MonthWithoutMetaphor

We stand for plain speaking and honest journalism. Join us and all Park media in May for our annual Month Without Metaphor.

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Yes, we’ve been at this far longer and we have more insight, but we don’t cater to Humans. For Canadians and other members of that species, though, you might want to read this by @CarolOff_ : https://t.co/5uEU1RQ2Pz

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Apparently, in the Human world, news outlets no longer “report.” Just this morning, the anchor on one such network, @CBC (News Network), said he had “some political news to share” with us. Not news to “report,” but to share. #WordsMatter

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In the spirit of this account, we'd like to commend linguist Danny L. Bate for "shining an etymological spotlight" on a word that we'd intended to include in our year-end word cloud of words we hope never to see, hear, or read again in media:
https://t.co/uXrqfWLQ4X

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May is only a month away! And that means our Month Without Metaphor is "gearing up." We have a lot "in store," but in the meantime here are a few words we'd like to eliminate from daily discourse: ADVENTURE, JOURNEY, CHAPTER. Life isn't a book, nor is it a camping trip.

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Today's word from @RachelSchoutsen on CBC News Network should become permanent: "Freesonal." Freezing and seasonal together. It's a keeper.

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@deonandan Solutions, rabbit hole, trajectory, downstream impact, security hygiene, vision, community, interactive, dialogue...

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Will Humans ever learn? "Granny?" Again?!
https://t.co/ZjdFzWcIPF

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Look at this headline. Why do we constantly distance ourselves from reality through our word usage? They don’t “live with obesity.” If you want to use the words, “live with,” perhaps you should say they live with the consequences of obesity. https://t.co/34wHbsNqER

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@globeandmail “Junk,” “stuff…” I’d have thought your newspaper would at least offer the pretence of respect. Inheritance is not a new phenomenon, nor is it pleasant in any way. You needn’t denigrate a whole generation while discussing it.

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Manipulative Word of the Day (#MWOD) #2: Solutions. "Solutions” has expanded its meaning to take the place of almost any service people are trying to sell. We no longer clean or build or produce things. We provide cleaning, building, or production “solutions.”

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Today's Manipulative Words of the Day (#MWOD): #1: Challenge/s. This word replaced “problem,” decades ago, possibly because people could no longer emotionally handle the concept of a problem. This may have "given birth" to the overuse of the word, “solutions.”

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@birgitomo Wrote it almost 24 years ago. Experienced it years before that.

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Since our job here is to analyze the words that media and others use, we ask this question with all due respect: Doesn't the name, "Planned Parenthood" imply "eventual" parenthood? Since so many have chosen not to become parents, shouldn't @PPFA consider updating its name?

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Having a six year-old daughter means that the woman is a mother. So, what happened here? The reporter was in a hurry, knew that the word, "mom" had to be in the piece and accidentally put it in twice? Perhaps. But that's not the issue. The issue is why was it in the piece at all?

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There is an argument to be made that descriptors are unnecessary when reporting news, particularly when they're reported on television. If you're watching someone talk about the destruction of her house, you don't need to know her age, marital status, or whether she has children.

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When did media start using the word, "Mom," instead of, "mother?" What does the word represent to you? What kind of emotional reaction does that word evoke? And what do you think is the significance of media's use (not to mention, constant use) of the word #MOM?

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Since this is THE weekend to discuss the MOTHER of all manipulative words, let's start with the obvious: #MOM.

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What's different this year? We're opening this up to everybody who cares about language. Send us the words you hate, those you feel are dangerous, and those that are annoying. Our own focus will remain on metaphor, hyperbole, and (mostly) manipulation by media. So, let's go!

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Today’s Manipulative Word of the Day (#MWOD) is more than one word and it’s more than words, alone. It’s a toxic mix of concepts that are killing us and the environment. On the humour side, it gives a new meaning to, “Always leave them wanting more.”

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Park publishing companies:
https://t.co/nIDccO4LH9