We know that English is an evolving language with new words being constantly added and old ones 'retired.'
With his ‘gang aft agley’ Robert Burns would have felt at home here. But then he not only had a poet’s nature to delight in perversity, he was also a Scot giving the needle to the English.
However, some recent additions confirm my sinking feeling that they are due to the current and highly influential ‘overkill is underrated’ school of thought. Let me draw your attention to these examples from the past few days.
When Israel was pounding the hell out of Hamas one TV news anchor wondered whether we were seeing the “final end” of the Gaza Strip.
On the same day another anchor cut short a panellist by telling him he was "digressing away" from the subject to which he wanted to "return back," a phrase that has become much too common.
On Tuesday, August 11, a news channel broadcast a story on what it called the “doctor-pharma nexus,” detailing the practice of some doctors who took bribes to recommend certain medicines.
When asked for his opinion, the Vice President of the Indian Medical Association repeatedly stated that there were “black sheeps” but that was not a reason to denigrate the entire medical profession. But the TV cut him short to announce the “first initial reaction” of the Minister of Health on the issue.
See what I mean?
If you turn to the entertainment channels for solace, you would find little relief. Apart from a “worldwide premiere in India” TV serials can also have a “final finale” now.
Even flipping through the channels can be dangerous. A recent ad for an app wants us to call 044-44444444 or ten times four. Don’t know whether to be delighted that it does not say four to the power of ten or astounded that viewers can and do understand this.
One more gem. On Monday, August 11, the CEO of Prasar Bharati complained about the transfers in the news divisions and wrote to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting that these had been done without “the minimum modicum of consultation.”
Even shorn of “frivolous frippery” the content in some news items is enough to make my late editor, who is dead and cremated, to turn in his grave.
Recently a rat bit a passenger on the Salem–Egmore Express. When asked what had been done the General Manager of Southern Railway assured that action had been taken and that the Mumbai authorities had been alerted as the train was being maintained there.
All in all it’s enough to make me feel like wanting to commit suicide by my own hand.
With his ‘gang aft agley’ Robert Burns would have felt at home here. But then he not only had a poet’s nature to delight in perversity, he was also a Scot giving the needle to the English.
However, some recent additions confirm my sinking feeling that they are due to the current and highly influential ‘overkill is underrated’ school of thought. Let me draw your attention to these examples from the past few days.
When Israel was pounding the hell out of Hamas one TV news anchor wondered whether we were seeing the “final end” of the Gaza Strip.
On the same day another anchor cut short a panellist by telling him he was "digressing away" from the subject to which he wanted to "return back," a phrase that has become much too common.
On Tuesday, August 11, a news channel broadcast a story on what it called the “doctor-pharma nexus,” detailing the practice of some doctors who took bribes to recommend certain medicines.
When asked for his opinion, the Vice President of the Indian Medical Association repeatedly stated that there were “black sheeps” but that was not a reason to denigrate the entire medical profession. But the TV cut him short to announce the “first initial reaction” of the Minister of Health on the issue.
See what I mean?
If you turn to the entertainment channels for solace, you would find little relief. Apart from a “worldwide premiere in India” TV serials can also have a “final finale” now.
Even flipping through the channels can be dangerous. A recent ad for an app wants us to call 044-44444444 or ten times four. Don’t know whether to be delighted that it does not say four to the power of ten or astounded that viewers can and do understand this.
One more gem. On Monday, August 11, the CEO of Prasar Bharati complained about the transfers in the news divisions and wrote to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting that these had been done without “the minimum modicum of consultation.”
Even shorn of “frivolous frippery” the content in some news items is enough to make my late editor, who is dead and cremated, to turn in his grave.
Recently a rat bit a passenger on the Salem–Egmore Express. When asked what had been done the General Manager of Southern Railway assured that action had been taken and that the Mumbai authorities had been alerted as the train was being maintained there.
All in all it’s enough to make me feel like wanting to commit suicide by my own hand.
