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November 19, 2008 at 10:28:15
Obama is Already Stirring Controversy by The Old Codger Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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But Mr. Obama’s decision to use complete sentences in his public pronouncements carries with it certain risks, since after the last eight years, many Americans may find his odd speaking style jarring. According to presidential historian Davis Logsdon of the University of Minnesota, some Americans might find it “alienating” to have a President who speaks English as if it were his first language. “Every time Obama opens his mouth, his subjects and verbs are in agreement,” says Mr. Logsdon. “If he keeps it up, he is running the risk of sounding like an elitist.” The historian said that if Mr. Obama insists on using complete sentences in his speeches, the public may find itself saying, “Okay, subject, predicate, subject predicate -- we get it, stop showing off.” The President-elect’s stubborn insistence on using complete sentences has already attracted a rebuke from one of his harshest critics, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. “Talkin’ with complete sentences there and also too talkin’ in a way that ordinary Americans like Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder can’t really do there, I think needin’ to do that isn’t tappin’ into what Americans are needin’ also,” she said. The Old Codger has left the room.
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Complete sentence controversy
Thanks for the satirical tack on Obama's speech patterns. I'd consider Palin's objection a huge compliment. If subj., verb, predicate means elitism, I think that's great. For once we have a truly literate chief executive who understands our common language, has a wonderful knack for turning an erudite phrase, and isn't ashamed of it. Bring the elitists on! by Larry Retzack (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 43 comments) on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 at 10:17:22 PM  (0+)
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sentences....
.... how I've missed them. As an English prof, I must confess a certain liberal elitist bias for the complete sentence. Sigh. It's been so long. It is wonderful to hear our new leader bringing back the lost art of the sentence. My big hope is that perhaps now that we have an articulate president, it might become cool to converse as if one actually had an education, in this country where eudcation has become so utterly uncool for so many who are full of self-righteous ignorance. Thanks, OC, for your article. by Debbie Scally (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 98 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008 at 11:42:13 PM (0+)
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Thanks for your gentle satire on our brutalized language
You got the tone of your comment just right, and this is probably explained by your current residence outside the sphere of influence of the major American media. The tone of voice within our borders is fraught with significance while the content of our speech is a series of verbal food fights. Talk about weird. Do keep sipping that beer, and write whenever the spirit moves you. by Carol Cleveland (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 26 comments [42 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 at 1:48:43 PM (0+)
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