Another Language Log post. I feel like a real parasite, but I can’t help it—they just keep knocking it out of the park over there, especially with regards to one of my own deep-seated hatreds: those fucking odious, obnoxious, supercilious (and deeply trendy) wankers who ride the wave of public interest-sans-understanding in language: Lynne Truss and her cronies, whom I would call “snoots” or “snobs” but for a deeply important point so marvelously elucidated in the above link: these people aren’t really concerned about language, at least not foremost—not as much as they are satisfied and smug in their own paltry (and almost always under-informed) expertise. They delight, and camp up (again, Nunberg’s insight) their outrage, because what drives them is not an interest in the best of language, but low, petty and mean egotism.
I won’t quote any particular passage, as it’s all deeply satisfying to read.
It should be noted also that Geoff Nunberg, the author of the article in question: “Word Rage—Not!”, is much kinder and more even-keeled about all this than I.
