The death of 100%. "Before the days of linguistic inflation, 100% was considered enough. But no longer, says Chris Bowlby, in a personal reflection on how language has changed."
I heard the interview with Chris Bowlby on the BBC podcast "More Or Less: Behind The Stats." I have another hypothesis about "linguistic inflation." We used to say that we would give 100% to work, meaning that we would give it our all while we were "on the clock" - in other words, on company time, getting paid. Giving 100% was between the hours of 9-5, and didn't impact family or personal time. But then many of us started working extended - "flexible" - hours, off the clock, unpaid even. And being "plugged in to work," we also started working from home. And yes, work began to impact family and personal time. At first we resisted this intrusion, but resistance was futile. Today many of us accept a 24/7 work ethic as almost normal. If we receive an email on the Blackberry we use for work, we stop playing ball with our kids, or we put down our wine glass at the restaurant, and we respond. So, in a very real sense, many of us are giving more than 100%, and it is not just linguistic inflation. Each percentage above 100% is an indication of how much of an uncomplaining slave a person will be for his company, and how ready and willing he is to allow work to interfere with non-work responsibilities. Giving more than 100% makes sense in a zero-sum sort of way, in that everything above 100% is taking away from other responsibilities.
Very interesting. Thank you, Grant.
Four seems to come up often in inflated language in my circle. I sometimes hear: “He looked at me as if I had four heads.†Working in New York City, I can certainly understand why having two heads hardly merits a second glance — soon to be a fourth glance, perhaps. A fourth of a glance?
One of my personal favorites (A-triple-plus for interest) is: “The mall was so crowded we had to park the car way out in Timbukfour.†I really, really like this one, and I hope it will not soon be Timbukeight, which is gilding four dozen lilies. Timbuksixteen lacks legs, arms, and all four heads.
Glenn said:
One of my personal favorites (A-triple-plus for interest) is: “The mall was so crowded we had to park the car way out in Timbukfour.†I really, really like this one, and I hope it will not soon be Timbukeight, which is gilding four dozen lilies. Timbuksixteen lacks legs, arms, and all four heads.
Sounds like Victor Borge's inflationary language!
What grnine routwenties! Thanks a million and one.