More on Language by William Safire

In last Sunday’s New York Times Magazine, which I’m just this evening getting around to reading because, really, who has the time? Safire writes about youth, rebellion, and language, as illustrated by newly-abbreviated words, from “natch” to the current “abbreve.”

“No tradition is more time-honored than rebellion against linguistic tradition. Youth must not only be served, but its insecure communications must also have its own coded server.”

He goes on to write about linguistic templates, which give us the shorthand that results in “snowclones” such as “30 is the new 50,” and “turning point,” “talking point,” “tipping point” and “the mother of all _______”—all hip variations on some original widely-disseminated word or phrase.
It’s fascinating reading, and it makes you think about the ways language changes and what those changes mean. In many cases, what starts as a way to be obscure—to confound those not hip enough to be In the Know about whatever new template is being employed—ends up as standard usage. It takes a while, but it works its way in.
What do I think of this? Eh. I’m all for innovations in language if they serve the process of clear communication—I’m with Roz there. But if brand-new usages are so obscure and trendy that they serve only to exclude the larger audience? Then they’re not any more useful than my own coinages  to Bork (to somehow manage to screw up what appeared to be a sure thing, i.e., the failed nomination of Robert Bork to a seat on the Supreme Court); a Fuck-You Bob (a rampage coming out of the blue that has nothing to do with the person or thing being attacked but which is, instead, brought on by something else entirely—this from our Other Neighbors:  on Sunday afternoons she sometimes gets drunk and begins to rant about whatever, ending by shouting, “Fuck you, Bob!” and slamming into the house.) My little inventions amuse me endlessly, but they don’t help me communicate with anyone else. Well, maybe with my husband, if we can both manage to remember the meaning at the same time. Always tricky.