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Inchoate is
another puzzler, though less so because it is possible to be “choate.” Oliver
Wendell Holmes used the word, “choate” in 1878 but I wonder if anyone has used
it since then. Anyway, inchoate means
either the beginning of something, or to begin something, and choate means
whatever was begun is complete. Mostly
the word is used by lawyers.
Which brings me
to “short-shrift.” A “shrift” is a confession to a priest, a penance imposed,
or absolution of sins after a confession; “short-shrift” means, little or no
attention was given. I’ve never seen or heard the word, “shrift” used.
The use of “real
people” on some (dare I say) reality commercials insults me. “Real” as opposed
to what? Is there such a thing as an unreal person? Is that what zombies,
vampires or werewolves are? Of course, I know the advertisers mean the unreal
people are those who are stars in their fields—athletes, actors, etc. The
implication being they’re so far above the rest of us that they aren’t “real?”
What are they, then? Inhabitants of Mount Olympus, home to the Gods? I have a
hard enough time with male actors, as it is. Actor Paul Giamatti said it best.
“Acting can be a
really silly thing. It's like playing dress-up.” No “like” about it; acting is
dressing up and pretending to be someone else.
And one last
interesting thing. When I belonged to Toast Masters, we counted the number of
fillers people used in their talks—such as, er, um, and erm. A synonym to these
is, “you know.” “You know” has invaded the English language. All four of them
are mimetics—sounds of hesitation.
Please, someone, make them go away.
