"Lawn and Order"

[sagehen]

>A reference to a film available through the National Film Board of Canada
>brought to my attention (as title of the film) the phrase "Lawn and Order."
>
>A google search produced over 700 hits.  In addition to the film, it was
>also the title of an exhibit in Toronto (and perhaps travelling, as well as
>a number of newspaper articles, etc.  This set of usages seems to be
>concerned with 'lawn ornaments' as cultural phenomena.
>
>In addition, the phrase seems to be in use in connection with
>gardening/landscaping articles, and perhaps other topics, in USA perhaps
>even more than Canada.
>
>Surely derived from 'law and order,' possibly following the popular
>television series, but of course 'law and order' substantially predates
>that production.
>
>What interests me about the phrase is how clumsy it sounds, to my ear, and
>to my vocal tract as I try to say it.  While it appears reasonably 'clever'
>in print, when vocalized it seems just the opposite (IMHO).
>
>If this were ever phrase were ever to gain vocalized currency, would it be
>likely to be subjected to elision (as in Law'n Order)?  Does it seem
>reasonable that an elided pronunciation was the original intent?
>
>For whatever reason, I'm unable to read 'lawn and order' with elision,
>unless I force myself to do it.  So as it exists in print form, I find it
>downright unpleasant to read, and to say.  Nor do I feel comfortable with
>the elided form.
>
>Any comments?
>
>Michael McKernan
~~~~~~~~~~
Just so.
AM