talisker25
Registered Shopper
The word 'proud' used by Richard Jackson about every product that has his name on and used over and I over again when talking about his products. So annoying.
Ridiculous words / phrases
- Thread starter Julius
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I think "smug" would be a better word for that irritating little raspy-voiced gnomette! Let's hope his pride comes before a fall and that one day he trips over a tree root and tumbles into a ravine, never to be see again.
I always thought fabrication meant someone had made up a story or told a fib of course we get plenty of that on Q.
stratobuddy
Registered Shopper
We are going to AUCTION THE CROWN to get as much money as possible for charity.
Not!
Not!
Craftalot
Indigenouscommunities
"this is a really easy piece to wear". As if some skirts require a Ph.D. to wear.
And some pieces are easy to wear - especially if you're in a wheelchair! What patronising garbage!
I don't mind the French words either as long as they are pronounced properly, or something like they should sound. Yes, new lady guest for Leighton Denny, I'm talking to you - look up how Haute Couture is pronounced instead of saying "Hawker-chore".
Leighton Orient
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Buttery soft is now being usurped by 'puppy dog's ears'. Don't tell Dennis, it'll only give him ideas.
This should probably be in another thread entitled "Blatant lies".
"Volumous"
And anything a presenter says that claims they have great customer service
And decolletage - I hear so many different version of this.
I don't mind the Flaaars lady but "folidge" (instead of foliage) annoys me.
And the general poor grammar and making up words such as "littler", yes, you, Claire!
Also, I'm sure they use the industry-speak words to try and convince viewers that they're not just utter airheads.
And anything a presenter says that claims they have great customer service
And decolletage - I hear so many different version of this.
I don't mind the Flaaars lady but "folidge" (instead of foliage) annoys me.
And the general poor grammar and making up words such as "littler", yes, you, Claire!
Also, I'm sure they use the industry-speak words to try and convince viewers that they're not just utter airheads.
Glittergirl
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Can I add "STOCK UP" - noooo, I already have a small box with things that I'm trying to use up or give out as pressies! Thankfully, I have now seen sense and curtailed my spending :mysmilie_5:
They are not, and if you think that then you clearly lead a very sheltered life. I doubt there are any women's magazines that don't have the word decollete in them several times each issue. As a teenager, before you were born, I was always told to protect my decollete from the sun to avoid premature aging. I have ordered many corsages over the years for all the weddings I have attended, and any florist will tell you that corsages are a staple of their business. Anyone who has ever made a child's party dress or halloween outfit will almost certainly have done some ruching. My grandmother always used to refer to things being "faux", and she was born in 1899, long before television, let alone shopping telly. I know you think you're terribly witty Julius, but go out and experience the world and you'll discover that educated people use these words as part of their normal conversation.
Thank you for your comments, Scout. I did state that the words are, "for the most part" shopping telly parlance, therefore in no way did I indicate that they are exclusively so. I may not have been around quite as long as other members of this forum, however I am not that young any more and am far from ignorant or uneducated. I speak French fluently and have seen a fair bit of life. My final year at university saw me do a project on the various "emprunts" - words and phrases we borrow from French. I will never forget toiling over a book entitled "Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense" for 8 months, night after night for my dissertation. Emprunts are not a one-way street either - French borrow a fair few things from English, too. It's not something the French are keen on, and there are frequent meetings and debates at the Académie Francaise about it. There is a whole level of protection / preservation of the French language enshrined in French law. I don't blame them, either. Emprunts from English into French sound clunky and awful. I balk at hearing about "du stop," "un crumble" or "un mug." It just doesn't seem quite right somehow. It always amuses me in the métro when they have adverts for instant soup with slogans such as: "rien que remuer dans un mug*" and at the bottom will be the translation of the asterisked word = "*=cup."
Emprunts from French into English tend to serve an altogether different purpose, one that is more euphemistic. Speaking of "faux" pearls or diamonds has less of a sneer / bias than "fake" or "false" would. It's not that they don't crop up in certain situations, I'm sure they do - jewellery fairs, high level functions, design meetings etc, but among ordinary people in everyday conversation they certainly do not. To describe something as "chatoyant" in French is quite passable, whereas in English, outside of a handful of situations, it carries overtones of pretentiousness. I would argue the same with "décolleté." Nothing wrong with it as a word - I quite like it - but what is wrong with "chest?" The answer is simple: nothing particularly, except "chest" is a little direct and inelegant, and not terribly feminine. One never hears of a man talking about HIS décolleté either. A man in France would use: "poitrine."
As for "ruching," per se - this is fine. My mother was a dressmaker and I knew that word from an early age. What I was poking fun at in my list was Glen Campbell's turn of phrase: "ruching detail that we see there," which is the fashion equivalent of Alison Young's "face area." I am surprised at your quoting out of context and blatant misreading of what I wrote.
There is nothing wrong with these words we have looked at. I love words and am all for learning more and more every day. I don't think it's wrong to look at their usage. It's also perfectly possible to know and understand what these words mean without using them, and that not using them does not render someone ignorant or uneducated. I think most people on this forum would bear me out in that many of these shopping telly words are slightly ridiculous and outmoded - some of them more than others. I think it's fine to question and poke fun at them. That's what this thread is all about - not extrapolating and making judgements and implications about other posters. I suppose it's fair enough to say that language changes over time with each generation. Nowadays in France there is much talk of "les stars" whereas in the past one would have heard of "les vedettes." In any case I respect that you have your experience, and I respect that I have mine.
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but no too often or you will get "the letter":mysmilie_13:
maymorganlondon
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Of course we badly need the small print on that particular phrase :mysmilie_11:
On the subject of technical words used in presentations, I would say this: by all means use them, but explain them. You cannot assume all your viewers will know what you are talking about, and nor should you. The primary purpose of the presentations of products should be to inform your viewers so they can make informed decisions. Using technical terminology, jargon, words not in common usage in English is alienating to your viewers - they are outsiders... to me it's as inconsiderate and rude as in jokes and talking about people the viewer doesn't know (Jill Franks is the worst for this, in my experience). How is it a good sales ploy to make any of your viewers feel ignorant, stupid or confused?
Of course we badly need the small print on that particular phrase :mysmilie_11:
On the subject of technical words used in presentations, I would say this: by all means use them, but explain them. You cannot assume all your viewers will know what you are talking about, and nor should you. The primary purpose of the presentations of products should be to inform your viewers so they can make informed decisions. Using technical terminology, jargon, words not in common usage in English is alienating to your viewers - they are outsiders... to me it's as inconsiderate and rude as in jokes and talking about people the viewer doesn't know (Jill Franks is the worst for this, in my experience). How is it a good sales ploy to make any of your viewers feel ignorant, stupid or confused?
