Oh, the horror

[caddyman]

Whatever else is happening in Iraq, the journo's have inflicted a severe wound on the English language.

I have read a goodly number of books and many of them have been histories of war - and in this context, WW1.

The phrase is 'war of attrition.' Not a pleasing concept, but a concept (and practice) nonetheless. However, the journos working for (I think) primarily SKY News now say things like 'Coaltion forces will attrit the Iraqi army'

Attrit? ATTRIT?

I refuse to believe such a word exists. The war must end soon before the damage to the grammar becomes irreversible. I think it was Bill Watterson, cartoonist and writer of Calvin and Hobbes who coined the phrase, 'Verbing weirds words.'

How right he was.

Chaucer ys ynn hir grauve yspinning.

Comments

[cybersofa.livejournal.com]

Or possibly a Palm Pilot.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Har.

I think I shall do my best to ruin the phrase palm pilot for the computing community. I invite everyone to see if we can introduce this piece of resurrected local slang into the wider community.

In the meantime, you naughty lexicographer, you. You have ruined my rant through the introduction of facts!

I am now outright contrite at my rage at attrite.

Nonetheless, without immediate acces to my Big Book Of Words to confirm, I do feel that yon journos' pronunciation was poor.

'Attrite' pronounced at-right I can believe, but at-writ?

Hohum.

[cybersofa.livejournal.com]

you naughty lexicographer

A harmless drudge, Sir, a harmless drudge.