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 >[log in to unmask] > > >>>> [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 > > >To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web >interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select >"Join or leave the list" >Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > >To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html >and select "Join or leave the list" > >Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/