Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Public Address Word of the Year 2011

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  • Oblomova,

    This year the verbal tic that has most irritated me is the increasing tendency for people to start statements, and particularly in responding to question, with "so".

    Otago • Since Dec 2011 • 2 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    word...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    word…

    This.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Hebe,

    EQC

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Lilith __,

    Aftershock. Feb 22nd was one, and there have been sooooo many others.

    I’ve noticed myself and a lot of other Cantabrians using “shake” instead of “quake”, maybe after a certain number of earthquakes, “quake” starts to sound like over-dramatising? “Did you feel that shake earlier?”, “If we have a big shake, those always fall down."…..

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Hebe,

    Geotech (I admit to being a little obsessive here, but a word contest like this is depth-charging all sorts of stuff...)

    fracking

    Now I go on holiday (literally). first escape this year. Yeehah. Bye. Have a lovely Christmas, or not if your tastes run that way. And thanks all for essential distraction from the mundane this year.

    Not a word; but next year I reckon the book to write is "Decorating with Duct Tape".

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Russell C,

    How about the following slightly meaningless government faves 'shared services', 'back office' and it's companion 'frontline'.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 37 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Hebe,

    Not a word; but next year I reckon the book to write is “Decorating with Duct Tape”.

    Gaffer it.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Lilith __,

    Magnitude. A word so overused it's often dropped..."Do you reckon that was a 4.5?", "Nah, that was at least a 4.7!"

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • tussock,

    Shonkey. 'Cause they fell down, innit.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Lilith __,

    I've been thinking that we should be capitalising on the quake, and improving our overseas earnings, by renting out Cantabs as human seismographs. You guys have got pretty damn accurate at estimating over the last year.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Lilith __,

    Thinking about the conversations Chch people have with each other this year, there are not only particular earthquake-related words we use constantly, but whole topics of conversation we discuss avidly, that outsiders probably wouldn't.

    After Sept 4th and before Feb 22nd there was a lot of talk about fault lines and the mechanics of earthquakes and liquefaction.

    After Feb 22nd our talk was much more practical: we were all comparing notes on where we had been and what we'd been through on the day; who we knew who'd been killed or injured; the state of our houses, and the houses of people we knew; who had services and how long the rest of us would have to wait.

    In East Chch many of these conversations ended up being about sewerage. I have been to parties where toileting was the number one topic*: "Can you flush your toilet?", "how deep's your long-drop?", etc.

    Piles and foundations seem to be hot topics just now. Everybody's an expert. :-)

    *and before anyone asks, probably also number two.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Hebe,

    Sinkhole is an awesome word.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Lilith __,

    there was a lot of talk about fault lines and the mechanics of earthquakes and liquefaction

    that went beyond Chch

    parties where toileting was the number one topic

    not so much

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Occupy

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to nzlemming,

    You guys have got pretty damn accurate at estimating over the last year.

    We’ve certainly been thoroughly trained. :-)

    However, as any Cantab will tell you, every quake is different.
    How it feels depends on not just the magnitude but the depth and distance and duration and the type of ground you’re on.

    Our calibration might also be variable: some Cantabs might be sarcastic about earthquakes elsewhere: “ That’s not an earthquake…”; others might be over-sensitive: “ARRRGH! EARTHQUAKE!!” when a truck goes past.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sacha,

    parties where toileting was the number one topic

    not so much

    You don't know what you've got til it's gone ;-)

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    "Mums and Dads" ... or the singular form
    "Dum and Mad".

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Don’t forget to check your word’s funkiness
    with this Techno beat generator
    Om is a surprise for such a short word...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Ben Cragg and Sofie – you got there before me. It has to be Occupy. One word which has challenged the old world order this year and still has some evolving to do.

    Slutwalk is also a contender.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Tansy,

    No one's mentioned SlutWalk yet?
    Also, Happy Feet, election, teapot, teapot tapes...
    Alternatively, I like planking, ghost-chips, mandate, occupy, liquefaction and a bunch of others that have already been suggested.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2011 • 2 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Yeah,nah.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Lilith __,

    Aftershock. Feb 22nd was one, and there have been sooooo many others.

    And you could call it a state of mind too.
    Aftershock, yes yes. Russell?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • peterpeasant,

    I am (probably) cheating, but I would like to propose "earthquakeprone".

    Yeah OK, two words that really ought to be added to a third or fourth ("building (s)").

    I would like to know why one building is more likely to experience an earthquake than neighbouring buildings?

    I defy any speaking automaton on National Radio to identify any edifice in the country that is "earthquakeprone".

    new zealand • Since Oct 2010 • 39 posts Report

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    Quake Brain - the state of mental exhaustion you reach after months of being able to do nothing on auto pilot.

    Portaloo - can be sung to the tune of ABBAs Waterloo

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

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