Saturday, November 8, 2025

Oh Language – a changing Scenario -4

 

Oh Language – a changing Scenario -4

In relation to the previous edition

Dr. R. Rangarajan has sought clarity as noted below:

‘Lose’ and ‘Loss’ explanations?

My response is as under:

Well, ‘Loss’ is a noun and its verb is ‘Lose’. Look at this statement to grasp the application of the two terms.

While standing in queue, we lose our patience over the loss of time for us .  

Again , I record my appreciation for any effort to get clarified. More than anything else , such inquisitiveness helps us to sustain the spirit of sharing ideas however rudimentary they may be.  Thank you Doctor. K.R

Painfully, it has to be laid bare for our friends to grasp as how careless are we in our handling of languages. Basically, every language has a tradition based on its social setting, habits and custom. In utter disregard to those, traditions no one can attempt handling ‘their words’ to suit our convenience. In the bargain we tend to lose sight of, what really those terms are meant for and how they require conjunctions or prepositions for precision. Without precision any utterance can just be a blabber. Also, one has to sensitize self as to how [s]he would react to such misuse of terms from our language. If so, none can assume freedom of expression on the strength of convenience.   Several such slip-shod efforts abound our scenario these days. 

Quite some hilarious aberrations are noticeable [to those familiar /thorough with the standard stipulations over the use of terms and connotations] in the course of conversation, even if in vernacular among people of our region [T N]. Similar aberrations may pervade among speakers of other languages as well.  But, without first-hand experience, it would be inappropriate to suggest ideas on those.

Much of these inappropriate ‘applications’ arise from unfounded belief that a ‘certain word’   would indicate the intended meaning. But, one cannot interchange noun and verb on the surmise of familiarity. Also, familiarity and authenticity are two different things. 

Study these usages

COMEDY PIECE

This is another stupidity of  calling someone a ‘comedy piece’, who in reality behaves like a clown. Without differentiating a clown from a comedian, the person is termed a ‘comedy piece’. The question is who is a   comedian in this game of wrong nomenclature. 

A comedy piece is a facet of a drama or movie narrating /depicting instances that portray instances, generating boisterous laughter from unintended unfolding of events. 

Cutting

It is a gerund from the verb cut. Normally, it refers to dividing or splitting a material along a pre-determined line.

But, in disregard to the intended purpose of the term, some use it to refer to the act of ‘bribing’ someone for gratification; also, it is used in the context of sharing a quantity of drink by dividing it.

SCENE- refers to the place or event of a defined moment in an event as in ‘scene of crime’ or ‘scene of accident’. In drama also, a specific slot is described a ‘scene’. But several persons try to use the word to denote melodramatic or ‘looks put on’ to win sympathy and the same is expressed as ‘don’t make a scene’. Is it proper?  Can some experts clarify?

SOMETHING

The term is a reference to some ill-defined quantity or not-so-clear state of an information, as in ‘something wrong’ or ‘something fishy about a deal’.  But till a few years ago, it was a covert reference to bribing. He demands something [seeks a bribe] I paid something to get it done         [I parted with money [gratification] to get the ‘official clearance’]. In its intended form ‘something’ only means –a part of’ or some not defined quantity, but not for bribe.

TENSION PARTY

In its present form, the term is a reference to a gathering meant to face or create tension. Can there ever be one such? The reality is, many ill-informed persons use the term ‘party’ to signify even a single person. If a person reveals displeasure of agony over some happening or utterance [s]he being prone to tension is described a ‘tension party’. To call an individual –‘a party’ is both amusing and annoying by irrelevance.

TERROR PIECE

Another comic usage is this. Anyone who uses an emphatic or authoritative expression to warn against some prospective error or wrong-doing is named a ‘terror-piece’. How could a human be named a piece? 

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Oh Language – a changing Scenario -4

  Oh Language – a changing Scenario -4 In relation to the previous edition Dr. R. Rangarajan has sought clarity as noted below: ‘Lose’...