CARPing for a Cause
Way back in the early 1980s, when the English language was falling victim to techno-speak, I shared a delightful harangue with my friend Pam, who also cared about language. I still remember her sardonic quip back then, delivered with some resignation: "In America nowadays, you can verb anything."
Nowadays, not only can we "verb" anything, but we also seem to "acronym" everything. [And since when did "to acronym" become an infinitive?? Don't even ask me!] I have seen many associations change their names, simply so that a perfectly descriptive name could become an acronym.
As I drive home each evening, I pass by the major conference hotel in our little capitol city. One day this week, I noticed the hotel marquee announcing its welcome:
How very unfortunate.
Mind you, I'm totally supportive of a Christian organization combating racism and poverty! And I am especially glad they didn't come up with a name that would have transposed the "R" and "A." Thank God for small favors. Better MO-CARP than MO-CRAP.
Such is life in the 21st century.
Nowadays, not only can we "verb" anything, but we also seem to "acronym" everything. [And since when did "to acronym" become an infinitive?? Don't even ask me!] I have seen many associations change their names, simply so that a perfectly descriptive name could become an acronym.
As I drive home each evening, I pass by the major conference hotel in our little capitol city. One day this week, I noticed the hotel marquee announcing its welcome:
Welcome
MO Christians Against
Racism & Poverty
How very unfortunate.
Mind you, I'm totally supportive of a Christian organization combating racism and poverty! And I am especially glad they didn't come up with a name that would have transposed the "R" and "A." Thank God for small favors. Better MO-CARP than MO-CRAP.
Such is life in the 21st century.
posted by Lisa Fox at 1/25/2008 10:02:00 PM
5 Comments:
The French are the champion acronym creators, though I think El Salvador comes in a close second.
Bill Watterson, in a Calvin and Hobbes strip, observed, "Verbing weirds language."
I once produced a government agency annual report where the only acronym was "4-H." I let it stand because, in this one case, de-acronymation" would have rendered it incomprehensible.
I was known there as "the slayer of acronyms."
Thanks, y'all. Malcolm+, so far you win as the slayer of acronyms!
It's that whiskered fish in the Missouri river.
NancyP
Post a Comment
<< Home