semantic drift: squadron

[Jonathan Lighter]

You're right, of course. And possibly armored vehicles.

What's clear, though, is that the writer seized on the first vaguely
relatedword that came to mind.

I suspect that many others are doing so as well. If not, not. Every
secondary and tertiary sense defined by the OED has a primary citation that
once may have seemed quite eccentric.

JL




On Thu, Jul 22, 2010 at 1:42 PM, Bill Palmer <w_a_palmer at bellsouth.net>wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Bill Palmer <w_a_palmer at BELLSOUTH.NET>
> Subject:      Re: semantic drift: squadron
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> A squadron can be composed of aircraft, also.
>
> I was always amazed at how the USAF applies these terms for military units
> to the most unwarlike of functions...e.g. "233rd Finance Squadron" or "25th
> Dental Wing", etc..
>
> Or at least they used to.
>
> Bill P
>  ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 1:18 PM
> Subject: semantic drift: squadron
>
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail
> > header -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> > Subject:      semantic drift: squadron
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Now it can mean  just what "platoon" and "company" can now mean, as I've
> > pointed out previously. I.e., a military unit of just about any size:
> >
> > 2000 http://www.longpauses.com/blog/2000/04/attack-1956.html (Apr. 20):
> > *Paths
> > of Glory* tells of a failed attempt by a French squadron to take an
> > important German position during World War I.
> >
> > Written "for a graduate seminar in Cold War military history." The movie
> > makes it very clear that the right word is "regiment."  "French troops"
> or
> > "French infantry" would have been perfectly acceptable and more readily
> > understandable but would lack that faux "precision" needed to make a
> > writer
> > sound extra well informed.
> >
> > A "squadron," moreover, requires horses or ships.  Unless, of course, you
> > don't care.  Should you?
> >
> > Underlying some of these exx. of "drift" is the failure to consult a
> > dictionary. However, one only consults a dictionary when one is unsure...
> >
> > JL
> >
> >
> > --
> > "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
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.441 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3021 - Release Date: 07/22/10
> 06:36:00
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> 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