XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.language.latin   
   From: HenHanna@dev.null   
      
   On Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:33:41 +0000, Ross Clark wrote:   
      
   > Frequently mentioned on a.u.e. (less frequently on sci.lang) because of   
   > his New York Times column "On Language", written from 1979 until his   
   > death. He had started at the Times as a political columnist; among his   
   > varied previous occupations, he had written speeches for Richard Nixon   
   > and Spiro T.Agnew.   
   >   
   > "It started as the usual kind of usage column, addressing traditional   
   > complaints, but he developed a witty style that gave him a general   
   > appeal....Over the years he became less prescriptive and more   
   > explanatory, reaching out to linguists as occasion demanded." (Crystal)   
   >   
   > I knew his writings only as quoted on a.u.e. Somewhere I have a   
   > collection of his columns in book form, but I've never been in the mood   
   > to read it. (Same goes for other such collections I've accumulated. I   
   > should get rid of them.)   
   >   
   > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Safire   
      
      
   1. Political Commentary   
      
            Safire often criticized liberals, coining phrases such as   
   "nattering nabobs of negativism" and "hopeless, hysterical   
   hypochondriacs of history" to label those he disagreed with.   
      
            His language was not only pointed but also intentionally   
   provocative, reflecting his conservative stance and willingness to   
   engage in politically charged rhetoric.   
      
   2. Support for Israel   
      
             He was a staunch advocate for Israel, a position that he   
   articulated through his columns and public statements. In 2005, he   
   received the Guardian of Zion Award, recognizing his support for Israel.   
      
      
   ____________________________   
      
      
           Safire was known for his prescriptive stance on grammar, which   
   emphasizes adherence to established standards. He often critiqued what   
   he considered poor usage and was vocal about correct grammar practices,   
   famously stating, "A preposition is something never to end a sentence   
   with".   
      
          His belief in maintaining traditional grammar rules sometimes put   
   him at odds with more descriptive approaches, which advocate for   
   acceptance of evolving language practices.   
      
      
   4. Attitude Towards New Words and Phrases   
      
             Although he was a traditionalist in many ways, Safire also   
   recognized the inevitability of language change. He would remark on the   
   emergence of new words and phrases, often with a mix of bemusement and   
   critique. For example, he noted how, "When enough people are wrong,   
   they're right," indicating his acknowledgment of colloquial usage   
   despite his prescriptive tendencies.   
      
      
   ________________________   
      
      
   2. Usage of "Like"   
      
             In his discussions, Safire noted that the word "like" was   
   increasingly being used in various grammatical roles, such as a verb,   
   preposition, and interjection, and he criticized this trend.   
      
             He expressed concern that "like" was being used excessively in   
   colloquial speech, stating, "The word [like] is being used as verb,   
   preposition and interjection ad nauseam".   
      
      
   3. Etymology and Language Evolution   
      
            Safire also delved into etymology in his writings. For   
   instance, he corrected the common misconception about the word "trivia,"   
   stating that its origins were connected to the trivium of the Middle   
   Ages rather than the Latin term "tri via".   
      
      
      
     -------  in AUE,  he was mentioned,  regarding what???  (for example)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)