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And here is what you've all been waiting for...the 2009 Banned Word List! Shu and I had wondered what "bromance" is, but the one I can't understand is "czar." Is there a new use for that word that I am not aware of? | ||
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I'm glad they've done this. As we all know, the best way to change the world is to try to ban words. | |||
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Apparently the modern use of the term "czar" (meaning a high-ranking official) originated in the USA in the early years of the last century. I had not heard it used in the UK until about a decade ago when we started to use the "drugs czar" term - doubtless imported from the USA. See here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...S._political_term%29 Richard English | |||
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Here's the explanation from the banned-words folks: Lake Superior State University 2010 List of Banished Words
Here's a list from Wikipedia: List of U.S. executive branch czars | |||
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Interesting to note that the first paragraph of the item refers to "The Queen's English". I'd have thought it was "The President's English" that was being discussed here. I doubt that Her Majesty would have appointed any Czars  Richard English | |||
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Though Her Majesty's Government certainly have. "No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson. | |||
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Wellll, there IS a distant connection: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh prince consort of Queen Elizabeth II was born Philip, Prince of Greece and the Hellenes. Prince Philip is the son of Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece. Philip's father, Prince Andrew, was the son of a prince of Denmark and was later the {elected} King of the Hellenes. Queen Olga of Greece, a Grand Duchess of Russia, and direct descendent of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia, was Philip's grandmother. Italics added It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. -J. Krishnamurti | |||
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Well, of course, while stupid and petty, it's still meant as a big joke. It's similar to our posting our pet peeves in words. For instance, forgetting that the OED defines (and therefore makes legitimate...forsaking other legitimate words ) irregardless, I hate the word![edited to correct "irrespective" to read "irregardless."]This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kalleh, | |||
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Indeed. At one time many of the crowned heads of Europe were related to our Monarch. Our present Queen's great great grandfather was German. There is a full chart here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A...f_the_United_Kingdom. Richard English | |||
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I reckon that "irrespective" is a perfectly good word. Did you mean "irregardless"? (Which is not in my COED, by the way). Richard English | |||
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Yes. I have corrected it. Thanks! [See, I can't even stand to write the word!] | |||
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It's interesting to look at their banned words of the past that are unobjectionable now. "macho", "meaningful" (1976), "medication", "perform surgery", "prioritize" (1978), "energy crisis", "I feel" (1979).
"irregardless" is in the OED, but it is labeled "In non-standard or humorous use". The citations only go from 1912 to 1971. | |||
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No doubt. I only have a Concise, from which it is absent. I have seen other dictionaries in which the word appears but none of those that I have seen accept the word as correct. Richard English | |||
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