The A-word
Let's just agree, right now, on a verbal sabbatical. Could we all agree, for a four-week period, to avoid using the word 'absolutely', when me simply mean 'yes', and see if that breaks out national habit of affirmative overstatement? I've just been bemoaning the presence of the A-word in a mountain (read: 'small hill') of audio with the Book Programme producer Pauline Currie. Guest after guest after guest begins sentences with 'Absolutely'. What they mean is, 'I agree', or 'certainly', or 'quite so', or 'indeed', or ... well, sometimes even 'perhaps'. It's not their problem; it's our problem. I've been trying to force myself to avoid the offending term on various programmes, and it's as difficult a habit to break as chainsmoking. Perhaps we need a support group?
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~56~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Yeah, absolutely.
(oh come on, someone had to say it..........)
:-)
Complain about this comment
Spot on, Will ?
Is this another "americanism" that we have taken on board ?
Let's keep our language English, and learn to differentiate between corrupting foreign words, meanings and mis-spellings, which have crept in, many through US programmes (not programs).
Complain about this comment
newsjock-
Very few Americans say "Absolutely"; what Will is responding to is the propensity of British people to say it.
Complain about this comment
Someone was on Radio Ulster recently talking about literally laughing their head off. That sounds like a rather more serious habit to break out of.
Complain about this comment
I agree helio. The use of the word literal is literally irritating. Can we ban that one too Will?
Complain about this comment
So just to clarify - you mean literally ban it? ;-)
Complain about this comment
Personally, the "A" word I use, I owe to the BBC..."Affirmative." Three guesses to which BBC character I got that from... ;)
Complain about this comment
Can we get staff in shops and cafes to stop saying "no problem"?
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS