Monday, 6 December 2010
Nouns into Verbs
While the listening nation reeled from Jim Naughtie's unfortunate spoonerism on Today this morning, the programme moved on to a discussion of a supposedly deplorable, supposedly recent trend in our language towards 'verbing' - turning nouns into verbs. A doughty lexicographer was on hand to defend these noun-verbs, pointing out their utility, and the obvious fact that many of the objectionable ones are ugly jargon terms (often springing from the ugly world of 'management') that are unlikely to outlast their immediate use (lexicographers sometimes call them 'nonce words'). I would defend the ready shift from nouns to verbs more vigorously as one of the deeply embedded features of our language that give it its richness, expressive force and suppleness - in marked contrast to French, a language seriously deficient in active verbs. If you doubt the utility of noun-verbs, try doing some DIY without nailing, drilling, screwing, sawing, hammering, need I go on?
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I have no time for language pedantry, it is a failure of understanding. Linguistic pedants are the enemies of literature (poetry would be impossible if they were obeyed.) Language should fizz and whizz and be constantly reinvented.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if verbifying nouns is the terrible infant, accent has emulsified the language into oblivion.
ReplyDeleteHerewith enclosed is a Geordie joke, it ain't funny but highlights the problem.
Courtesy of the little waster himself.
Wor lass sez tiv is "Bobbie, there's a hole in me string bag", whey ya knaa, ah sez tiv ah "ahm knee mechanic"
Exactly, old bean.
Magnificent, Malty!
ReplyDeleteSurely you mean "Thez a hewl in me string bag", Malty? Posh bastard.
ReplyDeleteMy apologies Brit, I recounted it in a Gosforth Geordie accent.
ReplyDeleteWell, I’m all for this since I spent my whole afternoon ‘Britting’ myself in a most ‘Nigely’ fashion with that bloody Dabbler quiz. Almost as bad as last week’s question about cartoons...
ReplyDeleteHappiest of birthdays Nige, I look forward to a belated celebration come April!
ReplyDeleteLike Brit I have no time for the lingo pedant either, but Caledonian Jim's day in the sun was long overdue. Is there anybody on telly or radio who likes the sound of their own voice more than gas-bag James? Pray no.
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