SOME INTRICACIES IN TERMS - A GREY AREA

 Some intricacies in terms -a grey area

Generally, grey areas are territories not too well defined or perfectly understood. The present effort of mine should be perceived as ‘grey area’ referring to users’ dilemma rather than of their being ill-defined by formulators themselves. How does it come about deserves being looked into or addressed. One of the common difficulties faced by users [non-natives] is often from meanings presumed by them as indicative of something or some action, while in reality, the purpose is different from the one perceived. So, it is paramount to devote time to recognize every term for its implication, instead of our ‘ascribing’ some meaning unintended by native users.

In effect, we tend to use similar words one for the other and seldom recognize our folly in handling the terms.

JUDICIAL and JUDICIOUS 

Though the two are well defined, some users use one for the other causing a flutter, at least among those who are thorough with their usage.

Judicial refers to issues or processes related to legal aspects. Eg: a judicial probe has been ordered into riots on Friday last.

Judicious refers to the ability to apply mind to proceed carefully, avoiding the prospect of committing errors. Eg: One has to be judicious in answering questions of investigators conducting a judicial probe or police enquiry.  

COMMENTING and COMMENTATING

The two are not interchangeable as they mean two different aspects of the single function named COMMENTARY.

Commenting refers to the act of giving opinion or comment on something. Eg: Yesterday he was commenting on your dress or habits.  So, it means someone was expressing opinion on your dress or habits.

Commentating refers to properly reporting the happenings on an occasion, may be sport/ game / ceremony etc. The person reporting , faithfully conveys what is really going on and does not express any personal opinion on the happening; also, [s]he is not expected to share opinion through the medium that he is working for.

A similar situation prevails during reporting. Opinion / Opinionating

Opinion refers to a certain view on a specific issue or event or occurrence. There could be more than one opinion on a single item.

Opinionating means creating a situation to make it appear that a particular opinion is the most popular one. In other words, building up opinion to improve the prospects of a person or outfit by systematic propaganda is opinionating.

Complement and Compliment   

A complement is something that which completes something else.ie-two different things together complete a statement or event or action.

A compliment is a gift or presentation as a token of appreciation or recognition of an effort. Verbal appreciation too is a kind of compliment.

PACKET and POCKET

Packet is packed item neatly rolled up in a vest and made compact to carry.

Pocket is a pouch integrated/ stitched to clothes like pants or shirts to help keeping small items safe in personal custody

Thus several ‘look-alikes’ are a part of the language. One should clearly understand the meaning of ‘look-alikes’ to avoid getting embarrassed by improper usage.

Prof. K. Raman