[lit-ideas] Re: Is this word really necessary?
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:49:58 EDT
We are playing with the claim,
"Is this word really necessary"
Quinion, in "World Wide Words" quotes an author of a book on words as
wondering, "Is this word really necessary?" (the word in question:
jumentous--as
applied to urine, "that smells like the urine of a horse".
Richie offered 'nun' as another unnecessary word.
I proposed Popper on 'soul', to which
In a message dated 8/30/2010 3:50:33 P.M., donalmcevoyuk@xxxxxxxxxxx
replied:
"Soul" and "afterlife" may be beyond the realms of testable/falsifiable
claims
-----
--
So...
Is it or is it NOT necessary?
----
Margot Asquith (her first name rhymed with 'harlow') was so bothered by the
prime minister's reluctance to use 'soul' properly that she instituted
this la-di-da social club -- "THE" idea of a a social club for me --. She
called it, "The Souls". The origin: Baldwin's remark to the effect that
"Margot
is a beautiful soul" -- and so on. The colloquial use of 'soul'.
In general, Griceans have a problem with words. Griceans no, because
Griceans KNOW that if a word exists (even if it is meaningless) it is there to
fulfil an utterer's intention.
So, I challenge any of you to give me an example of an unnecessary word.
You'll fail.
Cheers,
Speranza--Bordighera
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