Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The NRA on language

I disagree with the National Rifle Association. There, I said it.

Seriously. I think that Wayne LaPierre made a very imprecise statement, specifically in saying that (hear on NPR):
Absolutes do exist, words do have specific meaning, in language and in law. It's the basis of all civilization.
I won't contest the existence of absolutes, and depending on what 'specific meaning' means you could start a big bar fight with either linguists or law profs. But the basis of all civilization?  Really?

Somebody who says that might not be a totally credible voice.

2 comments:

Jonathon Owen said...

Thanks, NRA, for solving the whole field of semantics for us!

Mr. Verb said...

Yeah, they are problem solvers, for sure.