Show j We WeAre Are Losing Our Word Marbles Sa Says ys Prof Professor i.- i. t i Is in ear your finger your ear Do you hear what is being said and andI I understand what you have read C Professor Loretta Walker of the English department at Utah Technical College at Salt Lake says the language is being brutalized faster than ever before The American language has been beena a vital changing dynamic form of communication she says But clear thinking today is being choked with verbiage F She cites barbarous jargon which has crept into business reports memos letters instructional 3 assembly sheets even advertising Dr Richard Goode of Queens College Charlotte North Carolina it gives an example A building supply company recently ann announced a new newline newline line of products with improved long i span and architectural panel configurations configurations con con- figurations which enhance it l appearance and improve What asks asks' Professor Goode is improved r Is that the ability to Jo wea weather er or the ability to withstand H oJ weather A vari variety ty of commonly used mind mind- stopping words and phrases litter our language Crisis situations viable input posture contingency mode enhance maximize are but a frac frac- tion They can be multiplied a hundred fold ld in every government department and by most commercial businesses Dr Goode creates a gem typifying junk elements strung together Nothing in life is certain except Negative Patient Care Outcome and Revenue Enhancement What about some of Utah's own abuses abuses' For heck is but one that comes readily to mind and there must be dozens more The challenge says Mrs Walker is isto isto isto to teach students to express themselves themselves themselves them them- selves simply and clearly despite therole the therole therole role models of language abuse and phrase cruelty stacked up everywhere they turn The rats-nest rats instructions for the new tax returns are the eye-catching eye example this winter she says But the Feds are not alone Watch some of the stuff that emerges from our own state legislature At Utah Tech and other colleges around the state determined efforts are being made to teach clearly both spoken and written thought Whether or not youre you're in school says says' Professor Walker you could make friends with a sensible word each day Take it to lunch You'll fall fallin fallin in love with it iL |