ATEG Members Commenting on Mitch McConnell,
Unfortunately, Mitch is one of the senators from my state. Rand Paul, a Tea Party member, is the other. I can scarcely imagine how sorry you are that you don't live in Kentucky so that these two could be your senators, too!
Mitch is the consummate politician. He is Minority Leader because he worked hard at raising money for other senatorial campaigns. When the time came to pick a minority leader, he reminded fellow Republican senators what he had done for them, and called in all those political IOU's.
Somehow, a delegation of Armenians living in California invited him to speak. He obliged, they gave him money, and now Mitch is Armenia's greatest friend, at every occasion funneling all manner of help for the Armenians.
Mitch is also a master at saying something is true when it is only partly true. He, like other Republicans, said that any bill from the Obama administration designed to get us out of this financial mess with the federal debt should not "raise taxes," playing on the fear, unjustly in my mind, that all Democrats always want to raise taxes.
He thus communicated to his constituents that the Obama administration had planned to raise taxes, presumably on everyone. But the "raise taxes" structure needed an important prepositional phrase to really communicate what the truth was--"raise taxes on the rich," with 98% of Americans seeing no tax increase under the Obama proposal. When asked on a Sunday morning news program why shouldn't the rich carry some of the financial burden of bringing down the deficit, his answer was-"The rich already are paying their fair share," and offered no support to back up that assertion.
At the same time, he and his office are very good at doing minor things that continue to get him elected. Our international students often need help with visas and other matters. He does do a good job of handling these kinds of problems. So Mitch comes out as the man the people can count on when they have a problem.
Marshall
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gay Claiborne
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2011 3:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mitch Mcconnell's grammatical ambiguity
Hello, All--
A million thanks to Sherry for her expertise in planning and execution--and
to Marshall for marshalling us--both so successfully for those two grand
days and one evening. I'm delighted to have met other attendees and to have
heard all presentations. Your descriptors fit me, for sure, Sherry:
energized and excited.
Linda's point--that two features of McConnell's delivery in the sample
statement (pauses and intonation)--suggests, perhaps, that we need to attend
to the oral components of lanuage in discussions with our students as well
as ensuring that they're informed of grammatical principles and constructs.
It's unlikely that an aide or anyone else will draw the gaff to McConnell's
attention.
Regards,
Gay
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sharon Saylors" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2011 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: Mitch Mcconnell's grammatical ambiguity
> Dear fellow language enthusiasts,
> Thanks for your kind words, Linda. I too feel enriched by two days of
> stimulating discussions about our favorite subject. Forty-five of us
> from all over the country came together to share methods of teaching
> grammar from the kindergarten level, to middle school, to college. We
> have returned to our homes energized and excited.
> I agree with your interpretation,Linda. Sometimes people say
> exactly what they do not intend to say. This is prime evidence that
> grammar study is essential, and that those pauses make a critical
> difference.
> Sherry Saylors
>>>> [log in to unmask] 08/01/11 12:13 PM >>>
> Dear fellow language enthusiasts:
>
> First, thanks to Sherry Saylors and PGCC for hosting a great ATEG
> conference this past weekend!
> We had a fabulous time. And thanks to Martha Kolln and Pam Dykstra for
> inspiring keynotes, and to all of our presenters for interesting and
> intellectually provocative presentations!
>
> And ATEG must have put me in the mood: I cannot believe that the major
> news stations keep playing Mitch McConnell's ridiculously ambiguous
> statement over and over:
>
> What he meant: "The United States will not for the first time in history
> default on its debt."
> What he said: "The United States will not-- for the first time in
> history-- default on its debt."
>
> The preferred reading of this statement is, of course, that the US has
> always defaulted on its debt, but will not do so this time, for the
> first time. Does anyone disagree with this? And to hear McConnell say it
> only brings this interpretation home.
>
> The secondary interpretation might be what McConnell intended: That we
> have, in fact, avoided this first-time event that has never happened.
> But given his pauses and the fact that his intonation seems to rise when
> it should fall, his statement really signals the first interpretation.
>
>
> This would be a good opener for a linguistics or grammar class today...
>
> Linda
>
> ________________________________________
> Linda Di Desidero, Ph.D.
> Director, Communication Studies & Professional Writing
> University of Maryland University College
> School of Undergraduate Studies
> 3501 University Boulevard East
> Adelphi, MD 20783-8083
>
> College English Association
> http://cea.stevensonuniversity.org/
>
> Maryland Communication Association
> http://www.marylandcomm.org/
>
> (240) 684-2830 (Department)
> (240) 684-2928 (Office)
> (240) 684-2995 (Fax)
>
>
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