AltWeeklies Wire
You Write "Theatre," I Write "Theater"new
Why are some folks so passionate in their preference for "theatre" or "theater"? History illuminates the sociopolitical aspects of the argument.
Oops, My Bad! The Sorry State of Saying 'I'm Sorry'new
The "perfect" apology, if there is such a thing, can be whittled into three pieces, each of which is well illustrated in a letter that Emily Post dreamt up for 1922's Etiquette.
C-Ville Weekly |
Andrew Cedermark |
11-25-2009 |
Commentary
We Need to Encourage Young Folks to Put Down Technology and Pick Up Booksnew
Be wary of the tube! If you prize the language, tame the idiot box!
Tucson Weekly |
Leo W. Banks |
05-27-2009 |
Commentary
Comparing Jay Bybee's Torture Memos & 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'new
For Bybee as much as for Thompson, reality must be mitigated, banished or defeated. Thompson uses drugs, and Bybee plays with the law until it goes blind.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Richard Abowitz |
05-14-2009 |
Commentary
Ask a Mexican: Cursing Kiddies, Dancing Gabachos, y Mucho Mas!new
A special four-pregunta edition.
Tags: language, humor & satire
How 'Douchebag' Became Everyone's Favorite Insultnew
James Matisoff, an emeritus professor in UC Berkeley's linguistics department, concurs that douchebag's pejoration -- its change from neutral to negative meaning -- has snowballed in recent years. The culprits: Jon Stewart and his comedic brethren.
SF Weekly |
Joe Eskenazi |
01-07-2009 |
Commentary
The Angry Grammarian: Forgetting Sarah Palinnew
Perhaps the most prized spoil of the election is the richest word to enter the lexicon in a long time. Like all the best neologisms, it's descriptive, it's self-explanatory and it just makes you feel so good: "Palinfreude."
Philadelphia Weekly |
Jeffrey Barg |
11-17-2008 |
Commentary
George Carlin Showed Us the Importance of Being Offensivenew
Shit. Piss. Fuck. Cunt. Cocksucker. Motherfucker. Tits. I can think of hundreds of words more offensive than these in the English language: Lie. Murder. War. Politics. Fundamentalism. Apathy. O'Reilly.
Boulder Weekly |
Dale Bridges |
06-30-2008 |
Commentary
Lesbians vs. Lesbians: Who Owns the 'L' Word?new
Lesbians, the only reason you just got a capital "L" is because you started the sentence, but henceforth you are lesbians with a lower case "l." When I write Lesbians with a capital "L," I am referring to the good citizens of the Aegean island of Lesbos, a few of whom are suing your asses for stealing their name.
San Diego CityBeat |
D.A. Kolodenko |
05-08-2008 |
Commentary
Speaking Our Languagenew
An admitted grammar geek tries seeing the world through the lens of evolving language.
Metroland |
Miriam Axel-Lute |
03-10-2006 |
Commentary
