bureaucratese

[Benjamin Barrett]

Isn't this true of American speech in general? The pattern I see is that
a person will say they are sorry for something (like being late) and
then proffer an excuse (there was a lot of traffic). A switch of voice
is not needed, but it seems like the same pattern of claiming to be
contrite without actually being responsible. BB

sagehen wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Poster:       sagehen <sagehen at WESTELCOM.COM>
>
>
> "I acknowledge that mistakes were made here.  I accept responsiblity....."
>  AG Gonzales while displaying his facility with the grammar of
> establishmentspeak, wherein the word "mistake" always calls for passive
> construction, showed nimbleness in employing the forthrightness that has
> become fashionable among politicians lately, by switching to active in the
> next breath.  In the recent election someone caught in a scandal  did this
> in reverse order.  "Yes, I did it." Then immediately lost the points gained
> by laying the   blame on some sort of addiction & haring off to rehab.
> More bread & circuses.
> AM
>

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