'These ones' and other nightmares of a retired English teacher..

   As the surgeon prepared to make the final cuts to remove the growth from the patient’s brain, he asks those assisting him to prepare to clamp off several arteries that supplied blood to the area.

   “No, no. no. Not those ones,” he shouts. “These ones! These ones! Over here.”

   Fortunately or perhaps unfortunately, the words and language we select and use reflects who we are, the level of education we have achieved and even, perhaps, our social standing. Words are important. But as times change, as we become more reliant on computers, on spell check, as we read, write and speak less, as we depend more on getting our entertainment from ipads and social media, the quality of our vocabulary changes as well. OMG!

   I studied English, grammar and literature in high school and, admittedly, I was not the best student. I taught English for a number of years to high school students and I can honestly confess to myself that I did not do a very good job. I was not always the best role model.

   Looking back, I should have had students write more, learn at least one new word each day, read more and have them do more public speaking ('like' and 'um ya know', etc.). Oh, and yes, I should have and should continue to practice what I preached, even to this day, regardless of how old I am.

   So...what are some common words but often misused or misunderstood today?

   Most people refer to a 'travesty' as a tragic event, when the correct use of the word implies an event as a parody or...to make fun of something. My Life, The Travesty!

   If I 'peruse' the newspaper each morning, one may understand it to mean that I have skimmed over or glanced at the daily news. The correct use of the word means “to carefully review.” Now, at 6:30 in the morning, I am in no mood to carefully review the Bangor Daily News, checking the accuracy of its reporting of local events or to check for spelling errors. Don't they have spell check?

   There are many who may agree that what I write about is 'redundant', meaning it is often repetitive. OK. Some of the things I write about and say...could be cut out. Hmm. Sounds like many parts of the campaign speeches we have been listening to.

   My 'redundant' point is simple. These are words commonly used today but over time their meanings have changed, depending upon the context in which they were used.

   I have always believed that it is easy to sit back and criticize. But with criticism comes a responsibility to make positive suggestions. I had proposed that students learn at least one new word each day, so here are several suggestions for this week.

   'Fulminate' means to loudly attack or denounce. The political candidates used the recent debate time to fulminate against some of their rivals. Now doesn't that sound better than saying “the other candidates really  suck!”

   If there is an enthusiasm and a willingness to achieve or accomplish something good, it often shows a degree 'alacrity'. An attempt to bring about world peace in some of the countries involved in war shows a high level of alacrity on the part of the U.S. How about within some of our own cities?

   A word often used to mean to 'make unnecessary' is the word 'obviate'. This word is actually being  used a bit more these days. It has absolutely nothing to do with getting pregnant.  (Can't figure that one out! You may want to call Donald Trump on that one.)
   Wouldn't it be great if we were able to obviate most of the meaningless and time wasting commercials on television? But then, how would we know about the sales and special prices offered by the local Honda car dealership just down the road? (My favorite would be to obviate junk mail, both in my postal mailbox and on my cell phone.)

   My goal for this  week is to use the word 'fulminate' at least three times when speaking to others. That shouldn't be too difficult.There is enough  out there to have an extreme opinion or two,

   I really do try not to abuse the English language too much. I worry about the future generations however. Cursive writing is not taught in many classrooms any more. (I'd like to get some of those green cards with the letters that were posted above the blackboard. Oops. Is blackboard politically correct these days?) The spelling bee is becoming a dinosaur. As the little girl said to her mother in the store the other day. “Mom...we don't have spelling tests any more. I have spell check on my tablet now.”
   And as for the doctor and “these ones,” I think I might look for a second opinion before going too much further with this particular doctor.