A couple of days ago, the Wall Street Journal published a column by James Courter, a recently retired professor at Western Illinois University.
It's hilarious. Well, maybe not. Courter has written a column loaded with words and phrases his students have used, all of which represent their assumption about how these words and phrases would look if they were to read them. But, apparently, they never read these words, they only heard them. Thus their memos and term papers and stories contain major bloopers, tortured approximations of what the words are supposed to say...on paper.
My son and I had a discussion about this early this morning. He was convinced the article was a joke, made up by Courter. I was sure they were the real thing. After a little research I unearthed sufficient evidence that these writings--by American college students, folks--were the real thing.
I laughed uproariously as I read them. Then, upon reflection, I came close to tears.
Maybe I could for a bit of a minute talk myself into thinking that somehow the students at Western Illinois comprise a particularly inept group of young adults who don't read. I don't think they do. I think the same kind of bludgeoning of the English language occurs at colleges and universities all across the land.
Anyway, read it for yourself.
Yes, Taco Bell's Canon...
Scary.
Author of I is for Intercourse: The ABC's of Conversation, Susan Bird is the visionary behind Wf360, and a sought-after speaker around the world for her views on leadership, the strategic importance of conversation, entrepreneurship, and the role of women business leaders.
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