The Politician’s Lingual Slip Up

Language changes and evolves; this is an undisputed fact, as can be seen by looking at the evolution of the English language over the centuries. Although the effects can also be observed over a much shorter space of time, even within the last two months, two weeks, or two days.

Given this, however, it comes as no surprise that some sections of the media have worked themselves up into a frenzy about the recent language indiscretions of US politician Sarah Palin. She has used the word ‘refudiate’ on her Twitter page to call on Muslims to reject (or ‘refudiate’) plans for a controversial mosque than would be part of the new building plans at the World Trade Center in New York.

The question that is put forward by the media is, inevitably, that should someone who intends to run as a presidential candidate in the next elections be so blasé about the language that they speak? Who hasn’t made the odd indiscretion when speaking, especially when speaking in public where even the best and most experienced public speakers can sometimes become tongue tied?

She has since changed her word to ‘reject’ in her tweets, but has also used words such as ‘misunderestimate’. She has shrugged off the fuss by saying that Shakespeare made up words, although this is probably a step too far in comparison. Quoted as saying "Refudiate, misunderestimate, wee-wee'd up. English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin words, too.". A living language it certainly is.

And she has a point, you cannot stand in the way of the natural evolution of language. It will change regardless of people’s objections to it doing so; otherwise we run the risk of language being stilted. After all, some words need to be invented, in particular when we come up with new technological developments on an almost daily basis. Teenagers invent new words, or abbreviate words, constantly, another example where conservative newspapers often find themselves up in arms.

Perhaps rather than being over reactive in our response to occasions such as this, we should be more accepting and realise, and indeed relish, the inevitable.