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ventaI have just met the word "disambiguate" in some documentation I'm reading (DOM Level 1, if you care).
[Poll #357609]
Yes, I should be concentrating on DOM rather than posting silly polls. Thank you for asking.
Update: It is, of course, a great word. It covers a concept which (in my opinion) isn't covered by any other word, and is nicely euphonious to boot.
I'd now close this poll if I had any idea how to do so :)
[Poll #357609]
Yes, I should be concentrating on DOM rather than posting silly polls. Thank you for asking.
Update: It is, of course, a great word. It covers a concept which (in my opinion) isn't covered by any other word, and is nicely euphonious to boot.
I'd now close this poll if I had any idea how to do so :)
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Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 03:43 am (UTC)http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/chref/chref.py/main?query=disambiguate&title=21st
Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 03:47 am (UTC)It's a question of whether it's a good word.
Dictionaries (even Chambers) often include shite words.
Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 03:56 am (UTC)But you're right, there are some shite words there too. I think "disambiguate" is a truly awesome word, and I thought it was marvellous the first time I ever saw it (wikipedia, as mentioned by another correspondent).
Wikipedia also has other interesting phrases like "weasel words" and "peacock words", which describe other key concepts of language.
Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 05:21 am (UTC)My take was that it wasn't a real word (or, at least, the link was tenuous) rather it was made up by someone who either (a) wanted to appear pretentious, or (b) had such a poor grasp of the language they couldn't think of a suitable "real" word.
It appears that it real. Mind you, so is "mindset". That particular one is usually my cue to stop reading.
Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 05:26 am (UTC)As consolation, I offer you today's word from the Calendar:
pobble
"The noise made by the bubbling of water when commencing to boil."
from Maj. Lowsley's Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases, 1888
Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 05:28 am (UTC)Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 05:46 am (UTC)"Attitude" is a perfectly good word. But used in the context of "you got an attitude, buddy" [meaning "sir, you have a _bad_ attitude], it has erroneously been given negative connotations.
Consequently, corporate Americana adopted "mindset" lest anyone should be offended or jump to the wrong conclusion, and it's seeping into everyday usage.
Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 05:56 am (UTC)I'd certainly use "attitude" and "mindset" to mean something subtly different, though I'm not sure whether I'm correct to do so.
Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 06:14 am (UTC)attitude: a feeling or opinion about something or someone, or a way of behaving that is caused by this.
mindset: a person's way of thinking and their opinions.
Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 06:24 am (UTC)Re: Chambers - never wrong
Date: 2004-09-29 06:26 am (UTC)There's nothing wrong with language evolving, of course (although the French seem to disagree), and I'm usually calm and generally Unbothered. For some reason this one is a particular source of irritation!