Hi, Diane!

If students had any idea of foreign languages, they would know 
that "blase" is a French word and that it doesn't mean "bla-bla-bla."

Eduard 

On Thu, 16 Mar 2006, Diane Allen wrote...

> 
> 
>Diane Allen, M.A.
>Technical Writing Coordinator
>Midland College
>AFA 131
>432/685-6458 office
>432/686-4901 fax
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>
>
>>>> [log in to unmask] 3/16/2006 7:43 AM >>>
>
>The discussion of the broadening of the meaning of 'unique' is
>interesting, but I see a different problem that I might call 
widespread
>malapropism.
> 
>My students often create terms or use them as malapropisms--and 
these
>may be derived from rap music or these may have their roots in 
Microsoft
>Word's spell-checker. Does anyone else know anything more about 
this?
> 
>One frequently occurring example is the word 'blase' to mean
>"bla-bla-bla" or 'yadayadayada".  My students will actually 
say: "blase
>blase blase" thinking that it is equivalent to these other terms.  
So
>when this phrase enters widespread use, can we say that the meaning 
of
>'blase' has altered?  (even though most students who use it in this
>context do not know that they have altered a meaning; they think 
they
>have learned a new word.)
> 
> 
>How do they pronounce "blase"  in this case:  "blah-zay" 
or "blaze"? 
>Or maybe some other inimitable way?
> 
>Diane
> 
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