[Ads-l] Crash-blossom OTY

Tue Nov 17 18:20:10 UTC 2015

> On Nov 17, 2015, at 12:57 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> "PARISIAN DEP MAYOR RE ATTACK VICTIMS" would apparently have been too
> complicated, what with fewer letters and syllables.
> 
> JL

Or "RE ATTACKS VICTIMS", which would no doubt be read as accusing him of traumatizing the victims again.  
> 
> On Tue, Nov 17, 2015 at 12:36 PM, Joel Berson <berson at att.net> wrote:
> 
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Joel Berson <berson at ATT.NET>
>> Subject:      Re: Crash-blossom OTY
>> 
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> Yes, but one (moi) would not say "victims of attack" in this case, since
>> th=
>> ere were several.=C2=A0 Here we have not the ubiquitous "of" but the
>> disapp=
>> earing "of".
>> 
>> As for Jon's> Not perfect, but close enough for government work,
>> 
>> Let's hope CNN does better next time.=C2=A0 That is, uses "for" or "of"
>> ins=
>> tead of "on".=C2=A0 :-)
>> 
>> Joel
>> 
>>      From: Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU>
>> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU=20
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 11:42 AM
>> Subject: Re: [ADS-L] Crash-blossom OTY
>>  =20
>> Yes, the "on" makes the unintended reading less likely, but the weird
>> plura=
>> l in the modifier within the compound--which seems to have become a
>> standar=
>> d option anymore--makes it more likely.=C2=A0 For me, it can only be
>> "Paris=
>> attack victims", even given the multiplicity of attack sites--i.e. the
>> vic=
>> tims of attacks are attack victims, not attacks victims.
>> 
>> LH
>> 
>>> On Nov 17, 2015, at 8:52 AM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>> wr=
>> ote:
>>> =20
>>> Not perfect, but close enough for government work.
>>> =20
>>> On the TV screen, with all caps,=C2=A0 the "on" was easily misread (or,
>> b=
>> etter,
>>> "automatically absorbed )" as "of."
>>> =20
>>> JL
>>> =20
>>> On Tue, Nov 17, 2015 at 8:46 AM, Joel Berson <berson at att.net> wrote:
>>> =20
>>>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>>> -----------------------
>>>> Sender:=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA
>> =
>> .EDU>
>>>> Poster:=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Joel Berson <berson at ATT.NET>
>>>> Subject:=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Re: Crash-blossom OTY
>>>> =20
>>>> 
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
>> -------
>>>> =20
>>>> Well, at least they got the preposition better than "for" or "of".=3DC2=
>> =3DA0
>>>> Th=3D
>>>> at is, I don't think there is a "deputy mayor on Paris", so that I find
>>>> the=3D
>>>> headline a bit difficult to read as "the deputy mayor on Paris attacks
>>>> the=3D
>>>> victims."
>>>> Deputy mayor "for" or "of" Paris seems to crash more loudly.=3DC2=3DA0
>> A=
>> nd
>>>> "Dep=3D
>>>> uty mayor for Paris attacks victims" crashes with a different ambiguity
>> =
>> --
>>>> =3D
>>>> is the deputy major for (does he support) the Paris attack victims?
>>>> =20
>>>> Joel
>>>> =20
>>>> =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 From: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>>>> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU=3D20
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 7:40 AM
>>>> Subject: [ADS-L] Crash-blossom OTY
>>>> =C2=A0 =3D20
>>>> CNN caption:
>>>> =20
>>>> "DEPUTY MAYOR ON PARIS ATTACKS VICTIMS."
>>>> =20
>>>> JL
>>>> =20
>>>> --=3D20
>>>> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>> trut=
>> h."
>>>> =20
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>>> =20
>>> --=20
>>> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>> truth=
>> ."
>>> =20
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>>> The American Dialect Society -
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> 
> 
> -- 
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
> 
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