010

words fail me

.
as does the New Oxford American Dictionary



the New Oxford American Dictionary declared "refudiate" the top word in 2010 — a verb that Sarah Palin coined. the dictionary defended Palin's use of the word. "From a strictly lexical interpretation of the different contexts in which Palin has used 'refudiate,' we have concluded that neither 'refute' nor 'repudiate' seems consistently precise, and that 'refudiate' more or less stands on its own, suggesting a general sense of 'reject."

Her Explanation:
“’Refudiate,’ ‘misunderestimate,’ ‘wee-wee'd up.’ English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!”


No Madam, I do not. 
 Nor does the Bard. 



image Hieronymus Bosch detail

.

26 comments:

  1. A sad day for the English (as spoken in America) language, and a formal proof of the extent of ill that people's poor judgement and electorate immaturity can bring to our society. Sad, sad, sad...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just as with great art and music, one must know the rules - one must have breathed and inhabited them - before one may interpret them. It is through connoisseurs that such things are alive, and through which we gain knowledge of who is ignorant and who is a mere pedant. What is unfortunate is that public life has now admitted the ignorant and the pedant, and sacrificed the connoisseur on the altar of the economy. I lament with you that this does indeed seem to be our future.
    VB

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh dear...Truly horrifying and depressing.

    H.H.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I knew she was a lot of things, but hadn't realised she was a Mrs. Malaprop too. Celebrate her 'idiotsyncracy' I say.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am obligiated fer yur commentation!

    But seriously, this doesn't scratch the depth we've reached. I worked on a publication that was sent from a Florida public school system to parents. The client (school board) asked that the word "daily" be simplified to "every day!"

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am unsurprised. She can not keep any facts in her head so she makes them up. It is only natural she move on to words.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, dear. Living in France for 20 years has made my English less than hip. With a source like SP, I have no qualms about not adopting this one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It is scary to watch ignorance deified.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I kind of like refudiate. I've never heard "wee-wee'd up" though -- does it have to do with the piggies of "this little piggie went to market" fame?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I wonder if she will refudiate her daughter's use of the word faggot on facebook?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Not a dictionary I'm going to run out and buy any time soon.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I do agree that the English language can and should change and develop. That is precisely why it is a living language instead of one of the 100s in their death throes as we speak.

    But I don't agree that a word can be invented by just one person ignorantly using it by mistake. Has it entered our lexicon? No. Then it should not be in a dictionary.

    On a similar note I have a client who constantly says 'Irregardless'. I can see what he is getting at. But it drives me berko.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such long faces and tugged chins, you'd think it were the sack of Rome. Plainly Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett are in charge of the OED for our neck of the woods, and Howard Hawks has plumped Barbara Stanwyck in our lap to make us all as skittish as Gary Cooper. Heck, with any luck, she'll light our cigarette.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I refuse to use refudiate, I repudate the New Oxford Alaskan Dictionary and yes I feel a general sense of reject right now! O tempora, o mores!

    ReplyDelete
  15. No. Nononononono. Noooooo!!!! Please tell me April Fools has come early and you're putting us on.

    please?

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is bullshit. Or wait, to quote John McCain, horseshit.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, the righteous tut-tutting about Sarah Palin. I like her - don't agree with her, but admire her style. Isn't this blog all about style?

    Why do people hate her so? She's a product of her environment - these are the values she grew up with. Had the chutzpah to run for governor. Then McCain picked her - boy, does the camera love her - but at the time she was woefully unprepared (it's not like the brilliant Harvard man is doing much better).

    Love refudiate. You go, girl.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Her explanation of - misunderestimate a Bushword seems to sum it up. Woe to those that misunderestimate Her.

    Laurent, thank you Sir for lightening things Up a bit. Sadly second hand smoke can kill. pgt

    Wolynski, Sarah Palin doesn't fit any definition of style here. Product is an apt word for her too-she is just enough sell, and when and if we "purchase" her-there will be no exchange, no return. Yes, the President is having a tough time of it- but He hasn't Quit yet has He?

    ReplyDelete
  19. My kids all give me grief for my constant nagging about correct usage - but as they say, one must carry on - a little mission of my own.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Me thinks had the word come from the mouth of someone other than Sarah Palin no one would have given it a second thought. The vitriol that has been spat about her in the media and elsewhere is beyond understanding. But I can't say that it drives me berko, whatever that is.

    ReplyDelete
  21. quint. keep up the good work.

    2cents- you might be right- thought about it- nope, I just do not like the ongoing misuse of words, or the words of others. what is beyond understanding is that she has been given that platform by the media- our reality tv politician- presidential candidate. No- I don't like her.

    ReplyDelete
  22. No- I don't like her either. A reality tv star and a presidential candidate?? Fear not! It will never happen!

    ReplyDelete
  23. did you hear that her spawn called people "faggots" on twitter because they didn't like grizzly mama's show?

    if that uneducated and crass group of mt. everest hillbillies ever gets near the whitehouse, it's time to move elsewhere and start my life over. living in the middle of drug cartel wars in mexico would look pretty good by comparison.

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails