The A-word
Let's just agree, right now, on a verbal sabbatical. Could we all agree, for a four-week period, to avoid using the word 'absolutely', when me simply mean 'yes', and see if that breaks out national habit of affirmative overstatement? I've just been bemoaning the presence of the A-word in a mountain (read: 'small hill') of audio with the Book Programme producer Pauline Currie. Guest after guest after guest begins sentences with 'Absolutely'. What they mean is, 'I agree', or 'certainly', or 'quite so', or 'indeed', or ... well, sometimes even 'perhaps'. It's not their problem; it's our problem. I've been trying to force myself to avoid the offending term on various programmes, and it's as difficult a habit to break as chainsmoking. Perhaps we need a support group?
Comment number 1.
At 15th Apr 2009, Electra2009 wrote:Yeah, absolutely.
(oh come on, someone had to say it..........)
:-)
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Apr 2009, newsjock wrote:Spot on, Will ?
Is this another "americanism" that we have taken on board ?
Let's keep our language English, and learn to differentiate between corrupting foreign words, meanings and mis-spellings, which have crept in, many through US programmes (not programs).
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Comment number 3.
At 15th Apr 2009, John Wright wrote:newsjock-
Very few Americans say "Absolutely"; what Will is responding to is the propensity of British people to say it.
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Comment number 4.
At 15th Apr 2009, Heliopolitan wrote:Someone was on Radio Ulster recently talking about literally laughing their head off. That sounds like a rather more serious habit to break out of.
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Comment number 5.
At 16th Apr 2009, U11831742 wrote:I agree helio. The use of the word literal is literally irritating. Can we ban that one too Will?
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Comment number 6.
At 17th Apr 2009, Electra2009 wrote:So just to clarify - you mean literally ban it? ;-)
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Comment number 7.
At 20th Apr 2009, Orville Eastland wrote:Personally, the "A" word I use, I owe to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ..."Affirmative." Three guesses to which Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ character I got that from... ;)
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Comment number 8.
At 20th Apr 2009, mccamley wrote:Can we get staff in shops and cafes to stop saying "no problem"?
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