On William Safire
I've been reading William Safire's essays on words and writing, published in the New York Times, for years. He began his column in 1979 and submitted just a few weeks ago. The liberal New Yorkers I got to know in the late 90s, when I lived in the city for a time, loved his essays and books on language, even though they shook their heads at his conservative political commentaries.
Safire has died, aged 79. Inevitably, his role as a speechwriter for Richard Nixon, and the first line of an obituary should aim to note a figures principle accomplishment in life. In fact, Safire's greatest achievement was his work as a speechwriter for the English language.
Amongst Safire's rules for the proper use of English are these: 'Remember to never split an infinitive. Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixing metaphors. Proofread carefully to see if you words out. Avoid clichΓ©s like the plague. And don't overuse exclamation marks!!'
I recommend a stroll through the
The picture shows Bill Safire receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2006.
Comment number 1.
At 28th Sep 2009, MacScroggie wrote:Oh for the days when grammar and other language niceties existed in Britain.
With due apologies to William Safire, we in the UK, no longer speak English. We speak American with an English accent.
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Comment number 2.
At 29th Sep 2009, gveale wrote:Ach, away on with ye, there's not a bit wrong the way we spake , like. Yer heeds cut, so it is.
Absolutley.
GV
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Comment number 3.
At 29th Sep 2009, gveale wrote:Does Ulster Scots need a Safire? Fair faa te yee, on the heed wee mon!
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Comment number 4.
At 29th Sep 2009, dennisjunior1 wrote:William:
My condolences and prayers are being sent to Mr. Safire family and
friends...
=Dennis Junior=
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Comment number 5.
At 30th Sep 2009, Parrhasios wrote:I believe in grammar only as a descriptive tool but cannot help wondering whether, given the nature of the sentiments MacScroggie expresses, his first sentence might not have been phrased more appropriately as: "Oh for the days when grammar and other linguistic niceties existed in Britain"?
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Comment number 6.
At 30th Sep 2009, gveale wrote:Here's that Polanski quote again. It's taken from Martin Amis' book "Visiting Mrs Nabokov". However intead of the offensive term, I'll put something less offensive in CAPITALS
βIf I had killed somebody, it wouldnβt have had so much appeal to the press, you see? Butβ¦ ENGAGING IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY FROWNED ON BY BOURGEOIS MORAILTY, you see, and the young girls? Judges want to ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY FROWNED ON BY BOURGEOIS MORAILTY WITH young girls. Juries want to ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY FROWNED ON BY BOURGEOIS MORAILTY WITH young girls. Everyone wants to ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY FROWNED ON BY BOURGEOIS MORAILTY WITH young girls!β
The Michael Deacon piece is being quoted by a lot of the on-line press at the moment. I'm rather irritated at my posts removal, and would ask for an explanation, but that would be rather like asking Godot to turn up.
GV
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Comment number 7.
At 30th Sep 2009, gveale wrote:Oops. Wrong thread.
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Comment number 8.
At 30th Sep 2009, gveale wrote:Although you do wonder what Mr Saffire would say about Polanski's use of rhetoric.
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Comment number 9.
At 2nd Oct 2009, Orville Eastland wrote:Alas, I regret never getting to write Mr. Safire about his political dictionaries. (I had a few ideas for things he may have wanted to include, but sadly, I never got to write him in time.) He will be missed. His partisan accomplishments were overshadowed by his lingustic accomplishments.
"Time that is intolerant
Of the brave and innocent
And indifferent in a week
To a beautiful physique
Worships language and forgives
Everyone by whom it lives.
Pardons, cowardice, conceit,
Lays its honors at their feet."
W. H. Auden "In Memory of W. B. Yeats"
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