'Convince x of y' = 'reassure x about y'

[Dan Goncharoff]

I don't see what is wrong with the 'Convince x of y' construction, as long
as y makes sense in the context of convince.

"Safety issues" makes no sense to me. "The need to wear a helmet while
riding your bike" does make sense to me. So does "the importance of safety
issues".

DanG


On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 10:29 AM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> Subject:      Re: 'Convince x of y' = 'reassure x about y'
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Is it OK with Jon if the preposition "of" is replaced by "about" --
> "convincing parents about the safety issues"?
>
> Joel
>
> At 11/14/2012 05:00 AM, Damien Hall wrote:
> >Anyone come across such a reshaping as this?
> >
> >In a story about a 'light quadricycle' with a car-like body, being
> >marketed as a safer alternative to scooters and mopeds, for teens:
> >
> >'We believe that the young rider market for scooters and mopeds has
> >been contracting lately. [...] That is due to the difficulty in
> >convincing parents of the safety issues surrounding mopeds and scooters.'
> >
> >- from 'A car you can drive at 16... but at 28mph', UK _Metro_
> >(Newcastle-upon-Tyne edition), 14 Nov 12, p10
> >
> >As I say, I _think_ this is a reshaping of the meaning of _convince
> >(of)_.  I originally thought it was an extension of the meaning of
> >'safety issue' from the usual 'safety-related problem' to 'fact that
> >safety (which is a legitimate concern) is not an issue' - but,
> >re-reading it, I think that the reshaping is rather with _convince
> >(of)_.  I'm not really sure - this marketing manager's quote is, in
> >any case, not very felicitous.
> >
> >Damien
> >
> >--
> >
> >Damien Hall
> >Newcastle University (UK)
> >
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