Going Nuclear over Nucular

By Andy Lamey National Post
Published on April 1, 2003

?Criticize Bush?s polices, sure,? writes Andy Lamey in the
Canadian newspaper National Post, ?but don?t bash his
pronunciation.? Lamey, himself a former ?language bully,? posits
that since Bush took office, it?s increasingly popular to take a
jab at his grammar, and that ?grammatical correctness has become
political correctness.? He says prescriptivism?as language bullying
is more formally called?goes too far when it creates a
right-and-wrong mentality. The point of most things we say is to
simply establish the fact that we?re communicating. Language is
constantly evolving and is a fluid, creative medium that should
allow for a wide diversity of meanings and usages. Words once on a
language bully?s hit list are ultimately legitimized when they land
in the dictionary. Better to take issue with the president?s
policies, says Lamey, not his grammar.
?Anne Geske

UTNE
UTNE
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