#53262
01/19/2002 3:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
I came across a word again today which I've seen at various points in time and have always loathed with a passion: subsidiarity.
It is defined as "of secondary importance" by WordNet, but its usage is mostly in politics, where it means to devolve power as far down the decision chain as possible. The EC have adopted the principle, and Germany does it too, devolving a lot power from the Federal government to the Lander.
But it's ugly. Or at least I think so. Opinions?
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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#53263
01/19/2002 3:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Dear CapKi,
I agree. subsidiarity is an ugly word.
Is fiduciarity a word, too? It also sounds ugly.
Maybe this will evolve into a list of ugly words.
WW
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#53264
01/19/2002 7:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Most politicians are quite willing to delegate blame. Carefully planned delegation of authority is too infrequently employed. That ought to take the ugliness out of the word.
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#53265
01/20/2002 1:01 AM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
What is it about the word you find ugly? Is it the sound? the meaning?
I had stated elsewhere that I found the word nacreous ugly, strictly from the sound of it. Murmur is another word that you will find on many people's most beautiful words list, but I find it a bit questionable; it contains, at least in my dialect, the [er] sound that they always warn us against in choral singing. Giving it the [ih]* sound they tell us to use instead only seems to make it worse.
So what is it about this word or any other that makes it ugly or beautiful?
* [ih] the sound I am trying to get at here is something between [ih] and [uh] and [eh]. Not quite sure how to describe it.
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#53266
01/20/2002 2:52 AM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 6,511 |
* [ih] the sound I am trying to get at here is something between [ih] and [uh] and [eh]. Not quite sure how to describe it.
Certainly not a schwa, huh. [straight-face]
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#53267
01/20/2002 7:08 AM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
What is it about the word you find ugly? Is it the sound? the meaning?Well, of course it's subjective. I find is the key here. But it's a combination of the -ism-isation (  ) of "subsidiary" and the fact that, considering the political meaning, it's not obvious how it came to be used for that meaning. Hell, like all subjective dislikes, essentially it just doesn't sit right!
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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#53268
01/20/2002 2:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I agreeing completely with Kiwi on this one -- and also dislike the lazy concatenation-by-suffix. IMHO the sole credit these hippomonstrosities possess is that their meter is poetically suitable for a double-dactyl. 
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#53269
01/20/2002 11:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,803 |
dislike the lazy concatenation-by-suffix...hippomonstrosities
But apparently not concatenation-by-prefix.
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#53270
01/21/2002 2:13 AM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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--Murmur is another word that you will find on many people's most beautiful words list--
Really??? I've never liked the word. Its sound reminds me of a mosquito buzzing around your ears that you just can't get rid of. mer mer
Are you sure you are not thinking about whisper, which is a softer word that can mean the same thing?
I think we've had a link to a 'most beautiful word' site in the past? Does anybody remember it?
I'm not sure I've ever found a word ugly. There are some I don't like ("usage" as an example). Let me think on it a bit.
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#53271
01/21/2002 2:59 AM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Sweet bel, how lovely to see you back! [beaming smile e]
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#53272
01/24/2002 5:44 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
can be very beautiful, particularly when combined with the sounds of contented cats. Witness the Murmurs and the Purpurs.
TEd
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#53273
01/24/2002 5:59 PM
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 3,467 |
TEd
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#53274
01/25/2002 2:22 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96 |
catty fawny dreamin'
the Duncster
the Duncster
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#53275
01/25/2002 2:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
Murmurs are not pretty when heard through a stethoscope. I remember seeing "cellar door" mentioned as having a beautiful sound. Imagine Charles Boyer saying seductively "Hedy, come wiz me to the cellar door."
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#53276
01/25/2002 2:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Charles Boyer saying seductively "Hedy, come wiz me to the cellar door."
Or, "Come wiz me to ze Ceylan d'or."
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#53277
01/25/2002 3:04 PM
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Or, "Come wiz me to ze Ceylan d'or."
Or, "Come wiz me to ze Sealion Tour."
We are so fortunate to be living in such an exciting period in the development of our rigorous and flexible language.
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#53278
01/25/2002 10:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 3,146 |
Or "Come wiz me and zee next door".
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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#53279
01/25/2002 10:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
catty fawny dreamin'
Does it sound like that to you, Duncan? An interestin' mondegreen.
Speaking of ugly words: mondegreen.
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