Dealing With Double Trouble!
The very mention this week of tautology in a conversation sparked a memory of how annoying it is to hear such redundancy, used so frequently, and so unwittingly.
Here are a few that immediately come to mind:
At the present time
Very unique
Mystery puzzle
Wet monsoon
Past history
Pair of twins
Free gift
Sad misfortune
Invited guests
End result
Boat marina
Will and testament
ATM machine
I'm sure you get the idea…
Tautology occurs everywhere. While living in
At JFK airport, I would sit waiting for my flight home to
In Australia, I frequently hear people offering an opinion and qualifying it with, ‘If you ask ME PERSONALLY, well I think…’ and I’m sure we don’t need to hear FINAL and SHOWDOWN alongside each other every time a sporting contest is promoted on television. I certainly don’t need to RETURN BACK to the program I am viewing! Tautology is rife on television.
Ah yes, it happens everywhere. Tautology is not strictly a figure of speech, but merely a commonly occurring error in speech and writing. In writing, such redundancy is referred to as, pleonasm.
I confess, I did not know that until I did some research. Well, whatever it is, it clearly annoys some of us more than others…
And, just remember that when you say, Sahara Desert that the word -sahara, means desert.
And so to my poetic response!
The Plan To Attack Tautology
Last night
The Minister for Words
Godfrey Blathering-
Chatterbox
Appeared on television to
announce
A brand NEW INNOVATION
-To cut back on the overuse
of words
There’s too much tautology
at play in our everyday conservation!
Blurted the Minister
HENCEFORTH and FORTHWITH
Everyone is URGED and
ENCOURAGED
To CEASE and DESIST
From wasting words
unnecessarily…
FIRST and FOREMOST
No more asking for TUNA FISH
sandwiches
No further reference to TWO
TWINS
Or DARK haired BRUNETTES
Going forward we shall use
ATM’s
But not ATM MACHINES
We shall refer to TEA or
CHAI, but not CHAI TEA
We must understand all CROWS
are BLACK
Matters will not be
REITERRATED AGAIN
While at airports you will
no longer hear announcements
That include a LAST and
FINAL call for passengers
Plumbers will not be asked
to fix HOT water HEATERS
There will be no further
mention of FROZEN ICE
And let’s all agree that
GIFTS are FREE
And FORWARD PLANNING as a
term should cease
So, my fellow citizens,
let’s all use words SPARINGLY and WITHOUT WASTE
I bid you all a very GOOD EVENING
and GOOD NIGHT.
Alan j Wright
It is once again Poetry Friday and playing host this time is Jama Rattigan. Jama's post is all about the deliciousness of donuts. She shares the poem, 'Rationalization' by Betsey Cullen.
Your blast at the numerous ways we misuse words, Alan, is very unique! Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda. Nice burn.
DeleteInteresting and so true. This post is ironic, though . . . :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jama.
DeleteAlan, “mystery puzzle” made me smile. You know, I am glad that you listed these because I hadn’t even given some of them a second thought and have probably said them myself (tuna fish, for sure!). I love the “again” in your title. Thank you for this fun poem (even your list was a poem). And with that, I bid you adieu and farewell!
ReplyDeleteClever close Tracey.
DeleteLOVE this! And now must heed your warning and watch my tongue!
ReplyDeleteWe are all guilty of this Patricia. Mostly it passes unnoticed.
DeleteI liked and enjoyed your verse and your poem and I quickly, immediately grinned and smiled. :D
ReplyDeleteAh Karen, well played you!
DeleteAlan, I enjoyed your humorous poem. I am one of the culprints of overusing words. How many times have I heard less is more. Thank you for the trinet poem format. I have played with this format many times.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol. Go forth well advised. Glad the trinets have found favour with you.
DeleteYour poem made me laugh! I think I have been guilty of tautology! Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jone. Laughter is good for us. We have all been guilty of tautology, Jone. You are not alone.
DeleteThis is a fabulous poem! I enjoyed your introduction as well because I wasn't familiar with the term, tautology until I could pick it up from the context. You are especially good at humor! I always wonder...do humorists write humor when they want to? Or, do they write humor when it's sparked by a frustration or other situation?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I have always been drawn to humour. Ever since I was a child. Many of my favourite poets excelled with humour, and I was duly influenced. I do write humour when the mood overtakes me, but equally II employ it in response to current events and frustrations. Great question -made me think consciously about my motivations.
DeleteLOL yes! The first one that came to my mind was Chai Tea (and you included it in your poem).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marcie. I'm glad I hit the mark for you.
Delete