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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