[Lexicog] When Words Lose Meaning

[Mike Maxwell]

Scott Nelson (bolstar1) wrote:
>      2) Politics lead toward misnomers, half-truths, selectivity 
> ("The U.S. is currently in a recession.") The Bloomberg Report's 
> recent assessment of the U.S. economy in the last quarter was a 
> positive .01% growth, predicted to grow 1.6% next quarter. Two 
> consecutive quarters of overall economic decline constitutes a 
> `recession' -- not a feeling, fear, or analysis of isolated economic 
> sectors. Three quarters of Americans think that we are in a 
> recession. Otherwise it is considered a `downturn', `slump', 
> `slowdown', or `weakening period'. 

Not sure whether you're saying the experts are right, or three quarters 
of Americans are right, but it reminds me of the dispute over whether a 
tomato is a vegetable (most Americans, and probably most English 
speakers in general) or a fruit (botanists).  Of course, the answer is 
that they're both right; it just depends on which definition of 'fruit' 
or 'vegetable' you prefer.  (Fortunately, it seems to have nothing to do 
with how you pronounce 'tomato' :-).)
-- 
	Mike Maxwell
	maxwell at ldc.upenn.edu

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