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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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Curious phrases
Guest
1
2016/02/02 - 12:57pm

These are unusual constructions to me and perhaps that's because they're used in contexts that I'm not familiar with.
* added by me.

http://www.cnet.com/news/flaw-found-in-avgs-web-safety-software-9-million-people-exposed/
AVG confirmed the flaw and said it created a quick fix. "As soon as we were *highlighted* to it, our first and foremost priority was to get a fix to market," said Tony Anscombe, who helps manage security at AVG.

https://sidelinesapp.com/item/can-holly-holm-do-the-impossible/
Between her accuracy and footwork Holm could, in theory, pick Rousey apart *on the feet*.

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/50-greatest-teachers-butch-harmon
How To *Pure Your Irons* And Hit More Greens

Guest
2
2016/02/02 - 1:39pm

I don't know about the last two, and I never try to second-guess the vocabulary of sports. It's full of jargon and contrived usages. Like when they refer to an achievement such as "zero interceptions on the season" (instead of "during" or "for" the season). That bugged me a lot at first, but I'm getting used to it now.

Your first example is clearly an incorrect use of "highlighted." But then, that sounds like "corporate speak" to me, and that "language" suffers from the same careless and gimmicky trends as sports. One could say "As soon as the problem was highlighted for us ..." but even that's a stretch.

Are you learning English as a second language? If so, be prepared for a LOT of these usage quirks. And good luck.

Guest
3
2016/02/02 - 1:54pm

No, native English speaker. I was mostly referring to sports-related jargon as an area I'm not familiar with.
I felt that the “highlighted” usage was flat wrong, myself, but likely typical bizspeak.

Guest
4
2016/02/02 - 3:47pm

Speaking of news personalities, I have to ask if you've ever noticed something I have verified by repeatedly backing up the DVR (trying to avoid using the archaic term "rewind").  🙂

I recently learned that the weather person is basically improvising. Everyone else is using a teleprompter (usually poorly). But this forced improv for the weather person seems to cause them to look for creative ways to insert "pauses" in their speech to give them time to choose their next words. Saying "ah" or "um" is unprofessional, of course, but what I've seen a LOT of them do for a "pause" is this thing that kinda looks like a "silent swallow" ... not quite "clearing their throat" but that's the best way I can describe it.

You have to look for it, since they've become pretty good at making it look natural. I don't see the anchors doing this, or the sportscaster, but as I said, they're all on teleprompters. I've asked this question before on this forum, and I guess the other members must think I'm hallucinating. But I know what I'm seeing. Have you seen this?

Guest
5
2016/02/02 - 4:24pm

I don't think I've noticed it but now I'll be on the lookout.

I have noticed that sometimes Closed Captions contain short sponsor ads, that usually show up when the end credits are playing. There's lots of variation in CC, for example, sometimes it includes the title and lyrics of the music in the program. Recently noticed in "The Detectorists" CC the odd use of Male #1 or Male #2 or Female #1, etc., as identifiers, sometimes when the speaker is off camera. The use is not consistent but seems really odd given the fact the program is not live and presumably the captioner has access to the transcript/script.

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