Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Thick and fast they came at last

Today's sociolinguistics lesson: How many words does journalism have for "snow"?

After 13 years of plowing the sidewalks of 240 apartments on 20 acres in Detroit, Geraghty, 54, said he is grateful for any November without an accumulation of white stuff.

Bzaaaaaaaaat! Sit down, Detroit Free Press. The correct answer is "one." The word for snow is "snow," and so it shall remain.* Desks everywhere, please feel free to demonstrate the narrowness of your perspective and emptiness of your vocabulary with this simple rule.

If you heeded John's advice and spiked the "12 Days" story, good for you. But 'tis only the beginning of the season. No "white stuff." No "Christmas came early." No Grinches stealing from the Salvation Army kettle. Fa la la la la humbug and Kalamazoo.

* No, you may not substitute the word "camel" for "snow." But we'll consider that for next year.

2 Comments:

Blogger John Cowan said...

That's "Walla Walla, Wash., and Kalamazoo." You could look it up.

CAPTCHA for this message is "aggythoo". You couldn't make this @#$% up.

1:36 PM, December 01, 2009  
Blogger fev said...

Swaller dollar cauliflower. That's too good to make up, indeed.

2:51 PM, December 01, 2009  

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