Regrettable
As we all know, since the early 90s we've been seeing changes in our language aimed at placating ever-increasing sensitivities.
George Carlin described it best when he pointed out that "shell shock" begat "battle fatigue", "battle fatigue" begat "operational exhaustion" and "operational exhaustion" begat "post-traumatic stress disorder".
For the last few years I've been noticing the use of the word "regrettable" popping up in political speeches instead of actual apologies, always in connection with some action, act of war or civilian deaths, now called collateral damage.
See the trend? As George so aptly put it, " the humanity has been completely squeezed out of the phrase.
Nowadays, speech writers have locked onto a slightly different but no less deceitful tactic of using words that skew meaning, allowing politicians to distance themselves from their own actions to avoid further concessions.
One example is the aforementioned word "regrettable".
I can think of several English-speaking heads of state who have used it in this manner.
The other day somebody used this word with me, dashing my hopes that its use would never end up in everyday language and prompting my current rant.
It's probably being used in other languages as well.
The suffix "able" tacked onto the word "regret" should mean "able to be regretted" or "deserving of regret".
But does it mean "we regret" or "I regret"? I don't think so.
It simply means that the action taken may be regretted by somebody, somewhere.
Consider the following example: A Venusian spaceship traveling past Mars sees an opportunity to take out a group of Martian terrorists operating at position X.
Intelligence reports indicate that position X is next to a church and mass is in full swing.
The ship's commander decides to launch a strike anyway and attribute the inevitable civilian deaths to collateral damage.
Later, when the commander's actions are exposed by the press, the Venusian Prime Minister issues a statement calling the attack "regrettable".
Has he apologized? No.
Does he regret it? We're not too sure.
But I'll bet the victims regret going to church that day.
Have I confused you? If so, simply remember this: When someone says that their actions are "regrettable", they're really saying nothing at all.
George Carlin described it best when he pointed out that "shell shock" begat "battle fatigue", "battle fatigue" begat "operational exhaustion" and "operational exhaustion" begat "post-traumatic stress disorder".
For the last few years I've been noticing the use of the word "regrettable" popping up in political speeches instead of actual apologies, always in connection with some action, act of war or civilian deaths, now called collateral damage.
See the trend? As George so aptly put it, " the humanity has been completely squeezed out of the phrase.
Nowadays, speech writers have locked onto a slightly different but no less deceitful tactic of using words that skew meaning, allowing politicians to distance themselves from their own actions to avoid further concessions.
One example is the aforementioned word "regrettable".
I can think of several English-speaking heads of state who have used it in this manner.
The other day somebody used this word with me, dashing my hopes that its use would never end up in everyday language and prompting my current rant.
It's probably being used in other languages as well.
The suffix "able" tacked onto the word "regret" should mean "able to be regretted" or "deserving of regret".
But does it mean "we regret" or "I regret"? I don't think so.
It simply means that the action taken may be regretted by somebody, somewhere.
Consider the following example: A Venusian spaceship traveling past Mars sees an opportunity to take out a group of Martian terrorists operating at position X.
Intelligence reports indicate that position X is next to a church and mass is in full swing.
The ship's commander decides to launch a strike anyway and attribute the inevitable civilian deaths to collateral damage.
Later, when the commander's actions are exposed by the press, the Venusian Prime Minister issues a statement calling the attack "regrettable".
Has he apologized? No.
Does he regret it? We're not too sure.
But I'll bet the victims regret going to church that day.
Have I confused you? If so, simply remember this: When someone says that their actions are "regrettable", they're really saying nothing at all.
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