"Narrative" again

Wed May 1 18:14:10 UTC 2013

I agree.  For discussions of historical events, "narrative" suggests
to me the same as Dave describes below, creating a coherent account,
perhaps chronological, that fits the events into a plausible,
logically possible tale.  Not necessarily correct, but not in
conflict with anything known.

Joel

At 5/1/2013 10:34 AM, Dave Wilton wrote:
>I don't think "liberal propaganda" or even "popular supposition" is implied.
>
>The usage falls under OED definition 2.a. "Narrative" is frequently used not
>simply as a recounting of facts and events, but an expression that is done
>in a way to create a coherent story that explains those facts.
>
>I've probably most often heard this sense in context of litigation, where
>lawyers will seek to create a "narrative" to convince the jury or judges.
>(David Boies is often recognized as being especially skilled at creating
>convincing narratives out of the facts of a case.)
>
>The analyst is simply expressing the opinion that the explanation that the
>bombers did not have foreign connections may not fit all the facts; that a
>good analyst questions assumptions. From an intelligence perspective, this
>skeptical attitude is probably healthy. (Although the comment could be
>xenophobic. I don't know who said it or the broader context in which it was
>said.)
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
>Jonathan Lighter
>Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2013 9:14 AM
>To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: Re: "Narrative" again
>
>Former CIA analyst on the bombing plot (CNN):
>
>"I think it is wrong for us to take the narrative that it was just
>homegrown."
>
>It would never even occur to me to use "narrative" in this context.
>  Possibly "obtuse liberal propaganda" is implied, but I did not get that
>impression. It seems to me that here it means "popular supposition."
>
>In real time, of course.
>
>JL
>
>
>On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 6:49 AM, Jonathan Lighter
><wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>wrote:
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> > Subject:      Re: "Narrative" again
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> >
> > CNN anchor: Does Rick Perry's performance in the last debate follow
> > the narrative of his campaign?
> >
> > Political Scientist:  Unfortunately, the narrative about Rick Perry in
> > this campaign is that he's not ready for prime time.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Sun, Aug 7, 2011 at 11:59 AM, Jonathan Lighter
> > <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> > > Subject:      Re: "Narrative" again
> > >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> > >
> > > A former Republican Congressman on CNN today:
> > >
> > > "Blaming 'right-wing Republicans' [for debt/deficit/budget
> > > difficulties]
> > is
> > > a narrative that won't fly."
> > >
> > > I.e., a propaganda move.
> > >
> > > JL
> > >
> > > On Sat, Aug 6, 2011 at 4:40 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > >> -----------------------
> > >> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > >> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> > >> Subject:      "Narrative" again
> > >>
> > >>
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> > >>
> > >> In an article in today's NYTimes on the conviction of five New
> > >> Orleans police offers of unjustified shooting of six citizens just
> > >> after Hurricane Katrina, Campbell Robertson writes:
> > >>
> > >>      "The trial was not only about these five officers but also
> > >> about what exactly happened in the weeks after the hurricane, a
> > >> sort of judgment on the initial widely held belief that the
> > >> authorities were trying to control elements of a citizenry run rampant.
> > >>
> > >>      ":In the years since, that narrative has been qualified. While
> > >> some people did turn to crime and violence, it has become apparent
> > >> that some of the bloodshed and chaos was brought about by members
> > >> of the long-troubled Police Department."
> > >>
> > >> Joel
> > >>
> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> > >> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> > truth."
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>truth."
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
>
>
>
>--
>"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
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>
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