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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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Barbecue Stoppers and Marmalade Droppers
Guest
21
2008/03/24 - 5:04pm

felixblackcat said:

Oops… I just realized that the beginning of my previous post should read, “On the lack of different word for ‘love':” That'd make more sense…


Aargh! Then I go and make a typo in my correction! That should be "words," of course!

Thanks for the recommendation, Wordsmith, and PUT DOWN THE RAZOR! :-p

Guest
22
2008/03/24 - 7:12pm

“PUT DOWN THE RAZOR!”

My dad, barbate since the year dot, tells me the same. But the sad fact is I don't beard well. 🙁

'sides, when I do grow one, I hate getting food stuck in it! YUCK!

Oh, well…

Guest
23
2008/03/24 - 8:34pm

Wordsmith said:

“PUT DOWN THE RAZOR!”

My dad, barbate since the year dot, tells me the same. But the sad fact is I don't beard well. :(

'sides, when I do grow one, I hate getting food stuck in it! YUCK!

Oh, well…


Wow, you managed to introduce me to a new word, "barbate," and a new idiom, "since the year dot"! Congratulations!

Guest
24
2008/03/25 - 12:07pm

I need a better editor! It's not "bibliophiliac," it's "bibliophile"! Oh, well -- at least I can put some of the blame for this one on the inconsistencies of the English language!

Guest
25
2008/03/25 - 3:48pm

English does indeed take the blame for inconsistency—Chaucer could rarely decide on a particular spelling for many of his words—plus, Shakespeare's six known signatures each bear a different spelling… On the other hand, that's probably the nature of signatures: who signs his/her name in print?

Mark
26
2008/03/28 - 10:00pm

I remember hearing Bill Clinton during his campaign in 1992 say, "growing the economy." I think that was the first time I heard such a use of "grow," and so was kind of used to it when people started saying "grow a business." At first it bothered me, but now I think it makes sense when compared to a plant that flourishes. But it did occur to me that we probably wouldn't say, in response to "How many children do you have?"---- "I've grown four of the little tykes!"

Martha Barnette
San Diego, CA
820 Posts
(Offline)
27
2008/03/29 - 8:20pm

But it did occur to me that we probably wouldn't say, in response to “How many children do you have?”—- “I've grown four of the little tykes!”

Mark: Wish I'd said that!

Monica Sandor
28
2008/07/22 - 3:30am

I agree with felixblackcat - while I often find business "newspeak" terms grating, "growing" a business I think I could, well, grow to accept. Why? Because I think it can sometimes be helpful to suggest the organic growth metaphor instead of the more common terms of "expanding" or "building (up)" one's business (I had not thought of scaling up, but ultimately none of these terms is any more specific a to what it specifically entails - that will vary from one business to the next). Whereas current theory is that any business, company or even economy that does not grow will die, it is worth remembering that to try to expand too aggressively can lead to disaster. Those who write how-to books on growing your business may be suggesting that it is something you need to do gradually, gently, working to support the conditions for growth - as Grant also suggested - rather than thinking you can just command it to become very large in leaps and bounds.

Another thought: I would much prefer "growing a business" to "growing a company". Anyone else with me on this? Because business is an activity as much as it is a "thing", whereas a company is simply the entity, and therefore I find an organic metaphor applied to it more jarring.

EmmettRedd
859 Posts
(Offline)
29
2008/07/22 - 11:54am

Whereas current theory is that any business, company or even economy that does not grow will die, it is worth remembering that to try to expand too aggressively can lead to disaster.

It is interesting that, at least some, broad-spectrum herbicices are plant hormones that cause the intended victims to grow faster and result in their death.

Does that lead to more support for using the word “grow” with respect to a business?

Emmett

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