| 词组 | perimeter |
| 释义 | perimeter One of the most persistent criticisms of the word parameter has been that it is misused in place of perimeter. A typical example of the criticized sense of parameter is this: • ... readers with earthier appetites will find Chiaroscuro well within the parameters of their crime fiction menus —Peter Plagens, Art in America, July 1986 The frequent assumption of those who criticize parameter is that perimeter is regularly used in this way, in a figurative sense meaning "limits" or "outer limits," and, in fact, such a sense was in use before 1973, when parameter critics began making their assumption. Let's consider a few examples of that use: • The most useful division is between criticism which attempts to bring to literature insights found outside its perimeter, and criticism which dives directly to the center of the literature and works outward to the perimeter —Wayne Shumaker, Elements of Critical Theory, 1952 • ... it had become a flexible philosophy ... and its supernatural perimeter attracted many a young searcher for truth —William Manchester, Disturber of the Peace, 1951 • ... being aware, on the perimeter of his mind, of the rest of the court —John Creasy, Alibi, 1971 It was also, somewhat illogically, used in the plural: • The limits of the world have already been reached by exploration; ... the "perimeters of the future" are already in sight —Times Literary Supp., 27 July 1951 • ... he belongs among the pioneers of the conquering human spirit who dare beyond the perimeters of complacency into the uncharted wilderness —Robert Lindner, quoted in TV. K. Times Book Rev., 31 Jan. 1954 • The perimeters of his poetic estate are clearly defined by the seas on all sides and his refusal to cross them —Raymond Gardner, The Guardian, 13 Oct. 1971 As these examples are a goodly portion of all our figurative evidence earlier than 1973, we conclude that such was not at all a common use of perimeter then. We may note also that figurative use then was as often singular as plural; this contrasts with parameter, almost always plural in the criticized construction. And we find within commonly used with parameters (see also the examples at parameter), but not with perimeter. On the basis of these features, then, we think it unlikely that the criticized use of parameter developed out of its substitution for the figurative sense of perimeter. The mainstream figurative use of perimeter—now apparently somewhat more frequent in the plural than in the singular—has continued beyond 1973: • ... both extended the perimeters of the musical play —Goddard Lieberson, Saturday Rev., 3 Apr. 1976 • ... rethink the farce in terms of the new dimensions and perimeters —John Simon, New York, 30 Aug. 1976 • ... a rich boy eager for experience beyond the perimeters of his sedate world —Frederic Morton, N. Y. Times Book Rev., 7 Sept. 1980 • ... because its fulfillment was possible within the perimeter of Soviet ideology —Stanley Kauffmann, Before My Eyes, 1980 But now we are finding within perimeters as well: • Let us do good things within their own proper perimeters —James A. Michener, N.Y. Times Book Rev., 27 Feb. 1977 • ... within the perimeters of what is considered correct business attire —Diane Sustendal, N. Y. Times Mag., 16 Sept. 1984 The use of within with perimeters is quite new. It may come simply as a carryover from the very frequent use of within with parameters or, conversely, it may result from people's consciously replacing parameter with what they are told is the "correct" word, yet unconsciously using the familiar preposition. In either case, we have an increase in the figurative use of perimeter, now sometimes the object of within, that has co-occurred with the increase of hostile criticism of parameter. This development may be entirely fortuitous, but it is hard to dismiss the possibility that the use of perimeter has been stimulated by either the use or the criticism of parameter. |
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