Changing fashions in language

[FluffyMcDeath]

I remember being "pressured" to do things I didn't want to do and when I left the UK in 1982 that's how the word was used, and that was the usage in Canada as well. Maybe about halfway through the noughties I started hearing, from the UK, that people were now being "pressurised" (US sp. pressurized) to act against their will.

Now, I can see how "pressured" may be incorrect but the best solution I can see is to use "pressed" and certainly not the much worse "pressurised" which means imbuing something with its own pressure - surely not compatible with the attempted meaning. Still, it seems that around the mid noughties someone was able to convince enough people that this is good usage.

Another thing that changed since I was a lad in school is that people started saying "different than" but this is something I first encountered in North America. In the 90s it started to become common even in magazines and these days has, infuriatingly, become the norm and I think it has even infected the UK - and yet it makes very little sense. Is it OK these days to also say "similar than"? Is "than" now the all purpose comparator? Do math teachers say that if you take 3 than 5 what's the difference? It seems gratuitous to dumb down a useful bit of grammar like that but perhaps it's just indicative of a general intellectual rot.

Lately, in just the last few days I've heard a new trend come roaring in and quite amazingly quickly - I wonder if you've heard this too. Lately I've been hearing people apparently using the word "cache" (which is a French word pronounced 'kash') but pronouncing it "cachet" (a French word pronounced 'kash-ay'). This is clearly gibberish but it seems that somewhere along the line someone thought it should have an accent on it and then anglo-mangled the pronunciation. Anyone else hearing people talk about some "weapons cachet" being found or blown up recently or other similar misusage?

 

[metalman]

Translation:

I remember bein "presshod" ta do thins I didn't want ta do and when I left da UK in 1982 dat's how da word was used, and dat was da usage in Canada as well. Maybe about halfway through da noughties I started hearin, from da UK, dat people were now bein "pressurised" (US sp. pressurized) ta act against their will.

Now, I can see how "presshod" may be incorrect but da best solution I can see be ta use "pressed" and certainly not da much worse "pressurised" which means imbuin somethin wit its own pressho - sholy not compatible wit da attempted meanin. Still, it seems dat around da mid noughties someone was able ta convince enough people dat dis be crunk usage.

Another thin dat changed since I was a lad in skoo be dat people started sayin "different than" but dis be somethin I first encountered in North America. In da 90s it started ta become common even in magazines and these days has, infuriatinly, become da norm and I think it has even infected da UK - and yet it makes very lil sense. Is it OK these days ta also say "similar than"? Is "than" now da all purpose comparator? Do math teachers say dat if ya take 3 than 5 what's da difference? It seems gratuitous ta dumb down a useful bit of grammar like dat but perhaps it's just indicative of a general intellectual rot.

Lately, in just da last few days I've heard a new trend come roarin in and quite amazinly quickly - I wonder if ya've heard dis too. Lately I've been hearin people appisntly usin da word "cache" (which be a French word pronounced 'kash') but pronouncin it "cachet" (a French word pronounced 'kash-ay'). This be clearly gibberish but it seems dat somewheea along da line someone thought it should gots an accent on it and then anglo-mainegled da pronunciation. Anyone else hearin people talk about some "weapons cachet" bein found or blown up recently or other similar misusage? - aww yea foo.

 

[cecilia]

.........people were now being "pressurised" (US sp. pressurized) to act against their will.

seriously?? idiots are now actually saying THIS??

Oh, the humanity!

my mother is constantly complaining about the morons "reporting" the "news" dangling their participles and other crimes against Grammar but I don't have examples....probably the usual suspects

and THIS - http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/cache.html - is how I pronounce and use those words

anyone else not doing so it is WRONG

 

[faethor]

Now, I can see how "pressured" may be incorrect but the best solution I can see is to use "pressed" and certainly not the much worse "pressurised" which means imbuing something with its own pressure - surely not compatible with the attempted meaning. Still, it seems that around the mid noughties someone was able to convince enough people that this is good usage.

Pressed and Pressured both share some definitional components, in so far as both mean being forced to do something by another person. When I think about the nuance on how I use the difference I'd say - "He pressed me about the topic" - meaning he 'more than causally' questioned me. And I'd say - "He pressured me to do something" - meaning I was 'strongly encouraged' to take an action. I don't think I'd ever say "He pressed me to do something" - perhaps it's technically correct but somehow that sounds incorrect. I'm definitely NOT the linguist. My guess is one is an active past tense and the other a passive past tense? (Again not the linguist.)

Another thing that changed since I was a lad in school is that people started saying "different than" but this is something I first encountered in North America. In the 90s it started to become common even in magazines and these days has, infuriatingly, become the norm and I think it has even infected the UK - and yet it makes very little sense. Is it OK these days to also say "similar than"? Is "than" now the all purpose comparator? Do math teachers say that if you take 3 than 5 what's the difference? It seems gratuitous to dumb down a useful bit of grammar like that but perhaps it's just indicative of a general intellectual rot.

'Different than' does seem to be more common. Though it's not 'similar than' it is 'similar to'.

Lately, in just the last few days I've heard a new trend come roaring in and quite amazingly quickly - I wonder if you've heard this too. Lately I've been hearing people apparently using the word "cache" (which is a French word pronounced 'kash') but pronouncing it "cachet" (a French word pronounced 'kash-ay'). This is clearly gibberish but it seems that somewhere along the line someone thought it should have an accent on it and then anglo-mangled the pronunciation. Anyone else hearing people talk about some "weapons cachet" being found or blown up recently or other similar misusage?

Strange how words change 'forte' for example does have multiple meanings and multiple definitions. Forte can mean loud, as in a piece of music, and is said 'for-tay'. It's not my forte, means it's not my strong suit. 50-60 years ago it would be said 'fort'. The way it's pronounced has changed over time and hearing that today sounds funny, everyone uses 'for-tay'. The reason here is 'forte' as in strong suit came from French word for stronghold and is said fort, the e is silent. Whereas the 'forte' as in loudness in music came from the Italian and the 'e' is pronounced to make it 'for-tay'.

 

[ilwrath]

Lately, in just the last few days I've heard a new trend come roaring in and quite amazingly quickly - I wonder if you've heard this too. Lately I've been hearing people apparently using the word "cache" (which is a French word pronounced 'kash') but pronouncing it "cachet" (a French word pronounced 'kash-ay').

I don't know if the cache/cachet mispronunciation is a new trend, or not. My thought has always been that "cache" sounds like "cash", which is often used instead of "money."

Anyone else hearing people talk about some "weapons cachet" being found or blown up recently or other similar misusage?

Yup... And in this case, it is almost fortunate, as finding some "illegal weapons cash" is vastly different from finding an "illegal weapons cache."

Anyhow, what's the big deal? Language is living. It gets mangled all the time. The better variations become formal. Don't you have a lawn that you should be chasing the kids from?

 

[cecilia]

http://www.whoohoo.co.uk/scottish-translator.asp