Posted on 10/16/2012 5:08:41 AM PDT by SoothingDave
Word For The Day, October 16, 2012
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
demotic [dih-mot-ik]
-adj
1.of or pertaining to the ordinary, everyday, current form of a language; vernacular.
2. of or pertaining to the common people; popular.
3. of, pertaining to, or noting the simplified form of hieratic writing used in ancient Egypt between 700 b.c. and a.d. 500.
[1815–25; < Greek dēmotikós popular, plebeian, equivalent to dēmót ( ēs ) a plebeian (derivative of dêmos; see demo-) + -ikos -ic]
Go.
What? I've been demoted?
I hope obama really steps in it when he mentions the demotic 47% at tonight’s debate and Romney wipes the floor with him.
In the speech of the Kenyan-in-Chief, we witness a rapid progression from the demotic through the demagogic to the demonic.
The demotic of the left is demonic to the right.
Gretchen Carlson and Brian Kilmeade were holding a demotic discussion this AM on how to pronounce Long Island. Gretchhhen (from MN) insisted that you pronounce a hard G and run it together when saying Long Island — sort of Longisland. Brian (who lives on Long Island) insisted that it is 2 words and pronounced just as it reads — Long (rhymes with strong) Island.
I thought that Long Island natives called it lawnguyland, running it all together. If others say it that way, it’s because of how the natives said it.
An uninitiated normal speaker of English would say it as if it was two words.
We need to demote this disparaging demotic denizen of the depths.
The debate tonight will be chaotic
Romney clever, Obama demotic
No doubt Candy Crowley
Will treat our guy foully
What a set-up! The left is despotic
http://nymag.com/news/politics/elections-2012/tea-party-2012-10/
Interesting article from Frank Rich. Yes, that Frank Rich.
I was amused that Gretchen (from Minnesota and educated in CA) would have this EXTENDED argument over how to pronounce Long Island with a native born resident. She carried on for quite some time — over at least 2 segments. Steve just looked befuddled and said that he’d never heard that in Kansas! LOL.
The Mainstream Media Meme is that the Republicans, i.e, the Tea Party and other conservatives are hard to the right whereas the democrats are in the center. My question: If democrats are in the center, who the hell is on the far left? Castro?
It’s probably an exaggeration of reality. For instance, some outsiders think we Pittsburghers have an accent.
Having lived in several parts of the country I can attest that once you are living some place for a while, you no longer “hear” the regional accent. When I first moved to Wisconsin, I noticed a distinct Wisconsin accent. Now, I can no longer hear it, nor describe it. It’s a nasal tone on “n”s, I think. That doesn’t count for our “regional words”, however. Bubbler, Stop and Go lights, You betcha, etc.
There’s something to your vowels that makes it distinct. That and the ease with which you pronounce those Indian names, like “Manitowac.”
Free wifi on the high speed Italo train . Wish I wasn’t facing backwards.
How fast is 250km/hr?
Vernacular? Ole Vern bought himself one those Japanese cars, an Acular. Real nice car, that Vern Acular.
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