I don't normally buy into these "discussions", but I had a thought about this one. Change in the language doesn't happen in a cultural vacuum. It happens as a result of the change in the culture. I have never heard the word "bork" before, but it seems that techos have seen the need to invent a word that means software that is f*&^ed, without using that word. What they have done is normalise the concept that software can be a lot worse than just buggy, often enough to need a word to describe it that is not classed as a swear word. The same can be said for the use of a very similar word, bonk, that entered the language a few years back. It also replaced the word f%^&, meaning sex without a relationship of any kind between the consenting parties and normalised the concept in the culture. That was also a cultural shift that many found offensive. So I wonder if resistance to changes in the language may be based on a resistance to a change in the culture in which it is embedded. This invention of new words is at least clear. Cultural changes reflected in the emotional value of a word that is not phased out can be much more insidious. I remember the exact moment when I realised that the word "idealist" had become a term of abuse - similar to people remembering the exact moment when someone famous has died. I remember the room, the job I was on, and the person who threw at me that abuse "you're just an idealist". This realisation was actually the moment at which I realised my personal culture was dead. Other words have followed idealist into the grave, in my awareness, such as loyalty, which has also taken on a different emotional value which is no longer flattering. This is your territory Geoff - how much of changes to language are changes to culture? Christine -----Original Message----- From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Geoffrey Marnell Sent: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 8:05 AM To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: atw: Re: Editors conference in Sydney, Sept 2011 It sounds very much, Bruce, as if you don't like new words entering the language. Are you still working as a technical writer? Do you write with a contemporary audience in mind? Or are you still using the language of Geoffrey Chaucer? Cheers Geoffrey Marnell Principal Consultant Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd T: +61 3 9596 3456 F: +61 3 9596 3625 M: 0419 574 668 W: www.abelard.com.au Skype: geoffrey.marnell -----Original Message----- From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of bja Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 10:14 PM To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: atw: Re: Editors conference in Sydney, Sept 2011 Lol... Don't worry, I checked as many references as I could before I posted and I've worked in IT for 15 years and never heard the term before you popularists. :) Bork indeed! :) Cheers, Bruce -----Original Message----- From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bill Parker Sent: Monday, 8 August 2011 8:35 PM To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: atw: Re: Editors conference in Sydney, Sept 2011 And if you head for Wiktionary ( mispelled first up) you'll even more bizarre usages! B On 08/08/2011, at 6:27 PM, Lana Brindley wrote: > Heh, thanks for that Bill. Wasn't aware of that version of the word! > Totally different etymology, even :) > > L > > On 8 August 2011 20:26, Bill Parker <renew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> It might be tech word Lana but according to Wikitionary: >> >> From Robert Bork, rejected US Supreme Court nominee >> >> [edit] Verb >> >> Bork (third-person singular simple present Borks, present participle Borking, simple past and past participle Borked) >> >> * (US, politics) To defeat a judicial nomination through a concerted attack on the nominee's character, background and philosophy. [quotations ▼] >> * (US, politics) To fire an honest government official in an attempt to prevent embarrassment to and exposure of a dishonest government officeholder who has conspired to commit high crimes (term first used by the National Lampoon Radio Hour in to describe the 1973 firing of Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox by Solicitor General Robert Bork in the "Saturday Night Massacre" orchestrated by Bork and President Richard Nixon). >> >> So if the doyens of the IT world use it as their own, good luck to them. >> >> Bill >> >> >> On 08/08/2011, at 6:11 PM, Lana Brindley wrote: >> >>> It's a very common word in tech circles. It comes from a common typo >>> of the word "broken" ("borken"), and is sometimes represented with a >>> 0 >>> (zero) instead of an o. Similar 'spurious' origins as w00t, pr0n, >>> fail, and other internet niceties. >>> >>> When we refer to websites or programs being 'borked' it means that >>> it is not working as expected, usually in fairly big and obvious >>> ways (smaller or more subtle problems are usually called 'bugs' and >>> the program is described as 'buggy'). It is often used to describe >>> the appearance of the site or program, for this reason. >>> >>> But yes, I admit we all took that idea and well and truly ran with >>> it, citing "borkage", "borkiness", and "borkedness" in this email >>> thread >>> ;) >>> >>> L >>> >>> On 8 August 2011 19:54, Neil Maloney <maloneyn@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>>> Advert to: >>>> >>>> http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-bork >>>> >>>> Neil. >>>> >>>> >>>> On 8/08/2011 7:50 PM, bja wrote: >>>> >>>> Are you lot borking mad? What’s with the sudden overuse of this strange word >>>> (yes I looked it us and am aware of its spuious origins). >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> When did it first pop up on this list? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Egad,! For bork sake, must we promote every weird ‘trendy’ little word? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> <sigh> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Cheers, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Bruce >>>> >>>> :) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> >>>> From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Geoffrey Marnell >>>> Sent: Monday, 8 August 2011 10:01 AM >>>> To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> Subject: atw: Re: Editors conference in Sydney, Sept 2011 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> But Neil, is that borking? Or just plain inconsistent tabular lay-out? In >>>> other words, is it Dreamweaver or the coder? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Geoffrey Marnell >>>> >>>> Principal Consultant >>>> >>>> Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd >>>> >>>> T: +61 3 9596 3456 >>>> >>>> F: +61 3 9596 3625 >>>> >>>> M: 0419 574 668 >>>> >>>> W: www.abelard.com.au >>>> >>>> Skype: geoffrey.marnell >>>> >>>> From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Neil >>>> Maloney >>>> Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 9:57 AM >>>> To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> Subject: atw: Re: Editors conference in Sydney, Sept 2011 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Have a look at the main page ... same bars of colour but they fit >>>> in better >>>> for how that page is set up. >>>> >>>> Neil. >>>> >>>> >>>> On 8/08/2011 9:45 AM, Lana Brindley wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Geoffrey, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Hmmm ... maybe it's meant to be like that? I thought those extra >>>> bars >>>> >>>> of colour (marked in new attachment) weren't meant to be there. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> L >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 8 August 2011 09:34, Geoffrey Marnell <geoffrey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>>> >>>> Thanks Lana, but it looks exactly the same in IE 8. Where is the borkiness? >>>> >>>> It's not the prettiest design, but where is the mis-rendering? Or >>>> is it >>>> >>>> borked is a way other than poorly rendered HTML? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Geoffrey Marnell >>>> >>>> Principal Consultant >>>> >>>> Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd >>>> >>>> T: +61 3 9596 3456 >>>> >>>> F: +61 3 9596 3625 >>>> >>>> M: 0419 574 668 >>>> >>>> W: www.abelard.com.au >>>> >>>> Skype: geoffrey.marnell >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> >>>> From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >>>> [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lana >>>> Brindley >>>> >>>> Sent: Monday, August 08, 2011 9:22 AM >>>> >>>> To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >>>> Subject: atw: Re: Editors conference in Sydney, Sept 2011 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Hey Geoffrey, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I'm not sure what Jean is seeing, of course, but I can see some >>>> >>>> borkedness (Google Chrome 13.0.782.107 on Fedora 15). Picture >>>> >>>> attached. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> L >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 8 August 2011 08:56, Geoffrey Marnell <geoffrey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Jean >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I could find no borking on the first web site. Can you point out >>>> the >>>> >>>> problem (and tell us how it's related to Dreamweaver rather than, >>>> say, to >>>> >>>> Spry). We do bucket loads of Dreamweaver work here and would be >>>> keen to know >>>> >>>> what to avoid. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Geoffrey Marnell >>>> >>>> Principal Consultant >>>> >>>> Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd >>>> >>>> T: +61 3 9596 3456 >>>> >>>> F: +61 3 9596 3625 >>>> >>>> M: 0419 574 668 >>>> >>>> W: www.abelard.com.au >>>> >>>> Skype: geoffrey.marnell >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> >>>> From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ************************************************** To view the austechwriter >>>> archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter To unsubscribe, >>>> send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in >>>> the Subject field (without quotes). To manage your subscription >>>> (e.g., set >>>> and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to >>>> www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter To contact the list >>>> administrator, send >>>> a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> ************************************************** >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> >>>> No virus found in this message. >>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>>> Version: 10.0.1391 / Virus Database: 1520/3817 - Release Date: >>>> 08/06/11 >>>> >>>> ************************************************** To view the austechwriter >>>> archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter To unsubscribe, >>>> send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in >>>> the Subject field (without quotes). To manage your subscription >>>> (e.g., set >>>> and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to >>>> www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter To contact the list >>>> administrator, send >>>> a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> ************************************************** >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Lana Brindley >>> writer:speaker:blogger >>> ------------------------------------------------ >>> Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one >>> that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it. >>> --George Orwell >>> ----------------------------------------------- >>> http://lanabrindley.com >>> ----------------------------------------------- >>> Please avoid sending me Word, Powerpoint or Windows Media attachments. >>> ------------------------------------------------ >>> ************************************************** >>> To view the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter >>> >>> To unsubscribe, send a message to >>> austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field (without quotes). >>> >>> To manage your subscription (e.g., set and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter >>> >>> To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> ************************************************** >> >> ************************************************** >> To view the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter >> >> To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field (without quotes). >> >> To manage your subscription (e.g., set and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter >> >> To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> ************************************************** >> > > > > -- > Lana Brindley > writer:speaker:blogger > ------------------------------------------------ > Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one > that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it. > --George Orwell > ----------------------------------------------- > http://lanabrindley.com > ----------------------------------------------- > Please avoid sending me Word, Powerpoint or Windows Media attachments. > ------------------------------------------------ > ************************************************** > To view the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter > > To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field (without quotes). > > To manage your subscription (e.g., set and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter > > To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ************************************************** ************************************************** To view the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field (without quotes). To manage your subscription (e.g., set and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ************************************************** ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1391 / Virus Database: 1520/3820 - Release Date: 08/07/11 ************************************************** To view the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field (without quotes). To manage your subscription (e.g., set and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ************************************************** ************************************************** To view the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field (without quotes). To manage your subscription (e.g., set and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ************************************************** ************************************************** To view the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field (without quotes). To manage your subscription (e.g., set and unset DIGEST and VACATION modes) go to www.freelists.org/list/austechwriter To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **************************************************