About a week ago I noticed that military metaphors were becoming more and more prominent in the government’s messaging as well as in the media. Wherever I turned, I heard and read that we were fighting a war against an invisible enemy with leaders forming war cabinets, with constant references to the Blitz spirit, the Second World War and how we are all conscripts in this battle. This … [Read more...] about Why we should speak the language of love, not war
language
A new language for a new reality
Since I put myself in voluntary isolation on 14th March, I have been quietly observing the unfolding paradigm shift. And yes, that’s what I believe is happening right now. I’m not here to judge other people’s behaviour. My contribution is specifically about language - something I have been delving deeper into during the past year. It has been fascinating to observe just how quickly a … [Read more...] about A new language for a new reality
Mind your language: words have consequences
Words can be weapons or bringers of beauty. We have recently seen ample evidence of the former, after two mass shootings took place in the US within 24 hours. The perpetrator of the El Paso shooting seemed to be inspired by Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants “invading” America. Put those three words into a Google News search and you may be astonished at how many results come … [Read more...] about Mind your language: words have consequences
C30, C60, C90 – don’t go!
It's hard to imagine now but in the summer of 1980 what passed for disruptive technology came in a compact plastic box with a cardboard inner sleeve. Ah yes, the cassette - I remember it well. In my first year as a staff writer for the music paper Sounds, I was deluged by the little devils, as bands up and down the country sent me demo tapes after I did the first major published interviews … [Read more...] about C30, C60, C90 – don’t go!
A “spesh” time when I played fast and loose with the English language
When I was a music journalist back in the Eighties I thought nothing of casually mangling the English language. In those days it was "hip" to use in-jokes, amusing abbreviations, shorthand, wordplay and made-up words to create a vernacular of belonging for the readers. I wince when I read some of the reviews I wrote because the way in which I expressed myself was very much of its time and seems … [Read more...] about A “spesh” time when I played fast and loose with the English language
All you need is love, laughter… and rainbows
Following on from yesterday’s post about the overwhelming positivity of the English language, I wanted to take a longer look at the top 50 most positive words as compiled by the University of Vermont after analysing billions of words from a variety of sources. It makes fascinating reading. Here’s the top 10 in full: 1. Laughter 2. Happiness 3. Love 4. Happy 5. Laughed 6. Laugh 7. … [Read more...] about All you need is love, laughter… and rainbows