| 词组 | permissive, permissivism |
| 释义 | permissive, permissivism These are two of the words used by those who think they are defending English to belittle those who offer information on which opinions about language matters might be based more soundly. The use of either by a commentator is almost certainly a sign that a lexicographer, a linguist, or another writer on usage has trodden upon one of the commentator's cherished beliefs. The periphrastic equivalent of permissive is anything goes. The last word on the issue of permissivism should have been (but was not and, sadly, will not be) that of Bergen Evans, co-author of Evans 1957, in an address to the managing editors of the Associated Press: • People often hurl at me the word permissive. They say, "You are permissive." What do you mean "permissive"? There are 300 million who speak this language. What am I do to? Club them all on the head? What have I got to do with it? I permit Niagara Falls to go over, too. I don't know what to do about it. I permit the Grand Canyon to remain just where it is. To talk about people being permissive of what 300 million people do every day—back of this is an incredibly arrogant assumption that we who have to do with observing and using speech in some way control it. We don't. The masses control speech. And all we do, ultimately, is follow on —"Editor's Choice—You Couldn't Do Woise," 1963 |
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