FROM THE MAILBAG
Critical mail often begins to arrive when I write that certain language is used so frequently that it is now considered standard. I can sympathize with readers' reaction: we all prefer the language we learned when we were young. And if that language changes, we are unhappy.
For example, last Fall, White Springs, New York Attorney Arthur C. Kellman wrote that although he has given up on hopefully, he is still "unalterably opposed to making perimeter sound "hifalutin" by changing it to parameter. Elmhurst, Illinois Attorney David Dell e-mailed, "How should I feel when my favorite language expert condenses any more to one word?" (I hadn't; it was a typo.) Correspondent Teri Noel Towe (as well as other readers) complained about the "unfortunate and regrettable blurring of the distinction between fewer and less."
Despite the objections of these and other readers, both parameter (defined as "boundaries" and usually written as a plural) and anymore (written as one word) are now listed in standard English dictionaries. But less is not yet accepted as a count noun. (So it's less money, but fewer coins.)
The question I am often asked is, "Why don't you refuse to accept this new usage?" The answer is another question, "How long should one resist?" For example, does anxious mean eager? Can you make a concerted effort alone? (Traditionally, the word anxious meant "characterized by distress or uneasiness; concerted meant that the effort was made "in concert" with at least one other person.)
Numerous traditional distinctions are now ignored. Prevalent used to be distinguished from widespread, the former carrying a pejorative sense (disease is prevalent; happiness, widespread). Now both are listed as synonyms meaning "prevailing." Although the 1985 AHD still continued to distinguish famous (well known for something good, from notorious (well known for something bad), Webster's Third, in its 1961 edition and as recently as 1993, defined both as "well known." Legal dictionaries agree: for adverse possession, possession must be "open and notorious."
Do you use the word anxious to mean eager? Do you speak of making a concerted effort alone? If so, you'll irk language conservatives, who argue that anxious is related to the noun anxiety and means, "characterized by distress or uneasiness." They'd also argue that to make a concerted effort, you must be doing it "in concert" with at least one other person. How about prone (lying on your face) and supine (lying on your back)? Almost nobody now uses supine.
Most English speakers also ignore other useful distinctions they once observed. Remember when unique meant "one of a kind," not just "unusual"? Readers have written to complain that fellow lawyers incorrectly use blatant ("unpleasantly loud") to mean flagrant ("egregious or outrageous"). Another vanishing distinction is between reluctant ("hesitant or unwilling") and reticent ("characteristically silent, reserved"). Even well-educated persons ignore that distinction, though dictionaries still observe it. Problematic, which used to mean "questionable" has, because of its resemblance to the noun problem, come to mean "constituting a problem," its former meaning virtually lost. Do you think that criteria is a singular noun? The local newspaper editorial page editor does, and repeatedly used it that way yesterday, in a lecture to university faculty.
What's to be done? Some readers think we should continue the effort to retain traditional usage, notwithstanding the futility of our effort. Mr. R. T. Kennedy writes from Pennsylvania that otherwise we are permitting the illiterates, the uneducated, and the lazy to dictate usage. He is appalled that we "sit stone-faced" as weathermen and television commentators set standards.
But only dead languages like Latin can avoid change. Living languages change despite the best efforts of the educated few, and television has expedited the process. The ancient language Hebrew immediately began to change when it became a living language, spoken in daily discourse.
A New York City correspondent noted, however, that although usage inevitably changes language, people should not rush to join in. He argued that one should "speak correctly" although others don't. I agree. Educated users should not be in the vanguard of language change, but in the rear guard defending traditional usage. If no brake on language change exists, it will become a hodge-podge of idiosyncrasy, all users setting their own standards.
Gertrude Block is Lecturer Emerita at the University of Florida College of Law. Her book, "Effective Legal Writing" (Foundation Press), is now available in a 5th edition (1999), with an accompanying instructor's manual. Ms. Block is also co-author of the "Judicial Opinion Writing Manual" (published by the American Bar Association, 1991). Send questions to the ISBA Bar News -- Language Tips, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Bar Center, Springfield, IL 62701, or e-mail her at block@law.ufl.edu.
ISBA to tour Scandinavia 1,000 years after Vikings discovered North America
One thousand years ago, the cold part of North America was discovered by "God's frozen people," the legendary Norse Viking seafarers whose sturdy ships also took them to settlements and conquests throughout Europe.
This is a commemorative year for travel opportunities in the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Finland, and the Illinois State Bar Association has provided several ideal tours next month for members and guests.
Highlights of the 10-day trips include the capital cities of Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki, plus St. Petersburg, Russia. See the tour summary below.
Brochures containing information about current Illinois State Bar Association travel programs in Scandinavia, Russia, England and France may be obtained in ISBA offices in Chicago or Springfield. Some details follow.
Scandinavia, Russia
Five departures in May from either Chicago or St. Louis to Scandinavia and Russia are being coordinated by Global Holidays. Brochures are available in ISBA offices in Chicago and Springfield. Call (800) 842-9023 for complete details.
The dates of the ISBA travel programs are May 10 to 20, May 14 to 24, May 19 to 29, May 23 to June 2 and May 24 to June 3. Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki, the capitals of Norway, Sweden and Finland, are on the itinerary, along with St. Petersburg, Russia.
The price of $2,289 per person, double occupancy, includes round-trip trans-Atlantic airfare on SAS Scandinavian Airlines, accommodations in first-class hotels with private baths, guided sightseeing via deluxe motorcoach and fjord cruiser, nine breakfasts and three dinners.
The itinerary calls for two nights in Oslo, one night in Lillehammer, two nights in Stockholm, one night on the ferry to Helsinki, one night in Helsinki and two nights in St. Petersburg.
London, England
Departures for the two travel programs in London and surroundings are scheduled from St. Louis on Aug. 4, 2000, with return flight Aug. 12, and from Chicago on Aug. 11, with return Aug. 19. Global Holidays is coordinating the tour. Call (800) 842-9023 for complete details.
Highlights include round-trip flights on American Trans Air, seven nights in first class hotels, daily continental breakfasts, ground transfers and escorts. The price is $1,149 or $1,199 per person, double occupancy, depending on choice of hotels.
Optional escorted excursions during the tour include West End, the City of London, Canterbury and Leeds Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, Paris by Eurostar, Bath and Stonehenge, Greenwich, and a London dinner and theater outing.
Southern France
Two Chicago departures for the travel program in the south of France are scheduled Sept. 1, 2000, with return flight Sept. 9, and Sept. 15 with return Sept. 23. Departure from St. Louis is Sept. 29 with return Oct. 7.
Global Holidays is coordinating the tour. Call (800) 842-9023 for complete details. The price is $1,199 per person, double occupancy.
The three tours of Provence and the French Riviera feature round-trip flights to Nice on American Trans Air, seven nights in first class hotels, daily buffet breakfasts, ground transfers and escorts.
Optional excursions in Provence include Avignon and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, an evening cruise on the River Rhone in Avignon, and "Scenes of Inspiration," an excursion that includes Les Baux-de-Provence, St. Remy-de-Provence and Aix-en-Provence.
Options on the French Riviera are Monaco and Monte Carlo, Nice and St. Paul de Vence, Grasse and a rustic French evening, Cannes and St. Tropez, and a "Scenic Transfer" that includes Nice, Digne and Provence.
Vietnam, Thailand
An ISBA contingent will leave Chicago Thursday, Nov. 8, for a 10-day tour of Vietnam and Thailand that will include visits to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Angkor Wat and Bangkok before returning Sunday, Nov. 18, to Chicago.
Complete details and prices will be available soon from Carrousel Travel. Call (800) 800-6508 to be placed on a mailing list for brochures.
Mediterranean Cruise
A Windstar Mediterranean cruise is scheduled in May 2001, departing May 12 from Chicago to Lisbon, Portugal, and embarking May 13 through the Straits of Gibraltar to Barcelona for a return on May 21. A pre-cruise Lisbon tour option is offered from May 10 to 12, and an optional extension will take place to Sicily from May 22 to 27.
Complete details and prices will be available soon from Carrousel Travel. Call (800) 800-6508 to be placed on a mailing list for brochures.
U.S. Supreme Court
The Illinois State Bar Association will have an admission ceremony at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., a year from now Monday, April 30, 2001.
The event will include a reception with justices of the Supreme Court and other activities in the nation's capital. Call membership services director Janet M. Paul at (800) 252-8908 to obtain an advance registration form or more information.
Advocates Society
The monthly dinner meeting of the Advocates Society will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the Copernicus Center, Chicago. Plans will be discussed for Law Day activities May 3 and a float in the May 6 Polish Constitution Day parade. Call President Janette Strzalka, (847) 470-7400.
Bohemian Lawyers
Burr Ridge attorney Rosemary I. Chybik will not be able to attend the meeting at which she is elected president of the Bohemian Lawyers Association of Chicago on Thursday, April 27, but she has a good excuse.
Chybik, who is past chair of the ISBA Committere on Legal Education, Admission and Competence, is getting married to intellectual property attorney John Long.
The annual installation dinner will take place Friday, May 12, at LaGrange County Club. Longtime members George Dvorak, Liberty Dvorak, James J. Mejda and Alexander O. Walter will receive service awards, and Mejda will install the new slate.
Chicago Bar
A Liberty Bell Award will be presented Monday, May 1, by the Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section during a Law Day celebration at the Richard J. Daley Center.
Cook County Bar
The Cook County Bar Association Young Lawyer Section and the Black Law Student Association at the Chicago-Kent College of Law will conduct a Law Day program at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the law school.
CCBA President William H. Hooks will introduce a panel of lawyers and judges who will speak on "Strategies for Success for Young Black Lawyers." A reception will follow. Call (630) 906-5159.
DuPage County Bar
The DuPage County Bar Association will conduct mock trials for students on Friday, May 5, at the County Judicial Center in Wheaton. Volunteers are needed. Call Paula at (630) 653-1577.
The annual DCBA Law Day luncheon will take place Wednesday, May 10, at Cantigny Country Club. The Liberty Bell Award and Hartman E. Stime Law Student Scholarship will be presented. Call (630) 653-7779.
DuPage Women Lawyers
Judges of the 18th Circuit will be honored Wednesday, May 3, by the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers durin g a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at Klein Creek Golf Club, Winfield. Call Michelle D. Porro, (630) 264-7300.
Fenwick Bar
The Fenwick Bar Association will present its Accipter Award to Loyola Law Prof. James P. Carey during a luncheon Friday, May 12, in the Union League Club. Call Hope Erickson, (708) 386-0127, ext. 122, for reservations.
Hellenic Bar
The Hellenic Bar Association of making plans for its 50th anniversary celebration, which will take place during its annual installation dinner dance Sunday, Nov. 5, in the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier.
For information about this and other Hellenic Bar meetings, call (312) 236-1235.
Justinians - Lake
The Lake County chapter of the Justinian Society will hold its fourth annual bocce tournament Thursday, May 4, at Highwood Bocce. Pizza and bocce balls will be provided beginning at 6 p.m. Call Secretary John Rizzo, (847) 249-4600 to register.
Lake County Bar
The Lake County Bar Association will conduct an informal bench and bar luncheon Tuesday, April 25, in the jury assembly room at the County Courthouse in Waukegan. Call (847) 244-3143.