[Ads-l] Words Gone Wild

[Baker, John]

Actually, "defraud" there is being used correctly (in a linguistic sense, although you may not agree with the substance).  The petition argues that ExxonMobil engaged in fraud, not just deception:  that ExxonMobil had a duty to deal fairly with consumers but intentionally deceived them, resulting in harm to them.  "Knowingly," however, is redundant, since all frauds are knowing.  So this is different from ancestor/descendant, beneficiary/benefactor, and the like.

John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of George Thompson
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2015 12:34 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Words Gone Wild

The conspiracy on the part of "descendant" to usurp the place held by right by "ancestor" has had at least early success.

Now "defraud" is attempting a coup against "deceive".

*Petition to President Obama and the Department of Justice:* *“Prosecute ExxonMobil for its 20 year campaign to knowingly defraud the American public about the danger posed by fossil fuels and climate change.”
*
And "benefactor" is putting "beneficiary" on the defensive.
You have been selected as recipient/benefactor for $5Million Dollars

Where will it all end?  What will be the next hard-working word to find the lock changed on the door?
GAT (dismayed)

--
George A. Thompson
The Guy Who Still Looks Stuff Up in Books.
Author of A Documentary History of "The African Theatre", Northwestern Univ. Pr., 1998..

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org