incent : a big SOTA

[Thomas Paikeday]

J.L.

I'd like to join this noble cause.

t.m.p.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 9:46 AM
Subject: incent : a big SOTA


> ---------------------- Information from the mail
> header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      incent : a big SOTA
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> How many are aware that English contains a verb "to incent," meaning "to
> provide with and incentive" ?  I sure didn't, at least not until Governor
> George Pataki (R. -N.Y.) promised a few minutes ago to "incent consumers"
> to switch to ethanol.
>
>  Making the situation far more dire is that my OED colleagues can prove
> that "incent" has been in print at least since 1977.  After nearly thirty
> years, we should not be surprised to learn that even little children,
> somewhere, are learning to lisp it.  One can only prophesize that these
> little children will soon be incented to grow the economy.
>
>  Won't you join me in taking the Pledge never to use the discrete phonemic
> sequence "incent" in speech or writing as long as you live, and beyond if
> possible ?  And won't you do your best to scourge and discomfit the
> misguided souls who do use it ?
>
>  JL
>
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