Thank you for covering this subject well. Trump's use of English is appalling and certainly does degrade truth. It also degrades the language itself by placing the imprimatur of the presidency upon sloppy and obfuscating garble.
33
No kidding! I am a retired language arts teacher who taught over 33 years students from first grade to freshmen in college. How painful it is to read Trump's written expressions or to hear him chop up spoken language! And it's not that it's painful because I am critical of local or colloquial language of any sort. It's painful because it makes no sense whatever! Oh, my aching brain! Please, defend my sensibilities! Want to brush up on your language skills, Donald? Go to any primary school and listen to the students' comments and read their essays and stories. You'll learn something.
26
Everything Trump is was obvious from the start.
Yet enough Americans could bring themselves to vote for him.
Sad!
Yet enough Americans could bring themselves to vote for him.
Sad!
23
In civilized society, all we have is words and language.
Every holy tradition has "special" words that carry power, given to or carried by the "holy people" who know how to use them. Why? Because words have power, not just for ourselves but in the world where they effect others. In this day they can effect millions instantaneously. What is more powerful than that?
When truth is demolished and words have no gravitas, we are in a very vulnerable position. The general level of our culture, however, is very low. Look at what's in the movies and on mainstream and cable TV. Mostly wordless graphic violence, fictional cartoon "heroes" who are also violent, and things like children with children, nasty housewives yelling in scripted anger, inside prisons, "naughty" women who look like street walkers. Any variety of low class you want, right there in your living room. Who would watch Playhouse 90 now? We made all sports a religion, above and beyond the use of language or words a long time ago. Repudiate science, eliminate the arts, trash great literature by ignoring it altogether. Is it any wonder that the "base" Trump has is just thrilled that he speaks as they do? If you spend money on bombs instead of schools, and if you starve analytical thinking while feeding TV shows like "Raw" what do you expect?
I am happy to be educated, I like language, I care about words, as you do, Mr. Blow. Sadly, we are in the minority now. Not likely to change any time DT is POTUS.
Every holy tradition has "special" words that carry power, given to or carried by the "holy people" who know how to use them. Why? Because words have power, not just for ourselves but in the world where they effect others. In this day they can effect millions instantaneously. What is more powerful than that?
When truth is demolished and words have no gravitas, we are in a very vulnerable position. The general level of our culture, however, is very low. Look at what's in the movies and on mainstream and cable TV. Mostly wordless graphic violence, fictional cartoon "heroes" who are also violent, and things like children with children, nasty housewives yelling in scripted anger, inside prisons, "naughty" women who look like street walkers. Any variety of low class you want, right there in your living room. Who would watch Playhouse 90 now? We made all sports a religion, above and beyond the use of language or words a long time ago. Repudiate science, eliminate the arts, trash great literature by ignoring it altogether. Is it any wonder that the "base" Trump has is just thrilled that he speaks as they do? If you spend money on bombs instead of schools, and if you starve analytical thinking while feeding TV shows like "Raw" what do you expect?
I am happy to be educated, I like language, I care about words, as you do, Mr. Blow. Sadly, we are in the minority now. Not likely to change any time DT is POTUS.
12
What emerges from the meat grinder is a chopped mess of whatever went in....a minced word salad, a cole slaw, a mish-mash of inconsequences, meaningless and without grace. A sad waste if time,
14
Hamlet to Guildenstern on playing the recorder: It is as easy as lying
5
one of the commentators here wrote that he, like trump, speaks " like a typical New Yorker", and that there's " nothing wrong with that". there are MILLIONS of new Yorkers who speak eloquently, coherently and with a minimal of intelligent thought. trump is deomstratively not one of them.
another commentator here wrote that, after teaching language arts for 30 years she can easily place trump in the 10- 12 year old category in terms of his basic language skills.
what all this really means is : enough people in the US saw nothing wrong ( actually identified ) with who trump was / is, and voted for him.
the glaring poverty of thought, intellect and rudimentary language skills ( without a doubt a must for THAT office !) hasn't phased those voters. THAT - is what really scary. because :Words matter, and Trump has very few of them.
another commentator here wrote that, after teaching language arts for 30 years she can easily place trump in the 10- 12 year old category in terms of his basic language skills.
what all this really means is : enough people in the US saw nothing wrong ( actually identified ) with who trump was / is, and voted for him.
the glaring poverty of thought, intellect and rudimentary language skills ( without a doubt a must for THAT office !) hasn't phased those voters. THAT - is what really scary. because :Words matter, and Trump has very few of them.
27
Hearing Trump's ad libs during his moments at the microphone while in France (or anytime he speaks) was (is) as uncomfortable as hearing fingernails screech across a chalkboard. I was embarrassed for our country whenever he looked up from the written text to add information. It was painfully clear that he thought he was being condescending to his audience and that everything he was reading was news to him; he had no idea everyone wondered why he was telling them what they all ready knew.
I'm not sure which came first: 1—the inability to use words that actually convey information or 2—the intention to never say anything of substance in order to obfuscate his meaning. He received a degree from a prestigious business school . . . but he never learned how to use his native language. What does this tell us about his education: that he didn't get one. Someone bought him the degree.
This man that we put into the most powerful position in the world is a fraud. He has money, but he was not a successful businessman. He was successful at bankruptcy and leaving those who provided a service to him in good faith "holding the bag."
If Congress and the voters do not open their eyes to his dishonesty, his inability to lead this nation effectively, his unethical dealings, his questionable connections, his unmitigated greed, this nation is going to end up "holding the bag" and little else.
I'm not sure which came first: 1—the inability to use words that actually convey information or 2—the intention to never say anything of substance in order to obfuscate his meaning. He received a degree from a prestigious business school . . . but he never learned how to use his native language. What does this tell us about his education: that he didn't get one. Someone bought him the degree.
This man that we put into the most powerful position in the world is a fraud. He has money, but he was not a successful businessman. He was successful at bankruptcy and leaving those who provided a service to him in good faith "holding the bag."
If Congress and the voters do not open their eyes to his dishonesty, his inability to lead this nation effectively, his unethical dealings, his questionable connections, his unmitigated greed, this nation is going to end up "holding the bag" and little else.
27
"More importantly, this is, I believe, projection, one of Trump’s compulsive traits. What he is guilty of is exactly what he accuses others of being guilty of. "
Yes! His responses are textbook examples of too many psychological disorders. Wake up America!
Yes! His responses are textbook examples of too many psychological disorders. Wake up America!
12
Recently, Alec Baldwin was interviewed on the Howard Stern Show and was asked as an actor, a mimic, how he so thoroughly "nailed" the Trump character week upon week. Baldwin responded that our president is a man of extremely limited vocabulary who is constantly grasping for the next, better word as he speaks. However, it never comes to him. I think Mr. Blow and Mr. Baldwin are On to something unfortunate here.
17
"...lie until there is no alternative but to tell the truth, and even then only reveal as much truth": much as I wish Clinton had won the election, I cannot help but be reminded by these words of a certain male Clinton about his 'affair' with a young intern.
2
It's fascinating to listen to Trump when he has been given some words to read. He'll read a few coherent phrases that sound nothing like him, and then he'll go off-script and improvise some nonsensical statements, and then go back to reading (with little conviction) until he comes to a phrase that rings a bell with him, at which point he vamps again, making it extremely obvious that he hasn't even pre-read the statement he has been handed to read at some official venue. At this point, not only can I not understand how he made billions of dollars, I don't even understand how he played a businessman on The Apprentice. he is utterly unprepared for any sort of leadership position.
120
I love this piece, everything I always wanted to say about Trump and didn't know how.
77
NYT Crossword team - how about a puzzle using the WH's favorite words? Fantastic! Nothingburger! Collusion!
33
Don't forget "witchhunt"...
8
A personal pet peeve, is when the Donald, feels he must preface his point with "trust me", or "believe me". Every time he does this, you know the next thing he says will be a lie.
99
Trump likes to use the word "disaster" a lot. He once used it correctly when he tweeted, "The Electoral College is a disaster for democracy." If he ever says 'I'm a disaster for my country" he'll be right a second time.
86
How about the misspelled words in the WH press releases.
39
Just because someone came from money and went to brand-name schools, doesn't mean that he is educated or well-mannered.
Holden Caulfield would be a better president and party guest than Donald Trump.
Holden Caulfield would be a better president and party guest than Donald Trump.
38
Give Charles M. Blow a raise. He's earned it.
71
Note to Hollywood:
Make a movie in which Trump is transported back in time to find himself a third participant in the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates (among the most thoughtful, erudite policy give-and-takes in U.S. history).
Hands down, the movie will be hailed the year's best comedy (perhaps the century's), and, with just the right casting, the actor who portrays Trump will sweep the best actor awards.
(With all due respect to Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas.)
Make a movie in which Trump is transported back in time to find himself a third participant in the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates (among the most thoughtful, erudite policy give-and-takes in U.S. history).
Hands down, the movie will be hailed the year's best comedy (perhaps the century's), and, with just the right casting, the actor who portrays Trump will sweep the best actor awards.
(With all due respect to Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas.)
30
Chocolate cake IS beautiful.
12
The Russian collusion with Trump was well organized despite being sloppy. The timing of the release of the DNC emails were coordinated to have maximum affect. The Russians had the goods and tha administration had the money and expertise.
They targeted the right states in the right areas in the last weeks to maximize their effect.
They might not know how to govern. But they know how to steal elections.
They targeted the right states in the right areas in the last weeks to maximize their effect.
They might not know how to govern. But they know how to steal elections.
34
You are correct. The man has the vocabulary of a second grader... at best. How many times has he Tweeted or responded to a reporter' s question with a "bad" comment? Does he not know that other words exist one English language that convey the same or similar meaning?
Does he own or have access to a Thesaurus ? I guess it wouldn't matter: he would have to be able to read and
spell...abilities he obviously doesn't have.
Does he own or have access to a Thesaurus ? I guess it wouldn't matter: he would have to be able to read and
spell...abilities he obviously doesn't have.
5
Blow writes: "It is something with which we must all take great umbrage."
The correct usage is: "It is sonething AT which we must all take great umbrage."
In a column about mauling language, a writer shouldn't make an error like this.
The correct usage is: "It is sonething AT which we must all take great umbrage."
In a column about mauling language, a writer shouldn't make an error like this.
10
Dear David Smith,
In your second paragraph, the correct phrase would be, "It is something..."
In your second paragraph, the correct phrase would be, "It is something..."
10
You no one can diagram his sentances. They are not linear.
6
Truism: A despot suspects in others what they themselves do.
Or should I say Trumpism.
Or should I say Trumpism.
19
As always, THANK YOU, Mr. Blow. I cannot stand to hear trump speak; it's like he's speaking a foreign language or baby talk. Fingernails on a chalkboard. And he probably didn't learn that France was an ally until he read it in his speech in France.
47
What's really stupid is to think that the Attorney General of the United States is personally approving of disapproving passports and visas. Is that what Jeff Sessions is doing? How dumb can you get?
31
Thank you. Words do mean things and sadly both sides of the political spectrum seem to believe words are like soup du jure.
5
Mr. Trump's current mauling of the language isn't just a reflection of his ignorance. You can view very old interviews with Mr. Trump and see that his problem is getting worse. He has long had a peculiar speaking style, but he was often able to string together two or three complete sentences. All his faults, as repeated in so many of the comments, are not as concerning as is the fact that his mind is deteriorating.
44
Don't forget "tremendous." He probably likes that one because it starts with a T.
Which reminds me, in some ways Trump is very aware of language and meaning. I don't know the full history of the Trump family, but I don't think it is an accident that the original "Drumpf" of Germany became a name in English that is a well-known word meaning to top, supercede, or vanquish an opponent in competition. The very name literally means success. Ideal for buildings and so forth. Tremendous!
Which reminds me, in some ways Trump is very aware of language and meaning. I don't know the full history of the Trump family, but I don't think it is an accident that the original "Drumpf" of Germany became a name in English that is a well-known word meaning to top, supercede, or vanquish an opponent in competition. The very name literally means success. Ideal for buildings and so forth. Tremendous!
23
Trump's base doesn't care. They somehow "know" what he means. They "get" him. In other words, they like his word salad, because they can interpret it to suit their own views or wants. Just like their fearless leader, the base can simply make it up as they go. If Trump was clear and concise, it would make that a much more difficult task.
37
Trump telescopes concepts into meaningless or nonsensical verbal constructs. Just recently, this resulted in his telling a truth he didn't intend to reveal. He said he and Putin "discussed forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit so that election hacking, [and] many other negative things, will be guarded and safe.” Get it? Information on election hacking and other negative things will be guarded and safe (from public knowledge). No wonder he loved that idea!
25
Bottom line - Trump is an uneducated, inarticulate buffoon who has made the United States the laughing stock of the world.
85
I wonder how he got his diploma from Penn State? He is just one of many with poor linguistic skills. In his book money making does not require good language skills or decorum or honesty. His supporters see only money and his towers - so they and Penn State bear some responsibility?
8
Do we really think Trump writes his tweets? I don't. I do not believe he has the ability or patience to carry on even a Twitter account. How could he? He can barely string two words together.
Someone on his staff is writing his tweets for him in the same way comedy writers serve up one liners for Colbert or Kimmel. He just puts a check mark by the ones that appeal to his twisted view of the world.
Come to think of it, Trump is a very bad nightclub comedian, like Hackensack Holiday Inn bad. I can see him in the dimly lit club, sitting on a stool, reading his tweets on little slips of paper and offering the handful of patrons nursing their weak drinks a chance to purchase the tweets, autographed, for $10 each, cash only.
No one is laughing, and no tweets have been purchased, but the poor guy is booked through 2020. Attendance is waning.
Someone on his staff is writing his tweets for him in the same way comedy writers serve up one liners for Colbert or Kimmel. He just puts a check mark by the ones that appeal to his twisted view of the world.
Come to think of it, Trump is a very bad nightclub comedian, like Hackensack Holiday Inn bad. I can see him in the dimly lit club, sitting on a stool, reading his tweets on little slips of paper and offering the handful of patrons nursing their weak drinks a chance to purchase the tweets, autographed, for $10 each, cash only.
No one is laughing, and no tweets have been purchased, but the poor guy is booked through 2020. Attendance is waning.
16
The most infuriating thing about this for me is the utter lack of self awareness. Trump has always been obsessed with his inability to gain the respect of the educated class and yet he appears to have no realization whatsoever that his command of the language is so horribly lacking. I thought GWB was bad but this is a whole new level. Depressing that so many Americans don't see ignorance as a disqualification.
47
Trump's vocabulary has been shrinking at an alarming rate. Interviews from past years don't show an eloquent speaker but he is at least able to travel from the beginning of a sentence to the end. Now he does not finish sentences, he trails off, and often goes off on tangents. He shows strong evidence of diminished mental prowess.
43
he's not just addicted to anonymous sourcing, he just makes stuff up and says somebody said it, or everybody thinks it.
28
Very true.
1
Think of the poor people who have to try and translate what this man says. It must be almost impossible!
13
There is certainly proof of collusion and obstruction . The would be king doesn't know those words I don't think. They have no meaning in his kingdom. The mountain of circumstantial evidence will lead to proof of other evils in that empire.
Darth meet Mr Mueller.
Darth meet Mr Mueller.
8
Thank you for your wonderful piece. For those of us who appreciate the English language DJT is appalling, someone who students should not emulate.
11
My guess - no, certain conviction - is that a sizable majority of Americans have no idea re: the Revolution-era alliance between the states and France.
I don't disagree with the substantive thrust of your piece here, but less than a year after everyone on the coasts professed to be shocked by the unthinkable outcome of the election, the casual arrogance is back with a vengeance! When the tens of millions of Americans who slept through their high school history classes reelect Trump in four years, will you please consider yourself on constructive notice, so we can all be spared the wailing and gnashing of teeth?
The guy speaks in a way people can relate to. Disparaging his register of speech - rather than his policies - isn't only a losing strategy. It also coarsens the dialogue further, and is downright mean spirited.
I don't disagree with the substantive thrust of your piece here, but less than a year after everyone on the coasts professed to be shocked by the unthinkable outcome of the election, the casual arrogance is back with a vengeance! When the tens of millions of Americans who slept through their high school history classes reelect Trump in four years, will you please consider yourself on constructive notice, so we can all be spared the wailing and gnashing of teeth?
The guy speaks in a way people can relate to. Disparaging his register of speech - rather than his policies - isn't only a losing strategy. It also coarsens the dialogue further, and is downright mean spirited.
9
How can anyone know what is policies are, when no one understands what he's saying?
16
Trump cancelled the prior Paris agreement because it was negotiated by Obama. He will re-enter the Paris agreement on terms very similar to the prior non-binding arrangement and claim a "win" - he made a better deal than Obama for America. Under his skills America is "great" again. The Republicans will do the same thing for health care and call it "something" else. The point of their existence is to erase Obama's name from the history books....
Makes no sense to care about the means - as long as the end result benefits the country...
Makes no sense to care about the means - as long as the end result benefits the country...
7
I would suggest that trump is a Master of Ambiguity, Confusion and Accusation by Innuendo. His pattern of speech is designed to avoid pinned down to having said anything concrete. He will claim that he said something, but if one parses the conglomeration of sentence fragments one can usually see that he never really said anything of substance.
11
He just makes word salad. Horrifying to come from the highest office in the land. I'm trying to maintain equilibrium in this upside down environment. Too bad it has real consequences, ie. healthcare, climate change, reproductive rights, human rights. Painful.
13
Even though the whole idea of literacy tests for would-be voters is anathema to me because the way they were abused in their previous life, a part of me does wonder whether trump would have got anywhere near the White House if they had been required in 2016.....
13
I read the transcript of the briefing he gave reporters aboard Air Force One last week.
He jumps from topic to topic totally unrelated to the question that was asked of him.
It's as though thoughts randomly pass thru his mind and he speaks it.
He jumps from topic to topic totally unrelated to the question that was asked of him.
It's as though thoughts randomly pass thru his mind and he speaks it.
13
Trump's speech patterns are exactly those of a pre-teen child. For instance, we regularly hear him attempting to convince his audience of the truth of his statements and beliefs by saying that "everybody else thinks so too," "everybody is talking about this," etc. That's what very young children on the playground do.
23
His abuse of the language was particularly jarring in comparison with the French president's articulate comments in English. The contemporary of Trump Jr., Macron is a "young man" (by Trump's definition) whose behavior and speech reflect a level of sophistication of thought and expression that regrettably seems to be impossible for our president to achieve.
I miss Barack Obama, whose only issues were the dropping of final gs and frequent use of "folks" (in an effort to seem more accessible to the broader public, I guess). And, President Obama was dignified, compelling, and clear in his public statements. Per this article, Trump misuses language to distort or hide the truth, but in so doing he ironically reveals the poverty not only of his thinking and vocabulary, but of his character.
I miss Barack Obama, whose only issues were the dropping of final gs and frequent use of "folks" (in an effort to seem more accessible to the broader public, I guess). And, President Obama was dignified, compelling, and clear in his public statements. Per this article, Trump misuses language to distort or hide the truth, but in so doing he ironically reveals the poverty not only of his thinking and vocabulary, but of his character.
39
Charles Blow assumes some mythical standard of straightforward unambiguous speech for our political class. Last time I checked, most of our politicians, with a few notable exceptions like Bernie Sanders, routinely employ vague nice-sounding phrases open to a variety of interpretations. Why should Trump be any different?
6
Thank you so much for this pithy analysis. Mime & marionettes are making a return. the sounds of silence & a tree falling in the woods never sounded so good. Language is lynched the way certain factions lynch people in their minds. The poor are pick pocketed- even nudists. There are compulsive cavity searches to claim your coins. Stupidity has become an art form. Infantilism as become iconic. Time now for the enlightened & the mystics to be conspirators. Playwright Dr. Larry Myers, Manhattan s St John's University professor/activist mentoring tent city new dramatists & homeless hiv kids in San Francisco, has penned "Sentence Diagramming in Sedona." He asks St. Theresa, St Francis of Assissi, Saint Germaine & Rumi to team teach. The multidimensional thinkers of theater arts must arise in the wake of Animal Farm. Any New Age & any old fashioned Catholic discipline must provide resistance to imbecility.
6
Trump communicates in a way that must be akin to the way dogs communicate. Dogs don't communicate in terms of vocabulary and grammar - they understand by using familiar sounds, in familiar cadences, with modulations of volume. I think Trump communicates in much the same way - smirking and grimacing, repeating the same words and phrases, but sometimes whispering them, sometimes bellowing. It is indeed primitive, but that's what he appeals to - folks that respond better to emotional concepts than intellectual ones. The alpha male is leading his pack and for those whose ears are attuned, it has plenty to say via their limbic systems. A lot more meaning than those analyzing it with their cerebral cortices.
12
My goal is to never hear him speak. I will read about what he did or said, or what others say about him. But when he comes on radio or television, I turn it off or turn off the sound. I don't want to see pictures of him either. He's utterly disgusting in every way.
39
I must confess a certain fondness for the coinage "bigly."
4
When family is headed by a liar, do they all tend to lie? Do they lie to each other?
11
His base relate to the way he talks. Beats me as to how this can be but from what I read and hear, they like his simple plain talk. I find it off putting and think it reflects his cognitive abilities.
16
As usual, Mr. Blow is spot on correct. This piece, however, could be five or even ten times longer. Trump's mauling of the English language and his obfuscation are EPIC by any standard, and are without precedent in the White House.
During the election I recall reading that Trump speaks at a third grade level. The fact is, I've heard third graders speak far more eloquently and intelligently than Mr. Trump.
During the election I recall reading that Trump speaks at a third grade level. The fact is, I've heard third graders speak far more eloquently and intelligently than Mr. Trump.
22
Yes, this piece could be five or ten times longer, or even more. Brilliant. Mr. Blow: Please write a book on this!
6
Trump has the attention span of a gnat. A lot of people don't know that.
27
He not only mauls the language, he doesn't even seem to understand it and, then, he doesn't even follow his own pledges. Ignorance personified!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
7
You are absolutely right to point out Mr. Trump's compulsive trait of psychological projection, a tactic or tic that became glaringly obvious during the Republican primaries. By the time the general election and "lock her up" rolled around, many of us started to wonder what kind of prosecutable offenses he was trying to obscure. And ever since the election, Mr. Trump's tweets have made me wonder: did some Republican electoral cabal actually falsify three million votes somehow?
If there's one thing that's consistent about Mr. Trump, it's his habit of foolishly drawing attention to his own secrets and misdeeds. Someone might want to take a closer look at a few of those state and local voting systems. And I'd prefer that "someone" not be Kris Kobach, Jeff Sessions or Donald Trump.
If there's one thing that's consistent about Mr. Trump, it's his habit of foolishly drawing attention to his own secrets and misdeeds. Someone might want to take a closer look at a few of those state and local voting systems. And I'd prefer that "someone" not be Kris Kobach, Jeff Sessions or Donald Trump.
13
And Time Magazine thought Dan Quayle would have been the worst thing that would have happened to America. It must be a Time Magazine cover of the early 1990s that reads “It’s no joke. This man could be our next president,” referring to Dan Quayle. Older readers surely remember the running joke of the 90s about “potato” and “potatoe,” right? Who knew there could be worse than that?
16
I too have long railed against Trump's propensity to preface his criticism or defense by remarking that "everyone is saying" or that "I've heard that" without any attribution whatsoever. Usually it turns out that either no one is saying that or that only some right-wing alt-realty source is saying that. What rails me is that no one calls him on this. The media should immediately ask him "who says that?" In most instances they'll find that either no one has said it (i. e., he's lying), or that its only been said by someone who has no credibility whatsoever.
12
I agree with you completely about his choice of words. Many times he sounds like a bad salesman (apologies to the good ethical people in sales
6
When I see Donald Trump I think Lamb Chop as in, "Sheri and Lamb Chop." Both are made of the same cloth - fiction. Whenever we try to tie a Trump truth down we find out it's a figment of his own making that demands we suspend a certain amount of disbelief. In my world a talking hand puppet actually Trumps Trump himself. Who would you rather have entertain your children a half an hour a day - Sheri Lewis and Lamb chop or Donald Trump?
8
STAT News recently asked experts to compare Trump's speech from decades ago to that in 2017. All noticed deterioration, which may signal changes in Trump's brain health. https://www.statnews.com/2017/05/23/donald-trump-speaking-style-interviews/
Given his already limited intellect, a dash of incipient dementia (not to mention the stress of a job he does not find to be "fun") could readily explain the escalating communications deficits. DOTUS?
Given his already limited intellect, a dash of incipient dementia (not to mention the stress of a job he does not find to be "fun") could readily explain the escalating communications deficits. DOTUS?
20
Comprehension and certitude are words neither used nor understood by Trump's apologists. They just want to make America grate again.
19
If Trump could define obfuscating, I'd literally eat my hat.
I wonder how much his dad had to donate to Penn to get him in.
I wonder how much his dad had to donate to Penn to get him in.
21
Again, thanks Charles for holding up the torch of national pride as "that man" in the WH opens his mouth.but, not surprisingly, that ignorance comes with his territory. We better learn to tolerate it ( and probably much, much worse before he's done with. Removed.
6
Along with the tax returns, I'd like to see Drumpf's score on an IQ test. In fact, maybe an IQ, a literacy and a general math test should all be required to run for any federal office: Congress, Senate, or President and VP.
21
And maybe a list of the ten books they have most recently read.
9
Can't you envision his much anticipated, post-presidential memoir: a 35 page, pop-art style, multicolored, action comic book stuffed with "amazing", "tremendous", "fantastic", "largest", and other polysyllabic wonders, suitable for all readers from ages 3 to 103, from early childhood right into senility. (Those young ones would have to be read to, of course, at bedtime.)
10
Trump isn't smart. He has a lazy mind.
His skill seems to be in giving permission to others to do things that they know to be wrong, but which for their own purposes they really want to do. Their own purposes almost always involve money, though sex is in there too. Most frighteningly, permission to do violence is also part of the mix.
Watching Trump at one of his rallies giving permission to the worst of his followers to commit violence is nothing new in the history of the world. It's terrifying, but at this level, it's what dictators have always done.
The sleazy connections and business deals, the obscenely profligate lifestyles, the indifference to the suffering of others, the sense of the prerogative of us vs them--all is okay. Trump has said it's okay. And those who disagree had better watch out.
His skill seems to be in giving permission to others to do things that they know to be wrong, but which for their own purposes they really want to do. Their own purposes almost always involve money, though sex is in there too. Most frighteningly, permission to do violence is also part of the mix.
Watching Trump at one of his rallies giving permission to the worst of his followers to commit violence is nothing new in the history of the world. It's terrifying, but at this level, it's what dictators have always done.
The sleazy connections and business deals, the obscenely profligate lifestyles, the indifference to the suffering of others, the sense of the prerogative of us vs them--all is okay. Trump has said it's okay. And those who disagree had better watch out.
18
Make America great again. Build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. His message was clear, concise, and to the point.
That might seem silly (or even stupid to partisans), but his message was crystal clear. What was Hillary's message?
Politics is mostly PR, and when it comes to PR, Trump is a Jedi Master.
CNN, WaPo, and NYT are playing his PR game. He will win this game. Media should stick to the non-PR facts, and then the truth has a chance--and can enlighten us in the process.
Godspeed NYT. You are still the best! Don't fall into the Marco Rubio "small hands" trap.
That might seem silly (or even stupid to partisans), but his message was crystal clear. What was Hillary's message?
Politics is mostly PR, and when it comes to PR, Trump is a Jedi Master.
CNN, WaPo, and NYT are playing his PR game. He will win this game. Media should stick to the non-PR facts, and then the truth has a chance--and can enlighten us in the process.
Godspeed NYT. You are still the best! Don't fall into the Marco Rubio "small hands" trap.
9
Good point. I find it hard to disengage from his offensive words and deeds. But we're all helping his "brand". The naked orange emperor shames us all and enriches himself.
9
Trump is hard to listen too. No doubt about it. Embarrassing actually. He is not the only national politician to butcher the language. Sarah Palin, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson also suffer from poor syntax and elocution.
6
I find myself constantly thinking of this quote from Lewis Carrol's "Through the Looking Glass":
""When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master – that's all." (Looking-Glass 6.63-65)"
Words, meaning of his sentences, as well as the truth, simply mean what he says they mean, often at later dates.
Trying to divine actual meaning from the president's speech and tweets is a useless and futile act.
""When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master – that's all." (Looking-Glass 6.63-65)"
Words, meaning of his sentences, as well as the truth, simply mean what he says they mean, often at later dates.
Trying to divine actual meaning from the president's speech and tweets is a useless and futile act.
15
Trump is most certainly a high-quality person with the most beautiful vocabulary that you've ever seen who is very, very smart.
11
Kinda makes you wistful about Dubya, The Orator by comparison.
13
Get over it. We lost, he's the president, and his use of language is the same as it always was. I truly wish that you and your colleagues would focus on the disastrous and callous Republican health care bill. This would require some actual research.
4
A few of my friends were English majors in college. No need for that anymore.
6
The simple fact that the words of the president of the United States do not make any sense and are politely endured by other leaders should be the main ground for his impeachment and compassionate commitment to some gilded rehab facility. For one, he is actually destroying his immediate family by drawing it into the most scandalous US presidency ever. The only defense for such a destructive behavior is "insanity" and I wish this topic was more seriously pursued by the press. If you don't name correctly the problem, how do you expect to resolve it?
17
Regardless of these niceties, like any good con Trump is very good at saying what his intended audience wants to hear in language they find accessible. The only way to stop him is through successful legal action while cornering him electorally with a minority audience in support. And so the race is on to catch the thief.
Trump is the symptom, not the problem. The problem is a mass of hateful, poorly educated whites coupled with an indeterminate crowd of hateful, rapacious rich. Greed and hate are terrible things and not necessarily articulate. They do know what they like, however. See wrestling clip and tax cuts.
Trump is the symptom, not the problem. The problem is a mass of hateful, poorly educated whites coupled with an indeterminate crowd of hateful, rapacious rich. Greed and hate are terrible things and not necessarily articulate. They do know what they like, however. See wrestling clip and tax cuts.
16
Charles,
You are absolutely right in your assessment of President Trump's use or should I say abuse of the language. He is a horrible man, he lies through his teeth, he disparages everyone especially women, has produced a brood of children who are just a clone of him in every aspect.
We can sit here and complain all we want. Keep in mind, he speaks the language of millions who voted for him and who still support him in spite of the scandals. They will realize nothing of his promises while the Trump's amass hundreds of millions of dollars for themselves.
This rotten man is here for the term and beyond. 8 years of Trump with the support he has from his congressional leaders cannot be underestimated.
All we can do is work towards shifting the balance of power in Congress and the Senate if this beast is to be brought under control.
You are absolutely right in your assessment of President Trump's use or should I say abuse of the language. He is a horrible man, he lies through his teeth, he disparages everyone especially women, has produced a brood of children who are just a clone of him in every aspect.
We can sit here and complain all we want. Keep in mind, he speaks the language of millions who voted for him and who still support him in spite of the scandals. They will realize nothing of his promises while the Trump's amass hundreds of millions of dollars for themselves.
This rotten man is here for the term and beyond. 8 years of Trump with the support he has from his congressional leaders cannot be underestimated.
All we can do is work towards shifting the balance of power in Congress and the Senate if this beast is to be brought under control.
12
Dear Mr. Blow, no matter how hard you try to discredit Donald Trump he has accomplished more in politics than anyone in my lifetime and i am older than you.
I am unfazed with Trumps crude style, maybe because i grew up up NYC.
Trump has plowed through the Republican and Democratic parties like butter meets knife.
The number he is doing on the MSM is unbelievable. CNN is on the ropes and going down.
I personally want change, i want revolution, destruction of all these organizations that refuse to yield beyond their selfish ways.
Knock a few big boys down and maybe all the dominoes will fall.
I am unfazed with Trumps crude style, maybe because i grew up up NYC.
Trump has plowed through the Republican and Democratic parties like butter meets knife.
The number he is doing on the MSM is unbelievable. CNN is on the ropes and going down.
I personally want change, i want revolution, destruction of all these organizations that refuse to yield beyond their selfish ways.
Knock a few big boys down and maybe all the dominoes will fall.
5
I've also lived in NYC for many years but somehow escaped the poor verbal expression trump uses and you clearly admire. What's to admire ?!
7
The people who put Trump in power, where they be American or Russian, could care diddly squat about Trump's diction or syntax. Trump has lowered the bar so much that you now need a shovel to find it. But his base never cared, or even noticed, that what he said was simplistic and repetitive. His body language was assured and his tone was "America First!". Simple, repetitive slogans work and Trump's ability to sell out weighed his 4th grade vocabulary. Let's move on and stop pointing out the obvious to those who already know Trump is very hugely and bigly below par and of course, sad!
5
@Lingonberry
On the subject, I think you mean "couldn't care diddly squat," as in couldn't [not "could"] care less.
On the subject, I think you mean "couldn't care diddly squat," as in couldn't [not "could"] care less.
Speaking and writing disclose how one thinks. One who speaks or writes clearly reveals a clear thinking mind. Every time Trump speaks he displays his confused and muddled mind. He knows very little about what he should know. In those rare instances when he says something accurately on an important topic, he says it in a way that most fourth graders would find unacceptable. They say he doesn't like to read. Instead, he likes to watch TV, especially those shows that cover him in an adoring way. I suppose this explains some of what we're witnessing.
But what really worries me is that Trump is an ignorant, pathologically lying narcissist on steroids, who respects and praises Putin, while treating Angela Merkel and other European Ally Leaders with disdain and disrespect.
And this Jared Kushner stuff is ridiculous. What qualifications does this guy have to be the quasi Secretary of State and quasi Chief of Staff? Answer:
NONE! Trump has zero sense of propriety. He surrounds himself with sycophants and yes-men and yes-women. Lincoln surrounded himself with strong-willed men who could question him, like Seward (who Lincoln beat to get nominated). Nor does Trump understand our Constitution. Do you think he has read any of the "Federalist Papers" by Jay, Hamilton, and Madison? Sorry, I forgot. He doesn't like to read. He likes to watch the shows.
I just hope things get better soon.
But what really worries me is that Trump is an ignorant, pathologically lying narcissist on steroids, who respects and praises Putin, while treating Angela Merkel and other European Ally Leaders with disdain and disrespect.
And this Jared Kushner stuff is ridiculous. What qualifications does this guy have to be the quasi Secretary of State and quasi Chief of Staff? Answer:
NONE! Trump has zero sense of propriety. He surrounds himself with sycophants and yes-men and yes-women. Lincoln surrounded himself with strong-willed men who could question him, like Seward (who Lincoln beat to get nominated). Nor does Trump understand our Constitution. Do you think he has read any of the "Federalist Papers" by Jay, Hamilton, and Madison? Sorry, I forgot. He doesn't like to read. He likes to watch the shows.
I just hope things get better soon.
15
to Mr. Douglas == Your very excellent comment is welcome. But, sadly I don't think your hope is going to be realized. Trump is President. Things will get far worse before they get better. And that is looking like a long, long time.
3
The photo is priceless---a dark shadow over his face, except for the lying mouth with its perpetual pout. Stark. A work of art that brings out the sinister quality of this depraved Trumpet!
11
his first language was deceit, his second bombast, and good old NY style American English came in a poor third. bigly. sad.
5
Technically, it was the Dutch who first stepped up to assist the newly formed USA with a cash loan brokered by Ben Franklin. It was the French who followed up by sending troops and aid to help the colonists in their actual fight with Britain. France's interests surrounded the colonies north of the St Lawrence and west of the Mississippi as they too had a stake in the game.
5
It is a sad and forlorn day in this wonderful country as we grapple with the fact that we elected a salesman-president. Even reference to a salesman suggests too much credit. While many, if not most, salesmen have little regard for the truth, and will spout out whatever necessary to make the deal, there are some who may still retain a twinge, a dash, of discomfort with the outright lie. In our case, obviously not.
12
It has occurred to me that Trump's mother may not have spoken English and that English wasn't spoken in their home when he was born, and that he learned English as a second language.
3
Did Trump have a mother? This is the first I've heard of it.
3
Thoughts tumble out of Trump's head and onto his tongue in the same way that thoughts spill forth from the head of my 84 year old mother. Blessed is the old. My mother has valid points to make and share; she just struggles with articulation. But be patient and continue to listen.
4
Of all the awful things from trump, fo me this ranks high up there. There used to be a good faith understanding among people who disagreed that there was some truth to be arrived through conversation or debate. That no longer is generally the case as a result of the Trump's impact.
3
I realized about a year ago that Trump switches the use of the words everybody and nobody. He uses everybody when what is really true is nobody. And nobody when what is really true is everybody. It's very strange. He either does not know what is real, or what those words mean. I assume he knows those easy words, and therefore does not know what is real. This switcheroo is fun - until it isn't, with deadly consequences.
6
"A lot of people don't know that."
I didn't know that. More than likely the people who voted for me don't know that.
I didn't know that. More than likely the people who voted for me don't know that.
5
We have ourselves to blame for Trump. We live in a bubble, and echo chamber. Our collective refusal to see other American's perspective and experience has brought a very dangerous disengagement. We scratch our heads over how they can stand by Trump, refuse to reason, follow logic, believe facts... don't wonder any longer. They're tied to each other more by their opposition of the people they feel don't care, "elitists" "snobs" the ones that look down on them, than they are by an idealogical or political ideal. Social issues haven't helped. Pontificating on moral and ethical superiority over gender, race and sexual issues has alienated people further. In the Times, it's a daily onslaught of how evil white men are. So, at least own it, we had a hand in creating the situation by trying to silence and demean anyone who sees things differently. If we keep it up, he'll win in 2020. The left is far worse than the right in this regard.
10
I would not minimize the power of propaganda as well.
Are you imagining that "trying to silence and demean" is not the very purpose of Fox? Speak to their responsibility.
Are you imagining that "trying to silence and demean" is not the very purpose of Fox? Speak to their responsibility.
7
Just listened to Prince William's speech in Poland at the Warsaw Uprising museum. It was Eloquent, moving, and heartfelt.
Hard to believe Trump had to be dragged there and his speech and behavior was an embarrassment to our country.
Hard to believe Trump had to be dragged there and his speech and behavior was an embarrassment to our country.
10
Oh how I miss the erudition, the elegance, and the intelligence of Barack Obama.
32
You articulated a lot of my frustration better than I could. I just don't think I can take listening to him anymore at all...
7
Dear Mr. Blow, I just love this exquisitely well-written sentence, and it doesn't hurt that President What's-his-Name would need an interpreter to explain it to him in lots of short simple sentences with short simple words, all tweeted to him for his perusal and edification.
"I would submit that the Trumps lie in two ways: first, by directly and intentionally saying things they know well aren’t true, and second, by obfuscating with linguistic obtuseness, by overusing a nebulous relativism and by spouting an excess of superlatives to stand in for meaningful description and disclosure."
"I would submit that the Trumps lie in two ways: first, by directly and intentionally saying things they know well aren’t true, and second, by obfuscating with linguistic obtuseness, by overusing a nebulous relativism and by spouting an excess of superlatives to stand in for meaningful description and disclosure."
7
Oh, are you going to get it!! And keep going. You are right on.
1
it is literally mind numbing
2
He graduated with honors from the Sarah Palin School of Elocution whose members pride themselves in contradictions and outrageous claims that make anyone with an IQ of over 100 wince.
8
Trump doesn't put his language through a meat grinder. He only know 5 or 6 adjectives.
2
Trump, appalling as he is, might very well be doing America and its citizens a favor: by shining a light on all of us so we can see how truly ridiculous we have become as a society and civilization. If only we could put an end to our Internet obsession and regard a planet that is LITERALLY collapsing around us. Put away the websites (you know, Facebook, Twitter, whatever Snapchat does. I'm 26 and glad I don't know) and focus on improving the human condition. Trump's stupidity, vapidness and mediocrity should be a wake up call to all of us, who've become all that and more.
5
As stated in the opening verse to the gospel of St. John: In the beginning was the WORD... That WORD is creative, and that's where Trump is genetically unable to go. He is not creative. He lives in the world of complexes that prevent anything creative or original to come forth. He lies because he lives in a world of lies.
That 62 million people can accept his lies, misdirections, and obfuscations, and even accept them as their reality, is nothing other than a form of mass psychosis.
That 62 million people can accept his lies, misdirections, and obfuscations, and even accept them as their reality, is nothing other than a form of mass psychosis.
9
Mr. Blow, I agree with you about Mr. Trump's manner of speaking. I hope that even his supporters will eventually grow tired of Mr. Trump's apparent inability to stay on point or think in long form.
Speaking of mauling the language, was your tongue in your cheek when you typed: "by obfuscating with linguistic obtuseness, by overusing a nebulous relativism and by spouting an excess of superlatives to stand in for meaningful description and disclosure"?
Speaking of mauling the language, was your tongue in your cheek when you typed: "by obfuscating with linguistic obtuseness, by overusing a nebulous relativism and by spouting an excess of superlatives to stand in for meaningful description and disclosure"?
1
Well, he's certainly not President Obama, and many of us miss him, but it is what it is, and many hands, many of our own, took part in delivering Trump. At this point, given I'm not the privileged kind, and healthcare babble is worrisome --- I just hope I make it out alive with a dime to my name.
1
This is the language of a con man.
Also, I am 62 years old, and to me Junior is a young man, and to the 92 year old woman I visit and help on Mondays, I am "Just a kid".
Also, I am 62 years old, and to me Junior is a young man, and to the 92 year old woman I visit and help on Mondays, I am "Just a kid".
1
My comment (s), published June 29...and I feared I was a voice "crying in the wilderness". Well done! Lrts hope others get the message.
Given the justice of your larger point, it's dispiriting to have to point out that the diction is suspect in your own opening paragraph: "...as a person whose vocation concerns him with language," is an ugly construction at best. "...whose vocation requires close attention to the use of language." is better, don't you think? But God only knows what the editors at the Times are up to these days.
2
Speaking clearly and distinctly to make yourself understood shows consideration for the person you are addressing; writing is the same.
In my opinion, Trump's wall of gibberish shows only contempt for whom he is addressing.
In my opinion, Trump's wall of gibberish shows only contempt for whom he is addressing.
7
His name's his idol.
2
"More importantly, this is, I believe, projection, one of Trump’s compulsive traits. What he is guilty of is exactly what he accuses others of being guilty of." Indeed, and his spokespersons do the same, as in the current case of outgoing ethics chief Walter M. Shaub. Mr. Shaub said "the Trump administration had flouted or directly challenged long-accepted norms in a way that threatened to undermine the United States’ ethical standards, which have been admired around the world." (NYTimes) "A White House official dismissed the criticism, saying on Sunday that Mr. Shaub was simply promoting himself and had failed to do his job properly." Typical cynical political move, accuse the "other side" of doing what your man is doing.
6
Trump is a classic know-nothing who has mastered the con of speaking like he knows more than you and you must be stupid to question his authority. This may work in the sketchy world of real estate development when your words are backed by a bevy of lawyers, but it's not appropriate for elected office. The press should be all over him and his press spokespeople for their efforts to grift democracy.
7
A lot of people didn't know that ? Maybe he meant his base and if I were them, or him for that matter , I would resemble that remark ! Plain and simple , he lies and dodges questions by savaging the language. You can take the boy out of Queens , but you can't take Queens out of the boy , some people may resemble that remark about Queens and I apologize for that. If he could blame dead people for his errors , he would , but I just remembered , he claims dead people voted . Oy vey !
1
I was first drawn to Trump because he spoke in the cadences of a character from The Sopranos. It's a kind of New Yorkese that produces a bada-bing, and a friendly gesture may be a punch or a slap. It was all very refreshing after Obama's hissing sibilance when he was in presidential or lawyerly mode. Totally fake stuff. Now I may be the only person on the planet who believed that one of the reasons that Trump won was the flights of oratory he achieved on the stump. No kidding.
4
You are the only one.
5
So shocking and unnerving to listen to this cretin speak. His very limited vocabulary and sentence construction belies a Wharton education ! Obviously $ talks " beautifully " ,so there you have it. I'm realizing his base has no critical thinking skills and also low intellect. Perhaps even some are truly illiterate. Education is not a priority with these misguided people so their progeny will continue this downward spiral that this faux president displays daily.
7
Iris Murdoch wrote "Without language, we cannot think." Tragically, her imaginative elegance of thought was erased as she struggled to express herself while battling Alzheimer's and dementia. Trump, while never remotely capable of her cognition and insight, as a younger man was able to manipulate the semiotics and symbols of a sophisticated worldling : flashy cars, mirrored skyscrapers adorned with his name, beautiful women as ingenue. As he withers into his dotage, his corruption of soul and mind is expressed in his blurted tweets. Murdoch left us with some great books. What will Trump leave when his number is up? He is incapable of thought. Nothing.
5
You forgot the sniffing behavior. During the debates, people were accusing him of cocaine use, but he does it when he is unsure of himself and it is similar to animal behavior when the animal breathes in deeply to puff himself up to scare his enemies.
6
Speech minus corresponding action is meaningless. Trump makes incoherently grandiose promises and cannot and will not keep any of them, while Obama's stirringly progressive oratory betrayed someone who disconcertingly governed well to the right of Richard Nixon. And I still have no idea what Hillary stood for...
1
She told you to go to Hillary Clinton.com.
But it would probably be too concise and intellectual for you but, it's all there.
But it would probably be too concise and intellectual for you but, it's all there.
4
It's time to stop calling trump a child, narcissist, sociopath, selfish, greedy, and so on. One word describes trump to a t, degenerate.
3
Trump sounds more like a graduate of Trump University than Wharton. He must have been a C student - just enough to graduate. There are some of us to whom language is important as is the search for exactly the right word to express what we mean to say. The English language is rich with nuance. This is lost on Trump whose vocabulary seems very limited for a purportedly educated man. As well, he is not a reader and seems not to appreciate language. He repeats the same thought in the same words twice or even three times. He speaks in superlatives. There are no shades of meaning in anything he says, no inspiration, no call to higher goals, just egotistical bombast. The US has heard oratory from JFK, FDR, MLK and others in its history. Trump does not even compete for the bottom of a list of great American speakers. Added to that we have what Mary McCarthy said about Lillian Hellmann and what applies equally to Trump: Every word he says is a lie including "and" and "the".
3
In a piece titled "Trump Savagely Mauls the Language" Blow sets out to make the case that Trump "puts language through a meat grinder and what emerges is nearly unrecognizable", that "his usage is also a way of reducing language to the point that it is meaningless".
However when he sets out to make his case and give us examples of how Trump lacks the ability to even make himself understood because his use of language is "mindless" he fails miserably.
Example 1. when he’s trying to flatter and finagle he overuses the term "beautiful".
Example 2. He twice referred to his 39 year old son as a "young man"
Example 3. Trump said that "a lot of people don't know" that France was out first ally. Blow tells is he would wager that Trump didn't know that until preparing for that trip.
Example 4. Trump cited an anonymous source, "somebody" which he immediately followed by stating that that somebody may be wrong.
Example 5. Trump said in France in regard to the climate accord that "we will talk about that over the coming period of time, to which Blow alleges that "coming period of time" will never come.
The obvious problem with the illustrations that Blow provides is that none are remotely related to how Trump "Savagely Mauls the Language". Clearly Blow has become so blinded by his rage at Trump that he thinks any and all accusation against Trump are valid, and there is no need to even bother with making his case. That we will accept his accusations simply because it has been made.
However when he sets out to make his case and give us examples of how Trump lacks the ability to even make himself understood because his use of language is "mindless" he fails miserably.
Example 1. when he’s trying to flatter and finagle he overuses the term "beautiful".
Example 2. He twice referred to his 39 year old son as a "young man"
Example 3. Trump said that "a lot of people don't know" that France was out first ally. Blow tells is he would wager that Trump didn't know that until preparing for that trip.
Example 4. Trump cited an anonymous source, "somebody" which he immediately followed by stating that that somebody may be wrong.
Example 5. Trump said in France in regard to the climate accord that "we will talk about that over the coming period of time, to which Blow alleges that "coming period of time" will never come.
The obvious problem with the illustrations that Blow provides is that none are remotely related to how Trump "Savagely Mauls the Language". Clearly Blow has become so blinded by his rage at Trump that he thinks any and all accusation against Trump are valid, and there is no need to even bother with making his case. That we will accept his accusations simply because it has been made.
2
The dumbing/Trumping down of America. Sad.
3
Once again the #FailingNYT accuses Trump falsely of not using words english right.
#TherealDonnietwoscoops language is beautiful.
A lot of people don't know that.
Fake News, sad, MAGA!
#TherealDonnietwoscoops language is beautiful.
A lot of people don't know that.
Fake News, sad, MAGA!
Every time I read Charles Blow's column, the message is always the same. "I hate Trump", "I hate Trump even more now than before" and "you should hate Trump too". If Trump picked up a kitten, Mr. Blow would find something evil about it. You know what? I don't even listen to him or Democrat hysteria anymore. Yes, Trump has done and said a lot of dumb things but the Democrats need to find a message other than "I hate _____"
3
And I thought his mangling of the English language was due to stupidity.
4
Where is Professor Henry Higgins when The Donald needs him? Can you picture this, Trump trying to say," In Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly happen." Hey, if Eliza Can do it, you can too.
2
His speech is adapted to lying pathologically and avoiding responsibility for any of his actions. This is what a conman sounds like or a person with a narcissistic personality disorder.
5
Claire re very very stormy night. So true. Totally!!!
What can you do with a vocabulary of 20? My cocker spaniel had a vocabulary of 50. Beautiful! Tremendous!
What can you do with a vocabulary of 20? My cocker spaniel had a vocabulary of 50. Beautiful! Tremendous!
4
"More importantly, this is, I believe, projection, one of Trump’s compulsive traits. What he is guilty of is exactly what he accuses others of being guilty of.”
Spot-on, Mr. Blow. How else to explain the pejorative nicknames “crooked Hillary,” “lyin’ Ted,” “crazy Joe,” “low-IQ Mika,” etc.? His method of rhetoric is to take his own failings and not only project them on to his opponents but to fire that first shot, and then repeat the lie incessantly until it takes on the appearance of truth. “I’m rubber, but you’re glue,” except that the “glue” doesn’t get to hurl the accusation first before it bounces back and sticks to him/her.
Spot-on, Mr. Blow. How else to explain the pejorative nicknames “crooked Hillary,” “lyin’ Ted,” “crazy Joe,” “low-IQ Mika,” etc.? His method of rhetoric is to take his own failings and not only project them on to his opponents but to fire that first shot, and then repeat the lie incessantly until it takes on the appearance of truth. “I’m rubber, but you’re glue,” except that the “glue” doesn’t get to hurl the accusation first before it bounces back and sticks to him/her.
4
Mr. blow-- you are not the target of Trump's lies. His audience are the folks who don't think that Trump is a liar. The fact that it incenses the rest of us is icing on the cake to Trump but it is not his main intent.
PT Barnum memorably stated that a 'sucker is born every minute.' And Darwin proclaimed that survival is of the fittest. It is apparent since Trump's election that Barnum's truth is the more powerful one since the supply of ignoramuses has grown to the point where they have elected a president mainly on their own.
Until we comprehend what Trump and his republican friends already know --namely, that a sucker is born every minute and apparently die more slowly than that, we are unlikely to escape this scourge.
PT Barnum memorably stated that a 'sucker is born every minute.' And Darwin proclaimed that survival is of the fittest. It is apparent since Trump's election that Barnum's truth is the more powerful one since the supply of ignoramuses has grown to the point where they have elected a president mainly on their own.
Until we comprehend what Trump and his republican friends already know --namely, that a sucker is born every minute and apparently die more slowly than that, we are unlikely to escape this scourge.
2
Every time he says, "We'll see what happens," I scream at the television, "That is not a policy!" And I don't think the vacuousness of his language is as much a result of his small intellect as it is of a life honed by decades of deceit. He doesn't even have to think about it. It's second nature to him. A few expressions I will never want to hear again once this is over: That I can tell you; believe me; (ugh this one) big league.
6
One sad consequence of this, that we saw again and again during the campaign, was the media's almost accidental dressing-up of Trump's language. Confronted with a tornado of gobbeldygook and rambling drivel, journalists seemed to be uncomfortable simply calling out Trump's "ideas" for what they were--utter nonsense. Thus journalists took whatever bits and pieces they could, fit them into a narrative they themselves constructed in an effort to write an article that made the least bit of sense, and then threw in a couple of descriptors like "unconventional" to cover their tracks. Journalistic objectivity seemed to preclude calling a major candidate for the highest office in the land a numbskull--yet that assessment was much closer to the truth than what we got. Sad.
5
We elected a lying, racist, sexist vulgarian, and a lying, racist, sexist vulgarian is what we got. Endless shame on those who could -- and should -- have voted, but didn't bother.
7
He must be a terrible poker player. His bluffing "tell" is the phrase "Believe me." I shudder every time I hear those words from him.
3
Trump is in way over his head and that is revealed daily by what he says. Fortunately for him this is of no concern to at least 38% of the nation who voted for him and continue to support him. They understand what he says just fine. "Paris is a beautiful city." That's all they need or want to know. They don't like or understand fancy pants intellectual constitutional law scholars who are just trying to make them feel stupid.
2
Donald Trump is an idiot as anyone who has watched him over his seemingly endless decades in the public eye can testify. He is also a liar as many who have wanted to actually be paid for work done on his behalf can testify. Unfortunately, there are many in this nation who had not been exposed to him before he turned to politics, so they can't believe they were taken in. His lack of specifics leaves all of us filling in the blanks. His failure is now ours.
2
Yes, Mr. Blow. We know, Mr. Blow. What should we do, Mr. Blow? What can we do?
2
Poor Americans .... it is only to be hoped that Mr Trump is not a reflection of those who voted for him ... but with all respect he is of high entertainment value an a gain for all commedians
Hey! Give Donnie [Дональд] a break. For a guy whose first language is Russian, he does ok, great, beautiful, the best.
So, according to CB and many anti-Trumpians here, if you ran a soft drink company and developed a cola beverage, your advertising should consist of pages of lofty sonnets dedicated to the taste, the eye appeal, the carbonation, the ecstasy felt by drinkers when the first put their lips, trembling with anticipation, to the bottle and then slowly swallow this hallowed beverage? Followed by detailed technical analysis of the various ingredients and how each one affects the pleasure centers of the brain...
Or should you simply say something like "things go better with coke?"
Or should you simply say something like "things go better with coke?"
5
Trump wouldn't say something like "things go better with coke" he would start whining about how Coke sells Coke overseas and he would screw up access to Coke from Mexico and it would cost 5 bucks a bottle.
Then he would go into some rant about Mexicans making Coke while he still makes his crap in China. And then he would start up some tweet storm about some female he had a run-in with and go for a quick golf game that taxpayers shelled out for.
Nothing simple about T but his brain.
Then he would go into some rant about Mexicans making Coke while he still makes his crap in China. And then he would start up some tweet storm about some female he had a run-in with and go for a quick golf game that taxpayers shelled out for.
Nothing simple about T but his brain.
2
Really?! You think THAT is what Trump is guilty of? Not being appropriately descriptive enough?! No, what he is guilty of is LYING, of using words and collections of words that mean nothing, and, at a very basic level, of speaking like a child (and a child with a very poor vocabulary). He is an utter embarrassment. Thank you Charles Blow! Keep your Trump-focused columns coming!!!
7
ralphie — seriously — I can't see how your analogy relates to the topic at all. It's as if you had no idea what Mr. Blow and the rest of us are talking about.
3
Trump has proven himself to be an outright liar, devious schemer and malevolent to the people whose interest he supposedly represents. Good. Accepted. Obvious. It does little or no good to spend so much space and effort deriding this creature, some yes, but what is really needed is constructive counter-proposals, a constructive program to be espoused daily with the hope it will eventually seep into the minds of the American people: single payer health-care, a minimum wage of fifteen dollars, restricting the banks so 2008 is not restricted, tuition free state colleges. When it becomes clear, or clearer, to the general populace that the Democratic Party is sincere in its efforts to help the people by becoming the representatives of such a program, they will flock away from this demagogue and vote for its candidate in the next election. To repeat, to spend so much effort in the negative procedure of calling names and efforts to ridicule accomplishes little. STRESS THE POSITIVE!
7
In a recent email to an acquaintance, I flatly described Trump as the worst of our 45 presidents.
The acquaintance (who, incidentally, voted for Trump) sent an angry, defensive reply with this summary: "So maybe now you realize that instead of the worst president ever, Trump is our beast!"
Thank you, dear acquaintance. I couldn't have mangled the language more effectively!
The acquaintance (who, incidentally, voted for Trump) sent an angry, defensive reply with this summary: "So maybe now you realize that instead of the worst president ever, Trump is our beast!"
Thank you, dear acquaintance. I couldn't have mangled the language more effectively!
12
I don't understand your friends message. Or is that your point?
@ caljn Ken's friend meant to write, "Trump is our best [president]" but wrote "Trump is our beast" instead. Although Ken's friend is a Trump voter, he accidentally called Trump a beast, which is actually what he is.
4
Thanks for your right-on reply, kathy.
2
"Lie until compelled to tell the truth," and when so compelled, claim that the truth doesn't matter.
The thing is, it DOES matter. It matters very much. The bedrock of our democratic foundation as a nation is at-stake. The question is, do we care enough to resist the endless onslaught of mendacity?
The thing is, it DOES matter. It matters very much. The bedrock of our democratic foundation as a nation is at-stake. The question is, do we care enough to resist the endless onslaught of mendacity?
7
As a writer and a former English teacher, this frustrates and appalls me. I can't understand how people can listen to him without having their heads explode. I believe his speech is what he's learned over the years: use simple words to confuse people; use incoherent phrases to confound the intelligent.
8
Respectfully, I think you are giving Trump far too much credit. I don't think there is intent or strategy behind what he utters. He speaks the way he does because he is so appallingly unintelligent.
3
It is word salad that's been tossed so completely it has been pureed. It is also quite likely a symptom of an illness, presumably some form of dementia.
11
Somebody said that Trump's presidency is built on greed, mendacity, nepotism and willful ignorance. A lot of people don't know that or refuse to acknowledge that, particularly GOP Congressmen.
4
My older Brother, may he rest in peace, and I used to burn a lot of long distance money once a week destroying George W. Bush and his "Bushisms." If he were still alive today, those calls would have to be nightly. And we would laugh ourselves directly into insanity.
9
When I expressed my frustration with the President's limited vocabulary to a Trump supporter, their response was that everyone could understand his message.
6
Because the message was one loud 'dog whistle.'
2
When a dog barks at a hamburger, everyone can understand his message.
3
There is nothing to degrade the trump anymore, trump is a pariah among the distinguished leaders of civilized nations ! Even Mugabe of Zimbabwe speaks much better English than this so called president and pariah !
6
The elegance of a person is reflected in MANY different ways - in speech, in demeanor, in interactions, while dining, even in how one dresses oneself. Very rarely any one of such personality trait will display inelegance.
Take Obama for example. Do people notice that when he makes a prepared speech - and in most impromptu comments - he VERY rarely, if ever, utter words as “um,” “uh,” “well,” “so,” “you know,” “er,” “like”, etc.??
Obama's diction is legendary - comparable to that of JFK. They are the kinds of leaders who can INSPIRE!
In the case of Trump, the majority of people despair!
Just watch how Obama typically walks with confident strides. Compare him with Trump who was the ONLY leader in a G20 golf game who rode a golf cart!!
Obama exudes elegance. Trump oozes crassness, crudity.
However, a 71-year-old man cannot change his personality. He has NO incentive to act differently either since his base - which of course reflects his personality fully - is totally agreeable with him.
In his arrogance and sense of entitlement, Trump will NEVER acknowledge ANY flaw in his personality, in ANY way he acts.
If one does NOT acknowledge a flaw, one can NEVER correct it!!!
Take Obama for example. Do people notice that when he makes a prepared speech - and in most impromptu comments - he VERY rarely, if ever, utter words as “um,” “uh,” “well,” “so,” “you know,” “er,” “like”, etc.??
Obama's diction is legendary - comparable to that of JFK. They are the kinds of leaders who can INSPIRE!
In the case of Trump, the majority of people despair!
Just watch how Obama typically walks with confident strides. Compare him with Trump who was the ONLY leader in a G20 golf game who rode a golf cart!!
Obama exudes elegance. Trump oozes crassness, crudity.
However, a 71-year-old man cannot change his personality. He has NO incentive to act differently either since his base - which of course reflects his personality fully - is totally agreeable with him.
In his arrogance and sense of entitlement, Trump will NEVER acknowledge ANY flaw in his personality, in ANY way he acts.
If one does NOT acknowledge a flaw, one can NEVER correct it!!!
7
trump* speaks in lorem ipsum.
1
We need no longer look for Bigfoot....It's in Trump's mouth.
7
Talking about language, Charles, you don't have to add the word 'impossible' after your comment about trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip. Most NY TIMES readers know that; tautologous, in fact.
2
I wish he would stop speaking in tongues..
5
"... the coming period of time" has a precise meaning and measure. It's the same interval in which Trump will release, un-compelled, his tax returns.
2
It is also when we will finally find out the "unbelievable" things his "investigators" in Hawaii dug up about President Obama's birth certificate.
1
Can we use his non-speech language to estimate his vocabulary
After you subtract 100 very's .. Guessing it will be substandard
After you subtract 100 very's .. Guessing it will be substandard
1
Your attacks on Trump will not resurrect Clinton, nor will it clean her dirt.
3
Nor will that statement clean Trump's much worse dirt.
Who cares about Clinton anymore? She has no power, her 'dirt' can't hurt anyone. Trump's can.
Who cares about Clinton anymore? She has no power, her 'dirt' can't hurt anyone. Trump's can.
3
Donald J. trump, a Betsy DeVos pupil, no doubt.
8
Proud supporter of TrumpU.
It is a sign of the normality of the Trump presidency now that the main thing Mr. Blow finds to complain about is his language use. Which, by the way, was a key part of getting him elected.
As a scientist I have little in common with either, but I fail to see why a smooth talking lawyer would make a better president than a blunt talking builder.
As a scientist I have little in common with either, but I fail to see why a smooth talking lawyer would make a better president than a blunt talking builder.
2
Well one of them is a huge liar, a womanizer, a bully, totally ignorant of our history and laws, and just plain crazy.
Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Truman were blunt. Trump spouts pablum shot through with lies. That's not blunt. That's watery garbage for low-information voters.
1
The whole point is that he's NOT blunt - his words are like jello, they wiggle and wobble and mean nothing. They express a nasty, angry ATTITUDE, and little else. It's an attitude that some poor fools who consider themselves victims can relate to, but that's not enough to govern with.
You eventually need to express some truth to govern successfully, and there's no truth hiding in Trump's seemingly-blunt language. He's not really blunt about speaking truth, he's just blunt about being angry and nasty. If the smooth talking lawyer is truthful only 10% of the time, I'll take the lawyer.
You eventually need to express some truth to govern successfully, and there's no truth hiding in Trump's seemingly-blunt language. He's not really blunt about speaking truth, he's just blunt about being angry and nasty. If the smooth talking lawyer is truthful only 10% of the time, I'll take the lawyer.
2
Hey, hey, stop insulting chameleons!
3
If you're going to split hairs on Trump's grammar, you should also have done so when Obama used bad grammar, e.g. ".....Michele and I," when it should have been, "...Michele and me." Good grammar is more important for lawyers than businessmen. Do you know the meaning of "hypocrite?" Journalists/politicians/lawyers, hypocrites all...Blow, Trump and Obama.
4
You think attributing a source to 'somebody said' is a matter of grammar? Or that saying 'a lot of people don't know' something that everyone except Trump has known since grade school is a matter of grammar?
If you're going to write a comment in the Times, to be persuasive you will need more than grammar - you will need straight thinking. You might start by Googling the meaning of 'grammar'.
If you're going to write a comment in the Times, to be persuasive you will need more than grammar - you will need straight thinking. You might start by Googling the meaning of 'grammar'.
1
Please. A few minor gaffes over eight years by a constitutional law scholar and undeniably bright and articulate man is not equivalent to the incessant incoherent ramblings of a reality TV star. Honestly, that's your defense of the indefensible? Have you ever read what he says when not reading a scripted speech. There's hardly a complete sentence or conventional word order ever!
2
“A lot of people don’t know that.” This is President Trump’s go to sentence when he learns something knew. In his mind, he is the most intelligent, smartest know-it-all that ever lived, but in the off chance he learns something knew, then a “lot of people” also must have not known that! It’s his way of salving his own ego.
Trump grew up with the tabloid media where anonymous sourcing is the primary mode of reporting. Now Trump has brought that tabloid character to his presidency. He blames the mainstream media for anonymous sourcing on the one hand, while using his deliberately vague sourcing (somebody, many people are saying, period of time, etc.) in his own statements on the other hand. His massive ego and tremendous sense of self worth prevents him from recognizing his own hypocrisy.
This is the hand we have been dealt with – we the people will have to cringe and bear it, as the tabloid president goes forth making a fool of himself and our beloved nation around the world.
Trump grew up with the tabloid media where anonymous sourcing is the primary mode of reporting. Now Trump has brought that tabloid character to his presidency. He blames the mainstream media for anonymous sourcing on the one hand, while using his deliberately vague sourcing (somebody, many people are saying, period of time, etc.) in his own statements on the other hand. His massive ego and tremendous sense of self worth prevents him from recognizing his own hypocrisy.
This is the hand we have been dealt with – we the people will have to cringe and bear it, as the tabloid president goes forth making a fool of himself and our beloved nation around the world.
7
We don't really need 1,485 comments to parse Trump's mangling of the English language. It's not about his thought process or his syntax or his verbal tics. In this case, the simplest explanation is the correct one: The man is breathtakingly STUPID.
14
Can we just say that he has early stage dementia? That explains everything.
10
Dead air is death to broadcasters and hustlers. Much of Trump's verbal meandering is to avoid allowing anyone else time to speak should he pause to collect his thoughts. This is also due greatly to the fact that he rarely has a clue and just makes it up as he goes along.
4
He has the vocabulary of a 4th Grader and the intellect of a shriveled eggplant and that is being unkind to 4th graders and eggplants.
10
We've never had a complete ignoramus for a president before. I think this is the first time and many countries are thinking we got exactly what we deserved. It’s like watching the first reality horror show.
10
This illiterate ignoramus has a degree from Wharton.
How is this possible?
Reading, writing, critical thinking skills are not needed to get degrees from top notch ivy league institutions?
Bush 43 has degrees from Yale and Harvard.
I'm starting to see a pattern here, hahaha...
How is this possible?
Reading, writing, critical thinking skills are not needed to get degrees from top notch ivy league institutions?
Bush 43 has degrees from Yale and Harvard.
I'm starting to see a pattern here, hahaha...
6
Trump joins Sarah Palin as a serial abuser of the English language. If there was a law against it we would put them in jail and throw away the keys.
8
His gibberish is but one symptom of a fraying republic.The Trump voter does not care how this man speaks, they 'feel stuff' instead, immutable objects allergic to immutable facts.
3
So glad you pointed this out - and in such an articulate way! Listening to Trump speak is almost impossible to take it is so grating, and his words are meaningless. It's odd that he cannot summon even a few more adjectives than beautiful, and that SAD! is the only way he knows to comment on ANYTHING.
It is not only his lack of vocabulary, but his total lack of knowledge, understanding of places and issues, but it almost seems like he revels in his ignorance.
One can't help but compare him to his predecessor - one of the most well spoken, articulate, and intelligent men we've had in that position. And this current never even accepted or acknowledged that Obama was a legitimate and competent President.
Yikes, it's really hard to have to go backwards like this!
It is not only his lack of vocabulary, but his total lack of knowledge, understanding of places and issues, but it almost seems like he revels in his ignorance.
One can't help but compare him to his predecessor - one of the most well spoken, articulate, and intelligent men we've had in that position. And this current never even accepted or acknowledged that Obama was a legitimate and competent President.
Yikes, it's really hard to have to go backwards like this!
4
20 years ago, Mark Singer of the New Yorker, followed Trump for a week and when he wrote his essay stated that Trump lacked any introspection and simply had no soul.
This link is to Mark’s comments on that article and the essay shows a very damaged and incomplete person.
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/video-mark-singer-on-the-p...
Then go back and read Singer’s article.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/05/19/trump-solo
Trump has been shielded in his “Fortress Trump” (What the media called Trump Tower after the election and before he moved to the WH.)
His family and close associates..mostly his lawyers as he has no close friends...have been “protecting” him for decades. He heads up a family business that is not beholden to a board. Just as a family protects a very mentally ill family member, Trump’s three wives and children are fierce guards who defend him. We now see that his children carry the same traits of no empathy, no soul, or compassion for ANY living thing outside the nuclear family whether an endangered Cheetah or the rest of the 8 billion people who live on this planet.
Trump has Kellyanne and all of his apologists. I can only think that the few people who recognize his thorough incompetence love our country so much (Generals HR McMaster, John Kelly for example) that they stay in an attempt to save our country form this mentally incompetent man-child.
The rest? Just bozos along for the fame and power.
This link is to Mark’s comments on that article and the essay shows a very damaged and incomplete person.
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/video-mark-singer-on-the-p...
Then go back and read Singer’s article.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/05/19/trump-solo
Trump has been shielded in his “Fortress Trump” (What the media called Trump Tower after the election and before he moved to the WH.)
His family and close associates..mostly his lawyers as he has no close friends...have been “protecting” him for decades. He heads up a family business that is not beholden to a board. Just as a family protects a very mentally ill family member, Trump’s three wives and children are fierce guards who defend him. We now see that his children carry the same traits of no empathy, no soul, or compassion for ANY living thing outside the nuclear family whether an endangered Cheetah or the rest of the 8 billion people who live on this planet.
Trump has Kellyanne and all of his apologists. I can only think that the few people who recognize his thorough incompetence love our country so much (Generals HR McMaster, John Kelly for example) that they stay in an attempt to save our country form this mentally incompetent man-child.
The rest? Just bozos along for the fame and power.
26
Trump's language deficiencies combine with other deficits to make it impossible for him to deal with communication issues the way other politicians do. Public figures have to have ways of evading questions they do not want for whatever reason to answer candidly. They can take courses in how to do it. An artful question dodger (Justin Trudeau is a master at it) can respond to a dangerous question by saying something that is relevant to the topic, not demonstrably false, and sufficiently interesting that listeners tend to overlook the fact that it has not really answered the question. This takes a ready supply of related knowledge, skill at crafting sentences, and a fair amount of mental agility. Trump is lacking in all of these. What he does instead is lie. This has worked pretty well for him--not only with his base, who believe everything he says, but also with people who think he is on their side and want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He gains a reputation for giving direct answers, for "telling it like it is," even though "what it is" is usually false.
7
Back in the 1950s, President Eisenhower used to boast about how the tangled syntax of his non-answer answers stymied reporters in his press conferences. But according to "Ike", he was deliberately vague and hazy because, on those questions, he didn't want to reveal precise information. We're I a supporter of President Trump, I would like to believe that he is employing the same tactic.
At any rate, my hope is that the American voters don't re-elect Mr. Trump because they are bored and find him entertaining!
At any rate, my hope is that the American voters don't re-elect Mr. Trump because they are bored and find him entertaining!
Mr. Blow,
If you want a richer topic, I suggest you simply write about Trump's abuse, period.
Here's a partial list:
Language
Truth and facts
The environment
The media
Women
The sick
The poor
People of color
Civility
Muslims
Allies
Business partners
Workers
Contractors
Bond holders
Trump University "students"
The Office of the President
.
.
.
.
.
The point is that Trump is an abuser, pure and simple. It's how he operates.
Nothing but an illiterate, callous, shallow, narcissistic, ignorant, incurious, angry bully. Thank you, Trump voters.
If you want a richer topic, I suggest you simply write about Trump's abuse, period.
Here's a partial list:
Language
Truth and facts
The environment
The media
Women
The sick
The poor
People of color
Civility
Muslims
Allies
Business partners
Workers
Contractors
Bond holders
Trump University "students"
The Office of the President
.
.
.
.
.
The point is that Trump is an abuser, pure and simple. It's how he operates.
Nothing but an illiterate, callous, shallow, narcissistic, ignorant, incurious, angry bully. Thank you, Trump voters.
4
CB: You may be disturbed by Trump's diction and language use, I am disturbed by your incivility and inability to think.
3
A Trumpite berating someone about lack of civility is comedy gold. Could you possibly be more disingenuous?
CB is allowed to judged Trump, I am allowed to judge CB. Just by the by, I am an W Clinton/Obama voter with liberal credentials extending back decades. Now who is disingenuous? Truth hurts
2
As if you and your side have clean hands and pure hearts on this subject. Exhibit A: "human rights," a howler more egregiously fictional than any of the president's abuses of language.
1
The readability measure for about 500 words from DJT's inteview with AP on April 21, 2017 garnered the following results:
Flesch Reading Ease score: 83.8 (text scale)
Flesch Reading Ease scored your text: easy to read.
Gunning Fog: 6.4 (text scale)
Gunning Fog scored your text: fairly easy to read.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 4.1
Grade level: Fourth Grade.
The Coleman-Liau Index: 6
Grade level: Sixth Grade
The SMOG Index: 5.8
Grade level: Sixth Grade
Automated Readability Index: 2.9
Grade level: 8-9 yrs. old (Third and Fourth graders)
Linsear Write Formula : 4.9
Grade level: Fifth Grade.
Readability Consensus
Based on 8 readability formulas, we have scored the text:
Grade Level: 5
Reading Level: easy to read.
Reader's Age: 8-9 yrs. old (Fourth and Fifth graders)
Guess these scores clearly demonstrate why a majority of the GOP now finds post-secondary education unnecessary. In fact, it appears that you don't even need to attend high school to understand what the clown prince in the WH has to say to the press these days.
Flesch Reading Ease score: 83.8 (text scale)
Flesch Reading Ease scored your text: easy to read.
Gunning Fog: 6.4 (text scale)
Gunning Fog scored your text: fairly easy to read.
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 4.1
Grade level: Fourth Grade.
The Coleman-Liau Index: 6
Grade level: Sixth Grade
The SMOG Index: 5.8
Grade level: Sixth Grade
Automated Readability Index: 2.9
Grade level: 8-9 yrs. old (Third and Fourth graders)
Linsear Write Formula : 4.9
Grade level: Fifth Grade.
Readability Consensus
Based on 8 readability formulas, we have scored the text:
Grade Level: 5
Reading Level: easy to read.
Reader's Age: 8-9 yrs. old (Fourth and Fifth graders)
Guess these scores clearly demonstrate why a majority of the GOP now finds post-secondary education unnecessary. In fact, it appears that you don't even need to attend high school to understand what the clown prince in the WH has to say to the press these days.
5
I'm happy C.B. wrote this column: it's been remarked upon before, but it's important to underline it, because we have to hear the effusion of nonsense from the White House on a daily basis. And, as Mr. Blow reminds us, it's important that we not be inured to the inept communications that spew forth from our commander in chief's mouth. Poorly spoken is poorly conceived, and poorly conceived means we can not or should not trust. Whether or not you agree with Mr. Blow's message, his words are well-crafted, punchy, clear and effective. As a communicator, as well as in politics, Mr. Blow is the anti-Trump.
4
Mr. Blow, I dislike Donald Trump as much as you do but your columns are increasingly hysterical and repetitive. Instead of endlessly hashing and rehashing Trump's deficiencies, why don't you take a more positive approach? The Democrats can never win if they (like you) continue to run on a negative platform instead of coming up with detailed plans to offer the voters. I used to like reading you, but you are becoming a boring one-note Johnny. You are doing nothing but preaching to the choir. I don't see the point of this.
4
If there is anything positive (things that he has said or done) about Mr. Trump, please tell me.
2
New York City specializes in inarticulate mugging buffoons with fake hair and bulging physiques like Al Sharpton and Donnie Trump.
See Lewis Carroll regarding the flexible meanings of words along with the essay ' Ultimate Terms in Contemporary Rhetoric' and the writings of Joseph Goebbels and Roger Ailes.
See Lewis Carroll regarding the flexible meanings of words along with the essay ' Ultimate Terms in Contemporary Rhetoric' and the writings of Joseph Goebbels and Roger Ailes.
1
Spot on, black mamba. Mr. Trump is the quintessential New Yorker....
1
Covfefe says it all.
1
I agree with Mr. Blow that Trump’s use of language is ‘dizzying’ (and nausea-inducing.) The examples he uses are correct, and also give insight into whatever goes on in Trump’s ‘mind.’ The tics he identifies — especially the ‘somebody said’ or ‘someone told me’— are wildly dishonest.
Another important verbal tic merits mention.
“… who knows? …”
Trump scatters this allee-allee-infree of rhetoric everywhere. Maybe the Second Amendment people could fix Hillary’s SCOTUS appointments, who knows? Vaccines could be related to autism, who knows? Countries besides Russia could have hacked our election, who knows?
Attend to his public utterances, especially when challenged on what once were quaintly called ‘facts.’ His tic goes well beyond disbelieving experts, which is bad enough; or scattering doubt where there is none (which is worse.)
Rather, it makes whatever he says invulnerable to challenge or even to examination.
It is this — evidence that the most powerful and hence most dangerous man in the world — that shows what he truly is: a solipsist, a person who says “I, alone … exist”, and thus ‘anything I say is true’.
This is the true nature of this unspeakable monster’s language. It is worse than an assault on “candor, clarity or concision.” It is an assault on reality itself.
Another important verbal tic merits mention.
“… who knows? …”
Trump scatters this allee-allee-infree of rhetoric everywhere. Maybe the Second Amendment people could fix Hillary’s SCOTUS appointments, who knows? Vaccines could be related to autism, who knows? Countries besides Russia could have hacked our election, who knows?
Attend to his public utterances, especially when challenged on what once were quaintly called ‘facts.’ His tic goes well beyond disbelieving experts, which is bad enough; or scattering doubt where there is none (which is worse.)
Rather, it makes whatever he says invulnerable to challenge or even to examination.
It is this — evidence that the most powerful and hence most dangerous man in the world — that shows what he truly is: a solipsist, a person who says “I, alone … exist”, and thus ‘anything I say is true’.
This is the true nature of this unspeakable monster’s language. It is worse than an assault on “candor, clarity or concision.” It is an assault on reality itself.
6
Good morning Mr. Blow,
Your observations of Trumpian language use are interesting and accurate. But for me it's more than language. It's his whole thought process as revealed in linguistic usage. First of all he is remarkably limited intellectually with a paucity of civic knowledge. He is likely a 70 year old with a longstanding history of a reading disability and attentional deficits. More serious is his polarized thought process. He communicates in extremes. Things are beautiful or terrible, ugly. Trump has no capacity for midline thinking or recognizing shades of grey in a world that does not present itself in extremes all the time. Trump has no capacity for subtlety. It's all good or all bad. To top things off, you must consider the con factor to his mode of communication. Trump has no capacity for truth telling or commitment to reality. More seriously he has little self awareness and for that matter empathy to help inform his use of language.
Jean Charles Soucy
Your observations of Trumpian language use are interesting and accurate. But for me it's more than language. It's his whole thought process as revealed in linguistic usage. First of all he is remarkably limited intellectually with a paucity of civic knowledge. He is likely a 70 year old with a longstanding history of a reading disability and attentional deficits. More serious is his polarized thought process. He communicates in extremes. Things are beautiful or terrible, ugly. Trump has no capacity for midline thinking or recognizing shades of grey in a world that does not present itself in extremes all the time. Trump has no capacity for subtlety. It's all good or all bad. To top things off, you must consider the con factor to his mode of communication. Trump has no capacity for truth telling or commitment to reality. More seriously he has little self awareness and for that matter empathy to help inform his use of language.
Jean Charles Soucy
2
I for one are disturbed by your mockery of our "beautiful" leader. The constant stream of "fake news" which he tells he has "heard from someone" proves the mendacity of the "main stream press". But he soldiers on in his quest to "MAGA", ever wary of the "very, very dishonest press". This will be rectified when the "failing New York Times" is faced with suits after we "open the liberals laws". And let's not stop there: the "dishonest and failing CNN" will be exposed for what they are - "a liberal mouthpiece for disgrace Democrats, disappointed they did win". "You are going to so tired of winning", which happen "in some period of time", which h I "will announce in a short period of" - whatever.
You get my point. Keep up the RESISTANCE!
You get my point. Keep up the RESISTANCE!
3
Trump makes Joe Garagiola seem like a Rhodes scholar.Where did he learn English? At the Durante school at Penn State?
He makes George W. Bush (Mr. "Strategery") sound like Shakespeare.
2
It's time to start thinking about Charles Blow being given the Pulitzer Prize for excellence in editorial journalism.
Whether that happens or not, we all owe him a huge thank you right now.
Whether that happens or not, we all owe him a huge thank you right now.
6
...wouldn't Morocco be our oldest ally? --- oops...too close to the Muslim ban?!?!?!?!?!
The president of the United States is clearly insane. How that came to be is perhaps more insane.
2
Has anyone counted how many times the word "sad" has been used?
Trump is a dunce.
Trump employs every linguistic trick in the book.
NYT readers need to make up their minds.
Trump employs every linguistic trick in the book.
NYT readers need to make up their minds.
2
You left out the times he and those around him have plagiarized others, as if words are worthless, and their theft of no more concern than the rest of his lies.
1
Aside from his appalling language skills, let's not loose sight of his treasonous criminality.
I'll bet that he knows the difference between "lose" and "loose"....
2
More "frothing at the mouth" hateful invective. Kind of like the boy who cried "wolf". After a while you are tuned out.
3
Trump speaks at the level of a 5th grader.
One cringes every time Trump opens his small, dissipated, sneering mouth; each utterance is an embarrassment devoid of polish and elegance. I miss erudition. I miss Obama.
3
Sad.
What Charles and many of the time columnists say confirms my beliefs and I, like most if not all people, enjoy reading opinions that reinforce my own. Unfortunately, those who support Trump are likely not readers of the NY Times or other quality news sources and the well presented arguments they publish will have little impact on them. We need to focus on what steps to take to undo this national accident of Trump's election, remove him from office and start undoing the damage he has done and continues to do. The question is, how to do that. Do the Democrats need to start using propaganda to counter propaganda?
or in his own mind.
Yes this was obvious from the first time we saw Trump open his mouth. He does it in his own way, but the same thing has been done innumerable times over the course of America's history and it is considered "American" to do this and to fall for it. We have such an enormously wealthy country, and we can afford to throw our money away countless times to flim-flam men like this and make them rich. We could do so much better.
"Listening to Trump speak is a dizzying experience..." But the fact is that Donald Trump won the election by inventing words, in his own image.
What words or phrases do we associate with Hillary and Obama?
================================================
That's the problem. The Democrats have not been defining terms and so Trump and the Republicans walked away with the presidency and Congress.
Mock the President all you want, but he is the winner...
Time to wake up, Democrats with some expressions of their own, I say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What words or phrases do we associate with Hillary and Obama?
================================================
That's the problem. The Democrats have not been defining terms and so Trump and the Republicans walked away with the presidency and Congress.
Mock the President all you want, but he is the winner...
Time to wake up, Democrats with some expressions of their own, I say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
Trump's butchering of language - meaning, grammar, syntax, beauty - is both representative of the man's mind, a barren landscape of misfiring synapses and incomplete thoughts, and his brand of crude opportunism.
Whereas Hitler's propagandists employed high-flown rhetoric and powerful, twisted logic in their speech-making, Trump engages his minions with sputtering non-sense, vindictive rants and taunts. His words rarely mean anything. They are not meant to explain or persuade. They are intended to inflame the passion of the thoughtless herd.
Further, his program is apolitical. That is, he cares nothing at all about politics or the common good. Rather, his message is entirely personal: "Inferior people envy me, do not understand my greatness, and I will make them pay."
Hitler was an astute politician with hateful ideas. Trump is a hateful man who enriches himself - his businesses, his self-regard - through politics. The difference is vast and the outcomes, too, are probably very different. We hope. Regardless, propaganda is propaganda; and hate is hate. And Trump will sputter on to the very end.
Whereas Hitler's propagandists employed high-flown rhetoric and powerful, twisted logic in their speech-making, Trump engages his minions with sputtering non-sense, vindictive rants and taunts. His words rarely mean anything. They are not meant to explain or persuade. They are intended to inflame the passion of the thoughtless herd.
Further, his program is apolitical. That is, he cares nothing at all about politics or the common good. Rather, his message is entirely personal: "Inferior people envy me, do not understand my greatness, and I will make them pay."
Hitler was an astute politician with hateful ideas. Trump is a hateful man who enriches himself - his businesses, his self-regard - through politics. The difference is vast and the outcomes, too, are probably very different. We hope. Regardless, propaganda is propaganda; and hate is hate. And Trump will sputter on to the very end.
2
"If you debase language, you debase thought." - Noam Chomsky
2
If you’re Trump,
You’d make the case:
“I’m reaching out
To my base.”
Yes, his words aren’t so grand—
Simple words they’ll understand.
Words like “beautiful”, I surmise,
Are better than “strategize.”
Words, like “guns”, and “guts" and “God”
Are really what they’ll applaud!
And though it sounds a bit bombastic,
Trump fans love the word “fantastic”.
So, let’s not think "eloquence"
From either Trump or toady Pence.
Obama? Trump? Definitely not!!!
But we’re stuck with what we’ve got.
Hang on, guys! ’Til twenty-twenty,
We’ll be reading tweets a-plenty.
I'll close with words for “Deplorable Don”:
“We", "can’t", "wait", "’til", "you", "are", "GONE”!
You’d make the case:
“I’m reaching out
To my base.”
Yes, his words aren’t so grand—
Simple words they’ll understand.
Words like “beautiful”, I surmise,
Are better than “strategize.”
Words, like “guns”, and “guts" and “God”
Are really what they’ll applaud!
And though it sounds a bit bombastic,
Trump fans love the word “fantastic”.
So, let’s not think "eloquence"
From either Trump or toady Pence.
Obama? Trump? Definitely not!!!
But we’re stuck with what we’ve got.
Hang on, guys! ’Til twenty-twenty,
We’ll be reading tweets a-plenty.
I'll close with words for “Deplorable Don”:
“We", "can’t", "wait", "’til", "you", "are", "GONE”!
4
It is also Trump's great misfortune to follow one of the smartest and most eloquent men ever to occupy the White House--Barack Obama. Even on his best days when he stays on topic and uses a TelePrompTer, Trump is a bumbling orator. When speaking off the cuff, he makes no attempt to use formal English and often sounds like what he admires--a New York thug.
5
Your analysis is flawed because you are wrong that the Trumps only tell the truth when there is no alternative. Even then they don't! The crowd at Trump's inauguration was still the biggest ever. There were still millions of illegal votes case against him. The whole birther movement was still a search for truth motivated by Hillary Clinton. Even when the rest of us would feel the jig was up and there was no alternative but the truth, the lie continues.
1
Disordered speech = disordered thought.
2
Pity the translators!
3
Does the NYT have a limit on the number of times one of its columnists can pass off summarizing an article in the Washington Post as an original column? Should we be subscribing to the WP instead of the NYT?
2
I think Blow's column appears twice weekly so we know the limit has to be at least three...
1
Trump is a sociopath.
And the GOP is fast becoming a sociopathic group often using patriotic or religious language to lie.
Junior T lying to Sean Hannity and then Pop lying over and over about meetings with Russia are just the latest example of the habits of these folks' minds.
And the GOP is fast becoming a sociopathic group often using patriotic or religious language to lie.
Junior T lying to Sean Hannity and then Pop lying over and over about meetings with Russia are just the latest example of the habits of these folks' minds.
2
you are right that there are graver concerns, and given the disaster known as BCRA, you and your fellow columnists should be ashamed to be talking about anything else
1
It's the Grifters Toolbox. Pick a card, any card.
1
Do the dozens and dozens of errors (in syntax, in grammar, in punctuation, in usage) that appear day after day in The Times invalidate the newspaper's credibility and authority? If not, criticisms of an elected official's use of the language ring rather hollow.
1
I am a pretty good proofreader and I say you cannot find more than 2 errors on today's NY Times. Unsupported statements are not facts.
Sloppy language is the result of sloppy thinking.
2
Thank you for your analysis of Trumpspeak. It helps us become more aware listeners. Critical thinking skills are plainly needed if we are to preserve our democracy.
1
Reading the second half of the ninth paragraph will leave anyone who cares about language rend her hair and gnash her teeth. but the Times commits many crimes against the language every day. Faulty parallelism, errors in subject-verb agreement, faulty and incomplete comparisons, dangling and misplaced modifiers--these and many other errors have become the hallmarks of Times style. One expects slipslop in every article. And those who praise Barack Obama's eloquence have probably not had occasion to listen to many of his off-the-cuff remarks, which did not honor grammar or syntax. Bill Clinton might have been the last president who knew his way around a sentence. He could speak in full paragraphs without having to read off a TelePrompter.
3
According to an article I read last month, there has been a marked decrease in Mr. Trump's vocabulary from about 8 to 10 years ago to the last couple of years. Shrinking of an aging brain or a more serious pathology, only a neurologist can determine.
4
so shouldn't we let the neurologists evaluate instead of journalists or long distance mental health pros?
1
Well said Charles. Well said.
1
Bitter, angry, frustrated, suffering from financial crisis with feelings of social and political humiliation, frightened by the pressure they perceive from competing social groups, particularly immigrants, the Trumpist feels deprived of a wished for social identity and its expected entitlements, so they seek the most common one - to be born in America with 'American values' - and, the quickest route to that identity is to focus on the enemy, the other. They are obsessed with an international plot against them and feel besieged by it. The easiest way to solve the problem is to raise the drawbridge on their imaginary kingdom.
Charles Simic: "It took years of deliberate effort by vested interests to create this “proudly ignorant populism,” know-nothing voters who are easily led by the nose, incapable of distinguishing lies from truth, or an honest person from a crook. Easily duped, they can be depended on to act against their own self-interest again and again. Throw into the mix racism, misogyny, hatred of immigrants and other minorities, the dumbing down of the population by inadequate education, suspicion of learning, rejection of science and history, and.. you have the kind of environment in which people chose this president." .
Charles Simic: "It took years of deliberate effort by vested interests to create this “proudly ignorant populism,” know-nothing voters who are easily led by the nose, incapable of distinguishing lies from truth, or an honest person from a crook. Easily duped, they can be depended on to act against their own self-interest again and again. Throw into the mix racism, misogyny, hatred of immigrants and other minorities, the dumbing down of the population by inadequate education, suspicion of learning, rejection of science and history, and.. you have the kind of environment in which people chose this president." .
9
Even before the electoral college vote for TRUMP, I knew that TRUMP speaks lies so frequently that there is no point to listen to him except to imagine what the truth might be instead of what he was saying. TRUMP is destroying the country's credibility and dividing our unity so that we cannot remain, "WE the PEOPLE" if his reign, or the likes of it, continue for very long.
1
Mr. Trump's vocabulary is limited apparently to the point of ignorance as well as illiteracy. Never before have I heard a so-called world leader use such repetition as "very, very" and other meaningless superlatives as he does.
What Mr. Trump says often is not what he means. He walks back many impulsive statements from early morning tweets. He tells the truth only when he has no alternative, even when telling the truth would not harm him. Mr. Trump simply treats language as though it is meaningless. Perhaps this is because for him it is.
What Mr. Trump says often is not what he means. He walks back many impulsive statements from early morning tweets. He tells the truth only when he has no alternative, even when telling the truth would not harm him. Mr. Trump simply treats language as though it is meaningless. Perhaps this is because for him it is.
3
I don't know if Trump talks as he does deliberately in order to confuse or obfuscate, or is not capable of talking clearly. I suspect it might be some of both.
1
A third-rate, fourth grade bully/P.T. Barnum. And so many naive, busy conservative citizens in our rural areas just can't admit they were duped by a huckster. It's their long-abused masculine pride- first, they were shamed by a black president, and then so outraged at the very idea of being led by a mere female that they would have voted for an inanimate object if it was painted red and labeled Not A Democrat.
3
"Man is a creature who lives not upon bread alone, but primarily by catchwords." - Robert Louis Stevenson
Donald Trump won the election by inventing catchwords and phrases, period.
You can mock him all you want, but this clown is now the President, and Hillary Clinton is history.
Democrats, please take out and come up with your own memorable language twists, so you can get back in the game of winning elections...
Donald Trump won the election by inventing catchwords and phrases, period.
You can mock him all you want, but this clown is now the President, and Hillary Clinton is history.
Democrats, please take out and come up with your own memorable language twists, so you can get back in the game of winning elections...
1
He didn't "invent" them anymore than he invented the phrase "pump-priming." He reused and rebranded them.
What's even more frustrating is trying to hold an intelligent and focused discussion with many of his supporters. It always seems to degrade to insults and childish mudslinging, ending with the "we won" statement. It can be infuriating.
3
Well, Bernie supporters who wouldn't vote for Hillary and Jill Stein voters aren't you a little bit sorry? Hillary was a lousy candidate, but would have a good candidate who have carried on Obama's legacy. Also she would not engaged in fractured syntax.
1
According to historians, Lincoln spoke plainly and his folksy manner often had more formally educated Easterners mocking him at every turn. Harry Truman, coming from Missouri, also spoke too ineloquently for some in government who were used to Roosevelt's Aristocratic American speech. Even LBJ's Texas twang suffered ridicule compared to John Kennedy's Boston Brahmam manners. But Trump is in an entirely new category. He's the epitome of someone who is ignorant and instead of trying to become less so, ridicules others as a way of hiding his deficiencies. Conveying ideas though his speeches has never been his purpose. He never challenges his crowd to become something better or to learn and advance. Instead he just plays on existing stereotypes and prejudices guaranteed to get applause. Honestly, I'd love to a hear practical advice and common sense from a leader who is intelligent but doesn't flaunt it, but pretending that Trump's manner of speaking is just his way of communicating with real people instead of the blustering of an ignorant, deeply flawed, morally corrupt man is self delusion to the highest degree. We're all going to pay the price and his supporters, many of whom are on the lower rungs of the economic ladder, will end up paying the most.
19
That's why the Cooper Union speech was such a sensation. It made Lincoln a national figure. Read it and you'll see why.
https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/cooperunionaddress.htm
Or watch Sam Waterston give it (starts at 16:10)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ2De8VcSLw
https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/cooperunionaddress.htm
Or watch Sam Waterston give it (starts at 16:10)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ2De8VcSLw
I suspect Trump's language skills were honed by decades of sitting on the sofa with his remote channel surfing. His interviews are incoherent, abruptly jumping from channel to channel, with a snippet of a familiar commercial interspersed willy-nilly in the mash-up.
But to Trump's base, he's Chance the gardener from "Being There". A TV simpleton with many short simple promises of a return to white picket fences and the beautiful American perfection of the past. Promises that cannot bear historical scrutiny, nor can they be translated into policy for future generations. Coal is a prime example. Coal mining was never beautiful. Coal mining jobs are not the future, particularly if American health care is gutted by the GOP.
But to Trump's base, he's Chance the gardener from "Being There". A TV simpleton with many short simple promises of a return to white picket fences and the beautiful American perfection of the past. Promises that cannot bear historical scrutiny, nor can they be translated into policy for future generations. Coal is a prime example. Coal mining was never beautiful. Coal mining jobs are not the future, particularly if American health care is gutted by the GOP.
7
So, laid off coal miners and their families should be happy to just starve to death, right? Because only young professional lives matter.. And what does health care legislation have to do with possible employment in mining???
1
It's all a matter of perception. To many west of the Hudson, and East of the moon, Mr. Trump's language skills and mannerisms are those of the typical New Yorker.... Poor man. They are his self identifiers, his birthmarks so to speak.... As he would say, sad...
By referring to son Donald as a “young man” Trump not only makes him seem more innocent than he is, but also reminds us of his own place as head of the Trump brood. That’s Trump family tradition. Ivana Trump recalled the time when father-in-law Fred took the family to dinner at a chic New York restaurant and overruled her choice of rainbow trout for the main course. If Fred was having filet mignon, so was everyone else. Donald inflicted similar humiliation on Chris Christie. He has enough residual sense not to refer to another head of state as a young man (though it wouldn’t surprise me if he calls him that behind his back), but he is fine with dissing Macron’s wife in public. Male dominance is the name of Trump’s game, which may go farther to explain his unshakable popularity with the Republican base than his rough-hewn manners, careless speech and disdain for serious thought. As Sarah Huckabee Sanders might say, “my Daddy right or wrong.”
13
You're on target. What a gaffe! He should have referred to him as Old Girl...
What Trump does is tap into feelings, and decision making in humans are based on feelings. We'd like to think we make decisions based on logic and rationality, but study after study shows this is just not the case. Our feelings consult logic, but in a discrepancy, we go with feelings.
And Trump tapped into those feelings. Nothing he said, or says, makes any sense, but the feeling is there.
I can't stand it, because I think words have meaning and I think that morality and truth matter. And I feel better when there is someone who knows what they are doing in charge. That's my feeling.
And Trump tapped into those feelings. Nothing he said, or says, makes any sense, but the feeling is there.
I can't stand it, because I think words have meaning and I think that morality and truth matter. And I feel better when there is someone who knows what they are doing in charge. That's my feeling.
4
You've done it again, Mr. Blow. You've written, succintly, what i've been attempting to say for the past two years--that Trump's mangling of word and speech leaves his meaning open to interpretation, fudges reality, and is extremely dangerous. MANY THANKS.
3
Orwell called it duckspeak.
http://www.orwelltoday.com/duckspeak.shtml
Mencken called it Gamalielese. Read the whole column - a classic!
http://www.deadlineartists.com/contributor-samples/h-l-mencken-%E2%80%93...
http://www.orwelltoday.com/duckspeak.shtml
Mencken called it Gamalielese. Read the whole column - a classic!
http://www.deadlineartists.com/contributor-samples/h-l-mencken-%E2%80%93...
1
Say what you will about Trump's vocabulary but how many presidents can claim to have invented new words? "Covfefe"
2
Thank you Charles Blow for speaking on behalf of language and its linked truth....
2
Whenever Trump says "a lot of people don't know that", it means either
A.) he heard it "somewhere" from "somebody" and it isn't even true, or
B.) he just found out about it himself and is mentioning it because he thinks it will make him look smart.
We have a president so aggressively and proudly ignorant that he perceives any bit of information that manages to penetrate his thick skull as a priceless nugget of gold to he held up and shared with his audience. "Look at what I found! This might be a fact!"
It's so depressing.
A.) he heard it "somewhere" from "somebody" and it isn't even true, or
B.) he just found out about it himself and is mentioning it because he thinks it will make him look smart.
We have a president so aggressively and proudly ignorant that he perceives any bit of information that manages to penetrate his thick skull as a priceless nugget of gold to he held up and shared with his audience. "Look at what I found! This might be a fact!"
It's so depressing.
4
You just be careful, Mr. Blow. Sometime in the future, after Donald the Magnificent's second term, either during the brief reign of Donald the Unreliable or Eric the Unready or later, when Ivanka the Beauteous has ascended to the throne of the President and these pesky term limits have been repealed, Donald I's twitterings will be part of the standard high school kurikulum (obviously, the spelling too will by then have been adapted). Grants will be given and tenure eagerly fought over for the analysis of their deeper meaning. And it will be possible to get an advanced degree in emojiology.
3
I used to think George W Bush's malapropisms and incomplete sentence structures were awkward and embarrassing, but in comparison to Donald Trump comments, Bush was as eloquent as William F Buckley.
3
Even through the campaign, his incoherent speech reflected no discernible thought. I was shocked that media folk on left and right continued to rephrase in order to report and respond to his speech, thus crediting him with expressible ideas. His brain is all atangle. (And his greedy and offensive behaviors suggest his heart is not in the right place.)
3
Bravo Charles Blow. You nail it here. The overuse of meaningless superlatives as a stand-in for truly meaningful description is both a sign of idiocy and an effective way to attack truth and intellectualism indirectly. This is really what the Trump admin is about -- an attack on our shared understanding of truth, the american credo and the idea of enlightened, educated discourse as something of value. It is this constant barrage of amazings, sads, and incedibles that is so insidiously deleterious of true American "greatness." His incredibly amazing and wonderful guestbook entry at the Holocaust Memorial is a perfect example of how his language diminishes and degrades. Keep shining the light on this.
3
I've often wondered if Trump's English is an act for the uneducated that voted for him or if it shows a lack of education and interest in proper English. I now have to say that it is probably the latter. His sentence structure is feeble, he misspellings and made up worlds indicate someone who is careless and just doesn't care.
I do knew, however, that we ain't got no hope of provement in da future.
I do knew, however, that we ain't got no hope of provement in da future.
1
For those who want Mr Blow to move on from Hillary it would be much easier if Trump would do the same. But Hillary for Trump is clearly the woman he is obsessed with.
1
Trump talks the way a drunken salesman talks at his favorite gin mill, regaling everyone who will listen (since the regulars are probably slugging down drinks bought by the Great Orator they'll sit and let their ears bleed as long as the booze is flowing), with how great he is and therefore how the products he sells are great. And since everyone is loaded, they're numb to the consequences of his "solutions". Just keep pouring them barkeep!
Too bad there isn't a 12 Step Program for Trump and his supporters, but since every such program relies on the core principle of honesty, it wouldn't help them anyway.
Too bad there isn't a 12 Step Program for Trump and his supporters, but since every such program relies on the core principle of honesty, it wouldn't help them anyway.
1
Thank you, Charles Blow. Bravo. Perfect.
2
I admire your efforts to "read" Trump and his family. Personally, when I listen to him or read his tweets I imagine trying to decipher the typed comments of a monkey.
1
For fear of the severest tongue lashing ever imaginable, I surely would not want to incur the wrath of Charles Blow. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not Ever.
Under. Any. Circumstances.
He called DT out on his linguistic "skills" like nobody's business. If DT were to bumble and stumble through Blow's piece, he would most certainly need a translator to help him understand it, because he is so darn linguistically challenged and doesn't even know it.
No, DT wouldn't comprehend a word of that column. I suspect that he could pronounce the words, but recognize the larger message? No today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not ever.
As my father used to say, "If you can't tell me what you've read, you ain doing nothing but calling words."
I suspect that's what DT has been doing his entire life, and the words he's been "calling" havebern, for the most part, nothing but lies.
Under. Any. Circumstances.
He called DT out on his linguistic "skills" like nobody's business. If DT were to bumble and stumble through Blow's piece, he would most certainly need a translator to help him understand it, because he is so darn linguistically challenged and doesn't even know it.
No, DT wouldn't comprehend a word of that column. I suspect that he could pronounce the words, but recognize the larger message? No today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not ever.
As my father used to say, "If you can't tell me what you've read, you ain doing nothing but calling words."
I suspect that's what DT has been doing his entire life, and the words he's been "calling" havebern, for the most part, nothing but lies.
4
So, you have personally met Donald Trump, therefore of course you have plenty of basis for all your pronouncements??
I said "I suspect . . . " Or is that statement too obtuse? Don't come for me unless I send for you.
2
t-rump does not read. He is not inquisitive. All he adheres to is faux news and likely Steve Bannon. t-rump doesn't think. He is too ignorant to think. Someone must hand him short sentences to read when he bloviates and he ad libs to make nonsense out of faux. Why we bother to listen to him is beyond reality. He is a boar.
4
Let's not forget "very." And "very, very." Favorites of Trumpspeak.
1
Welcome to psychopathy 101, Mr. Blow. You are describing gaslighting and word salad. Said from a DV victim who barely, barely escaped murder.
To learn more about this personality disorder (psychopathy), suggest reading "Becoming the Narcissist's Nightmare: How to Devalue and Discard the Narcissist While Supplying Yourself" by Shahida Arabi.
Great reading for the entire country, as the U.S. is currently being held hostage by the Abuser-In-Chief.
To learn more about this personality disorder (psychopathy), suggest reading "Becoming the Narcissist's Nightmare: How to Devalue and Discard the Narcissist While Supplying Yourself" by Shahida Arabi.
Great reading for the entire country, as the U.S. is currently being held hostage by the Abuser-In-Chief.
1
The man is an idiot as is our nation for allowing him to continue to represent us anywhere ever.
3
" I simpathize with the prez. I wasn't so good in English ether cause I told the teecher. I had to miss class that day. I was sick and stood in bed all day"!!.
I am very conscious of the proper use of grammar and agree with Mr Blow that Donald Trump either tries to sound like the "common man" who seem so impressed with his style or just doesn't know better. The world listens and easily picks up on the fact that this president is becoming the butt of the free world's ridicule. How very sad, regardless of one's politics. We could have done so much better than what we have, The Republican party is chorus of yes men who have sold their soul for party unity.
I am very conscious of the proper use of grammar and agree with Mr Blow that Donald Trump either tries to sound like the "common man" who seem so impressed with his style or just doesn't know better. The world listens and easily picks up on the fact that this president is becoming the butt of the free world's ridicule. How very sad, regardless of one's politics. We could have done so much better than what we have, The Republican party is chorus of yes men who have sold their soul for party unity.
2
Well, Trump is an extreme example of American English speakers' communication trait ('quirk' might be a better word).
I speak 6 languages, and this in no way makes me any kind of an expert on the subject. But, all six languages provide interesting insights into how the native speakers of each one differ in the ways they listen (if they do at all) and in the way they use it to be heard.
Americans, in my opinion, compared to the other groups I speak to, are very good listeners, when they chose to do so. But they are hands down the worst when it comes to listening to themselves! They often care very little about what is heard by others, when they themselves speak. They simply chose the easiest, quickest, way to (and not very effectively) convey an opinion. 'Ok, you know what I mean' is often followed by any attempt to get clarification. Anger follows that and it's considered offensive to press anyone further.
Donald Trump is very aware of this 'leeway' in American English....and he is testing everyone's patience with it. A quirk has become a character flaw.
Trump says constantly he feels so misunderstood. Clearly, that is his intention. Americans are stepping up their communication game. Big time. Trump is lowering his by the day.
Oh and add this communication issue that Trump exploits to the fact this guy is an overbearing, pompous, narcissistic ass and well....
Was I clear enough?
I speak 6 languages, and this in no way makes me any kind of an expert on the subject. But, all six languages provide interesting insights into how the native speakers of each one differ in the ways they listen (if they do at all) and in the way they use it to be heard.
Americans, in my opinion, compared to the other groups I speak to, are very good listeners, when they chose to do so. But they are hands down the worst when it comes to listening to themselves! They often care very little about what is heard by others, when they themselves speak. They simply chose the easiest, quickest, way to (and not very effectively) convey an opinion. 'Ok, you know what I mean' is often followed by any attempt to get clarification. Anger follows that and it's considered offensive to press anyone further.
Donald Trump is very aware of this 'leeway' in American English....and he is testing everyone's patience with it. A quirk has become a character flaw.
Trump says constantly he feels so misunderstood. Clearly, that is his intention. Americans are stepping up their communication game. Big time. Trump is lowering his by the day.
Oh and add this communication issue that Trump exploits to the fact this guy is an overbearing, pompous, narcissistic ass and well....
Was I clear enough?
2
Thucydides began his History of the Peloponnesian War with a recounting of what had lead up to that horrible episode of ancient history, in which he (as an Admiral) had had a part. He specified that he was listing these signs so that if such a tragedy ever began to happen again, people would recognize it. The first and most telling sign was that "words lose their meaning". The second was the extreme partisanship of Trump and his followers, which is not common in American politics for the past century and a half.
Smart fellow, Thucydides. He saw Donald Trump coming 1.348 years back. Now, what do WE do about it?
Smart fellow, Thucydides. He saw Donald Trump coming 1.348 years back. Now, what do WE do about it?
14
This may not be the most important criticism of our president, but I've read fewer truer. And inasmuch as his command of his thoughts is reflected in his command of his language, it is far from trivial. The person we have entrusted the levers of power cannot think.
6
Trump is merely using words that his base understands. He is not talking real estate jargon, but basic language. And if he says one thing to one leader and then says something quite different to his base it is not unlike what other politicians, CEO's and talk radio hosts do.
Why should we expect anymore from Trump just because he got lucky and the Electoral College put him in office.
Why should we expect anymore from Trump just because he got lucky and the Electoral College put him in office.
2
?
1
The first ally we has in the American Revolution was not France, it was Morocco, beginning in 1777. And we remained allied with Morocco for longer than with any other country. We were soon at war with France (from 1798-1800).
2
Mr. Trump stuffs sentences with mystery-words, the same way sausage makers stuff casings with mystery meats. So you really do "not" want to know how, exactly, his phrasing is processed. Think of the Cheshire Cat.
1
No surprise that the alt-right is now demonizing colleges and universities, and heaping scorn and contempt upon them.
7
Pres. Trump's use of the English language is certainly atrocious, but one can't argue that he doesn't communicate effectively - dumbed-down communication is still communication, all the more clear for its lack of clutter. The bigger problem is that he is cynically dishonest in his interactions with the media and the public. Best to keep our eyes on the dishonesty rather than to spend our energy mocking his misuse of the language.
4
Was this column necessary? It's a given that Mr. Trump is not the most articulate speaker or writer. It's also a given that sloppy thinking begets sloppy writing, and vice versa, in a downward spiral. Thing is, Trump isn't the first prominent person afflicted with this disease. Mr. Blow may suffer from it, too. Consider this passage: " . . . but as a person whose vocation concerns him with language, I am simply appalled by Trump’s savage mauling of that language." Vocation concerns him with? Simply appalled? Savage mauling? Pot, meet kettle.
6
At least Trump doesn't say "like" in every sentence but if I hear "very,very" another time I'll go mad.
Another thing. The Attorney General doesn't approve visas, Consular Officers do under the authority granted to them by the Secretary of State.
Another thing. The Attorney General doesn't approve visas, Consular Officers do under the authority granted to them by the Secretary of State.
6
I would take your wager and bet that Trump didn't know that France was our oldest ally until he read it in public in the speech written for him by someone else.
13
This column is, "beautiful" -- sad.
8
Anyone who pays any attention to Trump should be aware that despite his claim to the contrary, he does not "have the best words." That he even spoke of language as something to be owned like his hotels was ridiculous, and left many educated people scratching their heads. I, like many other commenters here, also believed at first that Trump's narrow vocabulary and simple sentence construction were an act, meant to make him more appealing to his base and to cause his opponents to underestimate him. I have since changed my opinion--Trump is just as simple-minded as his use of English suggests he is.
13
People who think clearly can speak clearly.
14
Critical-thinker-readers constitute a small minority of the U.S. citizenry. Non-reflective-watchers are in the majority. Only critical-thinker-readers care about language, logic and rational communication. Trump, most Republican politicians, their advisors and their regressive media enablers--Fox News, Breitbart, Limbaugh and all--instinctively and/or by design play to the non-reflective-watchers--those for whom life is a disjointed series of stimuli, emotional responses, "news" flashes, sound bites and jingles.
The decline in American political discourse “by design” can be ascribed to the manipulative machinations of Goebbelsesque political advisors such as Frank I. Luntz. Luntz, a Republican political consultant and "public opinion guru" developed “talking points” to promote various GOP causes. He crafts vocabulary to produce desired emotional responses: death tax instead of estate tax, and climate change instead of global warming, etc. Luntz specializes in "testing language and finding words that will help his clients sell their product or turn public opinion on an issue or a candidate."
Non-reflective-watchers provide the perfect audience for the demagogic President Trump, for the increasingly demagogic GOP and for its propagandists such as Luntz.
Only another Great Recession or Depression is likely to turn Trump's supporters—the non-reflective-watchers—against him and against the GOP legislators who support him.
The decline in American political discourse “by design” can be ascribed to the manipulative machinations of Goebbelsesque political advisors such as Frank I. Luntz. Luntz, a Republican political consultant and "public opinion guru" developed “talking points” to promote various GOP causes. He crafts vocabulary to produce desired emotional responses: death tax instead of estate tax, and climate change instead of global warming, etc. Luntz specializes in "testing language and finding words that will help his clients sell their product or turn public opinion on an issue or a candidate."
Non-reflective-watchers provide the perfect audience for the demagogic President Trump, for the increasingly demagogic GOP and for its propagandists such as Luntz.
Only another Great Recession or Depression is likely to turn Trump's supporters—the non-reflective-watchers—against him and against the GOP legislators who support him.
12
Your comment clears up some of the mystery of how we got in this spot and I'm afraid it will, like you say, take some catastrophic event to wake the non-reflective watchers up. In order for a scam and the lies that support it to work you have to have enough stupid people to swallow those lies. This does not bode well. Thanks for the info.
1
Mr. Blow negative attention is better than no attention. Hillary Clinton is yesterday's news and who is writing articles about her these days? Who cares what she does? She has become so insignificant since she lost the race.
It is really sad that you are writing this nonsense when you could be writing about our improved stock market and job growth. I like President Trump's message and quite frankly I like him and so did 63 million other Americans. Your candidate, Mrs. Clinton, is not in the White House and you are still stewing over this. Could you please move on and write something of significance.
It is really sad that you are writing this nonsense when you could be writing about our improved stock market and job growth. I like President Trump's message and quite frankly I like him and so did 63 million other Americans. Your candidate, Mrs. Clinton, is not in the White House and you are still stewing over this. Could you please move on and write something of significance.
4
You might want to take a look at the massive layoffs and industries like mining Timber Etc that are all harbingers of a recession. The unemployment rate went up last month by the way. We lost more jobs than were added.
1
Diversion Alert! When you don't like someone's view on Trump, change the subject to Clinton. This is the hands-down favorite strategy of Trumpians and is championed by Kellyanne Conway.
4
I agree with you, WMK, and I'm a registered Dem who voted for Clinton.
Several people who commented noted how djt speaks without thinking and lies without compunction. Like father, like son. Did you see the interview Junior gave on Fox (where else?) after he revealed his emails about the meeting in June 2016? He looked directly at the camera and spewed one lie after another. Coherently. I think they may all be psychopaths.
9
Mr. Blow says that he is "simply appalled" by Donald Trump's linguistic habits because he himself is "a person whose vocation concerns him with language." Say again? Anyone who can torture the English language like that has no business writing this column.
5
I do not recall such mocking and degrading insults in NYT columns about George Bush the junior when he was president. The man was borderline illiterate with a limited education. Imagine if Trump got this country into the Iraq war. Or other Bush blunders.
1
Bush Junior kept his mouth shut most of the time, and was a polished enough politician to practice reading his TelePrompter when he made his public speeches. It's a matter of basic respect for your audience, a quality absent from our current Predisent.
Some things bear repeating.
Bullseye!
3
In the six months Trump has been in office, he's held just one open press conference. As much as anything, this speaks to the concerns his advisors must have about exposing him as the incurious, detail impaired, rhetorically challenged person he clearly is. The thought of Trump alone, unprotected and at the mercy of the press must be enough to keep them up at night if not physically unwell. He would make George W. Bush look like Winston Churchill.
7
Trump doesn't know to properly construct a sentence or express a thought so he keeps adding words like beautiful, amazing, tremendous etc He says we will have beautiful healthcare. What is beautiful healthcare? A mediocre high school graduate has better language skills than Mr Trump..
6
"Someone" means FoxNews. "A lot of people" means "I."
11
"Steak, well done. With ketchup." What more does he need?
5
"Basic English" is comprised of 850 words. I'll bet a tally of Trump's word choices would add up to less than that.
5
As per usual, beautifully and articulately stated.
4
The Donald wanted to be president to boost his celebrity. To be constantly talking and talked about is all that matters to him. Yet, he also places no value on the meaning of words, so what he says one day can be discarded the next. And, if none of it made any sense to begin with, that's fine, too.
9
France is for a year and a half in a state of emergency. During the weekend when Trump was there, migrants set almost 1000 cars on fire. A normal weekend in France, these days.
That is what Trump spoke so eloquently about in Poland, the week before. Where they understood and related to every word of his. That is what matters.
The French aristocracy, right before the revolution which swept them away, reveled in games of complicated words.
Macron and Trump know better.
That is what Trump spoke so eloquently about in Poland, the week before. Where they understood and related to every word of his. That is what matters.
The French aristocracy, right before the revolution which swept them away, reveled in games of complicated words.
Macron and Trump know better.
3
I can't believe you used the words "Trump" and "eloquently"in the same sentence! Perhaps "eloquent" is the new euphemism for "white supremacy?"
1
Lots of people are saying that my comments are the best they've ever seen. Just beautiful, they tell me. In fact, somebody told me recently that my comments are the best thing they've ever seen. Ever. My comments are very very strong. Not just very strong. Very very strong. And so beautiful. So, I guess everybody's wondering when they'll have the great great experience of reading more of my smart and unbelievably strong comments. Over the coming period of time.
79
This is a good comment. In fact it's beautiful. I want to write like you. I will watch Donald even more then I do now. His speeches are wonderful, the best.
I promise someday I'll have a huge audience who will love all my great comments. They will be better than yours and as good as his.
I know because only I can do this. But I can never be better than Donald. People will always say he is our best president who gives the best speeches. Sad (for me).
I promise someday I'll have a huge audience who will love all my great comments. They will be better than yours and as good as his.
I know because only I can do this. But I can never be better than Donald. People will always say he is our best president who gives the best speeches. Sad (for me).
1
What a massive, massive comment! You have the best words and are, like, a smart person. Bigly. You hear everyone talking about it.
2
He spoke this way during the campaign. I guess a lot of people didn't notice that, who knew? Putin might have noticed it, I don't know. He could have noticed it. Not that it would have made a whole lot of difference. Might have made a difference, I don't know.
15
I noticed from day one.
2
It's all Newspeak, folks. After all, it comes down to "Red team good, Blue team bad."
9
Except every single NYT commenter is blindly anti Trump. Trump could cure single handedly cure cancer, fix the hole in the ozone layer, and find homes and employment for every single refugee in Europe and Mr. Blow and his fans would still be unable to find even one good word to say. Columns like this, and comments praising the column are now so predictable they become boring.
Within this nation critical-thinker-readers constitute a small minority of the citizenry. Non-reflective-watchers are in the majority. Only critical-thinker-readers care about language, logic and rational communication. Trump and his regressive media enablers--Fox News, Breitbart, Limbaugh and all--instinctively play to the non-reflective-watchers--those for whom life is a series of "news" flashes, sound bites and jingles.
Only another Great Recession or Depression is likely to turn Trump's supporters, the non-reflective-watchers, against him and against the GOP legislators who support him.
Only another Great Recession or Depression is likely to turn Trump's supporters, the non-reflective-watchers, against him and against the GOP legislators who support him.
8
One of the surest signs of an ignoramus is someone with a limited vocabulary, especially when s/he phrases EVERYTHING in absolutist terms. When you're responsible for a nation of 300 million different needs and beliefs, you can't effectively present everything in terms of black and white.
5
My family were Irish immigrants in the mid 50's. My father loaded frozen sides of beef on his back into butchers for the meat to be distributed to supermarkets. My father had to work one full time job and three part times jobs to feed, cloth and educate us. He was determined to have us educated by the best and the best, available to us, where
Catholic schools were we were taught by the prestigious School Sisters of Notre Dame.
I'm aware Trump's father didn't half kill himself to educate his son. I'm also sure Trump's father bought the best education 'money could buy' for his offspring. I just wonder how your president managed to graduate from the very best schools in America. Were his diplomas bought too? Someone certainly wasn't doing their job very well....I think 'manys a blind eye was turned' as we would say here in Ireland.
I am just 3 years younger than Trump but I've managed to take most of my education through life with me, it took me to management in my field, I see it as a credit to my fathers hard, hard work. When I look at and listen to your president I'm reminded of my 10 year old grandson who just wants all the time, as 10 year olds tend to do, not to worry, he will grow out of it. However his vocabulary, diction and intellect far excell your presidents. He can also hold a coherent conversation and share an feasible opinion. Shame on you America, for all his education, and yours, you have elected a ten year old boy who won't be growing up any time soon. J
Catholic schools were we were taught by the prestigious School Sisters of Notre Dame.
I'm aware Trump's father didn't half kill himself to educate his son. I'm also sure Trump's father bought the best education 'money could buy' for his offspring. I just wonder how your president managed to graduate from the very best schools in America. Were his diplomas bought too? Someone certainly wasn't doing their job very well....I think 'manys a blind eye was turned' as we would say here in Ireland.
I am just 3 years younger than Trump but I've managed to take most of my education through life with me, it took me to management in my field, I see it as a credit to my fathers hard, hard work. When I look at and listen to your president I'm reminded of my 10 year old grandson who just wants all the time, as 10 year olds tend to do, not to worry, he will grow out of it. However his vocabulary, diction and intellect far excell your presidents. He can also hold a coherent conversation and share an feasible opinion. Shame on you America, for all his education, and yours, you have elected a ten year old boy who won't be growing up any time soon. J
12
That language shapes reality -- or at least our perception of it -- is now considered axiomatic. In Trump's case, his misperception of reality both reflects and fuels his semi-illiteracy.
8
If there is any accusation, disclose anything of relevance. (Do what his son did.)
Envy. Pride. Greed. Gluttony. Sloth. Wrath. Lust.
Thy mark is Trump.
Thy mark is Trump.
12
Or, as they are known in Trump World, the Seven Virtues. And Christian ministers touched him, eww.
(Also, since he plays a lot of golf, can he be considered Slothful?)
(Also, since he plays a lot of golf, can he be considered Slothful?)
1
Whenever he says anthing it's just djt practicing his Vegas comedy routine. The king should always have his fool handy to speak truth to him in a comic way. But in the case of our country we have cut to the quick and by simply making the fool king. We are all on a ship of fools captained by the biggest fool of all. Just keep laughing, it will get a lot worse if it ever gets better.
3
Donald Trump's speech is not a dizzying experience. It's just plain embarrassing.
I'm ashamed America elected this grumpy old man with such an inability to speak coherently, truthfully, thoughtfully. He is nothing but an echo chamber for the garbage he watches on TV or reads on Breitbart.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world laughs and takes advantage of us while an imbecile is at the helm of our ship of state.
I'm ashamed America elected this grumpy old man with such an inability to speak coherently, truthfully, thoughtfully. He is nothing but an echo chamber for the garbage he watches on TV or reads on Breitbart.
Meanwhile, the rest of the world laughs and takes advantage of us while an imbecile is at the helm of our ship of state.
12
Why is ageism more acceptable to you than racism?
1
Seems when you've never grown up with the truth, it simply doesn't exist.
4
Edwin Newman is rolling in his grave, next to Noah Webster.
3
What amazes me is that people, in and out of the news game, credit what Trump says. He is illiterate. He is a devastatingly poor con artist, but for some reason people buy into his pathetic manipulations.
3
Trump is a pure b.s. artist. He covers whatever is real with a thick and impenetrable layer of it; as a b.s. artist, he is interested only in preserving and thickening the layer and not in what lies beneath it. He has found that if the layer is thick enough, any unpleasantness in reality just disappears. So he spews continually and uncontrollably, and it has gotten him where he is today.
9
That plus inheriting money. Mostly, the latter.
1
How one speaks reflects how one is thinking. Trump seems to live moment to moment guided by his gut instincts and his emotions, he has no rational plan to achieve anything, he just compares where he is to where he feels like going and expresses what best expresses his desires at that moment. He really has no concern about the meaning of what he says beyond conveying what he feels or wants others to feel about it. For a person who studies language and the meanings and intentions of people as indicated by what they say in any particular context, Trump's use of language is incomprehensible because Trump is interested in results and how he gets there is of no particular interest as long as his desires are satisfied.
4
Hence his daily diatribes via Twitter. How impulsive and speaking to his emotional response in the moment with no ability to be introspective and think before texting. If he must text perhaps Barron could proof it before hitting SEND. Sad part is he doesn't get it. At all. I thought narcissists liked to look good and present their best to the underlings that are beneath them. Well he broke definition of narcissism with his inability to be known as a misogynistic, emotionally stunted, pathological liar who has no grasp on his ability to tame his impulses or his use of social media or his choices of advisors and cabinet posts. Successful leaders are masters of communication skills, decorum in different cultures and can speak their native language with finesse.
He reminds me of myself when I was in the 6th grade delivering a book report on a book I hadn't read. Unlike Trump, most of us continued to grow and mature beyond age 12. He makes all of us look like idiots when, in fact, we outnumber them by about 3 million.
11
I cut through the language of Trump quite a while ago to the content of Trump. Virtually he has nothing to say, nothing to add. As a kid we referred to it as 'diarrhea of the gums'. It just comes out and may be a relief to him but adds nothing to the conversation. My apologies to readers if the term offends.
Trump is ignorant. He may have had an education but apparently little of it stuck with him.
Every time he says 'most people don't know this' I want to scream. Most people do know this, and only a fool would think otherwise. It reminds me of a five year old who has learned something new in school everyone in the family knows and wants to share it with them. The different is Trump actually believes that just because he learned something at age 71 that is a big deal.
I said a long time ago after Trump was elected that after Obama it will be hard to go from 'wit' to 'twit' but here we are.
Most people know you're incompetent, Mr. Trump. No need to keep enforcing that for us.
Trump is ignorant. He may have had an education but apparently little of it stuck with him.
Every time he says 'most people don't know this' I want to scream. Most people do know this, and only a fool would think otherwise. It reminds me of a five year old who has learned something new in school everyone in the family knows and wants to share it with them. The different is Trump actually believes that just because he learned something at age 71 that is a big deal.
I said a long time ago after Trump was elected that after Obama it will be hard to go from 'wit' to 'twit' but here we are.
Most people know you're incompetent, Mr. Trump. No need to keep enforcing that for us.
7
Perhaps it would be an effective weapon to answer Trump's tweets with properly written sentences. We can shudder to think that his liguistic anomolies are teaching our next gereations how to speak and write.
Trump's one & only accomplishment: making George W. Bush sound eloquent.
14
This is a bully's playground etiquette: "I know you are but what am I?" If you're the biggest liar you simply accuse everyone else of lying. Trump is cancer.
12
I think the C.I.A, F.B.I and N.S.A should start looking for off shore accounts connected to the trumps and his fugly souled cohorts. His citizens dystopia united may be packing away a few hundred billion away for them. This is why trump identifies with Putin. hasn't he stole billions?
6
An Open Letter to Republican legislators:
Your continued unwavering support for Trump the "Ab-Normal" and Incoherent baffles me. Surely by now you are aware that President Trump is linguistically, psychologically, temperamentally, morally and intellectually unfit for office. And surely you yourselves, Statesmen and Stateswomen that you are, respect the English language and civic and ethical norms.
Please ask yourselves: What other recent American president has boasted that there are no laws prohibiting presidential conflicts of interest? Has been so disdainful of the judiciary, of the intelligence community, of the free press, of diplomacy and of international agreements? Has congratulated and praised dictators? Has refused to release his tax returns? Has so frequently insulted members of minorities? Has so often employed lies, misrepresentations and diversions? The list of such questions goes on and on.
President Trump's guiding principle is self-interest. He stretches legality to its limits. He disdains civic and moral propriety. With Trump as president, the stench of kleptocracy is in the air. The people are divided and hold this GOP dominated Congress in extremely low esteem.
Are you, as Republican legislators, willing to set back while Trump the Unready, his family and associates make a mockery of the Office of the Presidency and abuse it to serve their own self-interests, advance their business interests and kleptocratically line their pockets with gold?
Your continued unwavering support for Trump the "Ab-Normal" and Incoherent baffles me. Surely by now you are aware that President Trump is linguistically, psychologically, temperamentally, morally and intellectually unfit for office. And surely you yourselves, Statesmen and Stateswomen that you are, respect the English language and civic and ethical norms.
Please ask yourselves: What other recent American president has boasted that there are no laws prohibiting presidential conflicts of interest? Has been so disdainful of the judiciary, of the intelligence community, of the free press, of diplomacy and of international agreements? Has congratulated and praised dictators? Has refused to release his tax returns? Has so frequently insulted members of minorities? Has so often employed lies, misrepresentations and diversions? The list of such questions goes on and on.
President Trump's guiding principle is self-interest. He stretches legality to its limits. He disdains civic and moral propriety. With Trump as president, the stench of kleptocracy is in the air. The people are divided and hold this GOP dominated Congress in extremely low esteem.
Are you, as Republican legislators, willing to set back while Trump the Unready, his family and associates make a mockery of the Office of the Presidency and abuse it to serve their own self-interests, advance their business interests and kleptocratically line their pockets with gold?
3
Thank you, Mr. Blow. ANYONE who observes Trump in extemporaneous situations for more than ten minutes will realize that he has no idea what he is talking about. NONE. About ANYTHING. He either lies, misleads, makes misstatements, and, when he is at a loss, just makes stuff up, blurting what comes out of his "whatever."
His "policies" may be abhorrent, but the spectacle of the Trump mind-vomit in public is a daily reminder what a shameful disaster has been unleashed on our country.
His "policies" may be abhorrent, but the spectacle of the Trump mind-vomit in public is a daily reminder what a shameful disaster has been unleashed on our country.
5
Mr. Blow, too, could avoid prolixity and increase impact if he downsized. From a column to a tweet.
3
Not.
But Charles there a people who decipher donald quite well. His blathering's come through loud and clear. That minority that cling to their messiah see nothing but "telling it like it is". No problem. When asked to explain what the man just said they blather back an answer just as ignorant and undecipherable.
3
Trump is not unique in his misuse of language. Don't forget Bill Clinton's dissembling of the meaning of the words "is" and "sex."
2
Mr. Blow is right. Trump is to linguistics what a chain gang is to a diamond.
2
his minions are are impressed by his use of multi-syllable words like beautiful.
They may not know all of them, but they sure make him sound smart.
Fox will translate, which is good because the other "fake news" liberal media (like the WSJ) turns it all into lies.
Idiots believe what they want to believe, and a third of us now seem to struggle to reach that level.
The problem isn't stupid people, it's all those educated people that make the rest of them look bad.
Some seek to advance by making themselves better, trumpsky's crowd would advance themselves by diminishing all others.
They may not know all of them, but they sure make him sound smart.
Fox will translate, which is good because the other "fake news" liberal media (like the WSJ) turns it all into lies.
Idiots believe what they want to believe, and a third of us now seem to struggle to reach that level.
The problem isn't stupid people, it's all those educated people that make the rest of them look bad.
Some seek to advance by making themselves better, trumpsky's crowd would advance themselves by diminishing all others.
2
Sadly, his stupid base doesn't care. He sounds real to them!
2
I think it best not to listen to him at all. If you repeat anything he supposedly said today to anyone else, you may soon be talking in the Trump babble yourself. Watch out!
2
Shorter Charles Blow: Trump and his family are a bunch of liars.
1
He's not so much a chameleon, as he is the iguana, standing among chameleons, belligerently telling them he's blending in. "See, Im now green...now red, now chartreuse...see...Im so much better at this then you guys..."
But its true, he says what he needs to say, to please the audience du jour. As his Applaud Me Tours show so well. One minute hes telling the general public that the horrible Senate/House healthcare bill is terrific, then says its mean. Then in front of his zealots, he talking about all the alleged (non)winning he's doing. And that they should not worry about losing their Medicaid, or worry about their pre existing conditions.
Hey, but its how he tricked so many people into believeing (in a religious sense) that he's the ONLY guy who can fix things. "I alone can do it, Im the all powerful Oz...". Except he doesnt even bother to stand behind a curtain and lie...he does it right to our faces. And its becoming normalized.
Which is the public and the medias fault, but the real blame is on those that support him.
But its true, he says what he needs to say, to please the audience du jour. As his Applaud Me Tours show so well. One minute hes telling the general public that the horrible Senate/House healthcare bill is terrific, then says its mean. Then in front of his zealots, he talking about all the alleged (non)winning he's doing. And that they should not worry about losing their Medicaid, or worry about their pre existing conditions.
Hey, but its how he tricked so many people into believeing (in a religious sense) that he's the ONLY guy who can fix things. "I alone can do it, Im the all powerful Oz...". Except he doesnt even bother to stand behind a curtain and lie...he does it right to our faces. And its becoming normalized.
Which is the public and the medias fault, but the real blame is on those that support him.
3
It's become obvious that "someone" and "people" (as in "some people" or "people are saying") are simply the people in his head.
4
But we have idiots in this country that need to be represented and they need to hear from some one that they can understand and believe, even if what he says is not true, a rip off and a put down to stupid people.
3
Very few individuals speak extemporaneously with perfect English, particularly in front of millions. While of course CB & acolytes never miss an opportunity to criticize Trump, a few points.
1) Short sound bytes are better for communicating ideas. Long rambling discourse loses an audience -- even the brilliant minds who read the TImes.
2) In public presentations, nonverbal channels are important as well. While transcribed public statements may be found lacking in written form, in conjunction with the nonverbal aspects, the communication is often quite understandable.
3) Let's not apply too high a standard for Trump that we exempt others from. Obama was a gifted orator with teleprompter, but his extemporaneous answers & commentary were often long and rambling and punctuated with his own verbal tic -- "ah, ah, ah...."
4) While articulate speech is often a sign of intelligence, articulate people can say stupid things -- although say them quite well.
5) We all loved JFK's speeches, but his presidency wasn't that successful. Bay of Pigs, near nuclear war with Russia, little important legislation. He also allowed the CIA led coup in South Vietnam.
6) For anyone trying to ascertain Trump's mental health from his public utterances, be careful. You need to be privy to his private conversations as well -- at minimum.
7) Ultimately, it isn't speeches but policies. Lincoln's Gettysburg address was eloquent but his war policy is what was important.
1) Short sound bytes are better for communicating ideas. Long rambling discourse loses an audience -- even the brilliant minds who read the TImes.
2) In public presentations, nonverbal channels are important as well. While transcribed public statements may be found lacking in written form, in conjunction with the nonverbal aspects, the communication is often quite understandable.
3) Let's not apply too high a standard for Trump that we exempt others from. Obama was a gifted orator with teleprompter, but his extemporaneous answers & commentary were often long and rambling and punctuated with his own verbal tic -- "ah, ah, ah...."
4) While articulate speech is often a sign of intelligence, articulate people can say stupid things -- although say them quite well.
5) We all loved JFK's speeches, but his presidency wasn't that successful. Bay of Pigs, near nuclear war with Russia, little important legislation. He also allowed the CIA led coup in South Vietnam.
6) For anyone trying to ascertain Trump's mental health from his public utterances, be careful. You need to be privy to his private conversations as well -- at minimum.
7) Ultimately, it isn't speeches but policies. Lincoln's Gettysburg address was eloquent but his war policy is what was important.
10
What strikes me about Obama's everyday speech is the respect he shows toward his interlocutor. The man listens, thinks and gives a sincere response. He does not go into a mental file drawer and drag out some sound bite that may be more or less tangentially related to the other person's question or remark.
The limited vocabulary our sorry excuse for a president uses is directed squarely at his fanatical base who believe anything he says. The majority of americans reject his gibberish but are held hostage to Trump and his fan base who voted him into office. The media is complicit in this, as others have commented here, by announcing as NEWS every imbecilic tweet, utterance and 'hearsay' as something to be discussed and analyzed, giving his verbal diarrhea a weight of gravitas it doesn't at all deserve.
62
I did not vote for Trump, but agree with Jeff Bridges that he is now POTUS, he has had some good ideas, he was the only candidate that even pretended to care about the white working class. And, besides, fanatical hatred like that of Mr. Blow and his worshipers here at NYT is useless, destructive, and boring.
Rubbish.
1
As as one who is suffering from trump fatigue I no longer want to listen to or read what has come out of his mouth. Regardless of how he misuses and abuses the language, predictably he will lie. He has to be the biggest liar on the planet.
7
WHO elected this ignoramus? I suspect it's those who laugh when the see the bumper sticker which reads, "My kid beat up your honor student!"
10
Rather "My kid learns to do things. Your kid learns semantics, and will write about mine"
Far better to have an articulate authoritarian, one who uses language beautifully to dissemble at every turn and delude the masses. One whose policy prescriptions lie, but do so in florid passages of soaring rhetoric amid lilting turns of phrase that send tingles up the legs of journalists.
2
Trump's use of language reflects his personality - abusive.
7
Reduce this to its essence: everything Trump - and most members of his family - say is a lie. They mean to lie, they mean to mislead and they do it casually as well as formally. Our sense of morality is being beaten to death by these odious people and their fellow travelers.
9
Like most liars he is compelled to keep explaining and talking. He thinks the more he says the more believable he becomes. He is wrong.
5
Trump would never refer to a 39 year old woman as young.
12
Nothing that comes out of DT’s mouth makes sense. We already know about his extremely short vocabulary and attention span. He uses ‘beautiful’ because he is thinking of women and according to him he has been surrounded all his life with ‘beautiful’ women. For him, if someone is not ‘beautiful’ is a ‘disgrace’ like being unacceptable, shameful or dishonorable. He probably thinks he is beautiful too; I guess he has not seen himself in the mirror and accept that he is a small hands, pale, red face, overweight man, who embodies the worst things a man can have such as being an archetypal “ugly American” defined as obnoxious, uncouth, boastful, materialistic, and duplicitous. He also represents the worst stereotypes due to his bad manners, vulgarity, anti-intellectualism, hypocrisy, and grid for money, money, money and more money, and...... he always puts himself first and above the law.
8
I agree 100%. My problem with this is, why the press even bothers to cover his speeches, his press conferences or most of his tweets. The one thing that would make our groper-in-chief go ballistic, would be no coverage at all. Ignoring the POTUS because his rantings are not news or factual or informative.
If the press wishes to restore truth to the media it should stop reporting the lies.
If the press wishes to restore truth to the media it should stop reporting the lies.
5
Privet! The Russians started to manipulate Trump back during the Miss Universe pageants offering him money, telling him what a great business man he was and that maybe he should run for president. Like Sally Field durning her Oscar speech Trump lapped it up telling himself the Russians love me they truly love me. If we are ever going to get to the bottom of this is through his and his children's tax returns. Until then we can only mute the TV, refuse to read his tweets, or follow any of his base comments. He is deplorable
5
As abhorrent as Trump's language-mangling and -manipulation is his propensity for generalization: language's splendid betrayal of ignorant users' limitations.
In casting the language in broad strokes ("It's a beautiful thing"; "I'm telling you, folks"; "terrorists are losers"; "Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated"...) Trump disguises ignorance of current events, history, and policy with just enough information to keep supporters enamored...
...and the rest of us in stitches.
In casting the language in broad strokes ("It's a beautiful thing"; "I'm telling you, folks"; "terrorists are losers"; "Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated"...) Trump disguises ignorance of current events, history, and policy with just enough information to keep supporters enamored...
...and the rest of us in stitches.
4
"And if you admit that it may be wrong, how can you state declaratively that 'she was here because of Lynch'?"
Does this many ever NOT try to find someone else to blame for anything that he or a member of his family is being criticized for? I thought the Republicans were all about taking responsibility.
Does this many ever NOT try to find someone else to blame for anything that he or a member of his family is being criticized for? I thought the Republicans were all about taking responsibility.
2
The guy who ghost-wrote THE ART OF THE DEAL is on record as saying he believes Trump is a functional illiterate with a vocabulary of about 700 words.
11
And what memorable works did that ghostwriter author without Trump?
That is the point.
That is the point.
Mr. Blow, I have read every column you have written this year and appreciate every one of them. I enjoy reading of the obvious disgust you portray in your column each week on our current President. Trump's use of language is lesser than that of my three year old son. Trump's ignorance towards the history of this country is astounding for someone claiming to want to make it great again. How can someone return something to greatness when they don't even have knowledge of the past and if it was great or not? These are all points that need to be addressed. My only gripe with your column is that I feel Trump is bringing you down to his level to waste your platform on an imbecile twice a week. I do wish for you to keep relaying to the public the ails of this President, but I also feel like you have so much more knowledge to educate the public on. I wish for more and different pieces from you in addition to the disdain many of us feel for our current leader.
1
Even people we admire can get into linguistic trouble. Mr. Blow tells us:
"You see, Trump’s abuse of language isn’t simply a thing to blithely mock."
Properly written as:
"You see, Trump’s abuse of language isn’t simply a thing to mock blithely."
"You see, Trump’s abuse of language isn’t simply a thing to blithely mock."
Properly written as:
"You see, Trump’s abuse of language isn’t simply a thing to mock blithely."
1
Language... communication... It all comes down to education.
Talk show hosts like Limbaugh and Hannity love to pretend colleges are institutions of evil as they push the Republican narrative.
That narrative is this: Keep our base from learning, keep them stupid and they will keep us in office. Don't go to college kids or you'll learn to think for yourself.
It's an embarrassment, that we could elect someone who we can barely understand, let alone run a country.
Talk show hosts like Limbaugh and Hannity love to pretend colleges are institutions of evil as they push the Republican narrative.
That narrative is this: Keep our base from learning, keep them stupid and they will keep us in office. Don't go to college kids or you'll learn to think for yourself.
It's an embarrassment, that we could elect someone who we can barely understand, let alone run a country.
2
@MINDFULNESS: Neither RL nor SH has said that universities and colleges are evil, but rather thatstudents emerge indoctrinated with fuzzy left wing beliefs, never taught to think critically, on the one hand this and on the other hand that. Colleges and universities have made the business decision not to uphold standards for graduation, because if they did, few would graduate. Imagine the chaos and protests that would ensue if the emporium of higher learning required everyone to pass a diction test in order to graduate. Diction, what's that?How many could do it?61 million of us understood The Donald well enough to vote him into office, and when it comes to filling an auditorium or an amphitheatre, standing room only with a line of aficionados of the c-in-c waiting outside to get in a mile long. HRC's average crowd size was less than 350.You write that Republicans don't want kids to go to college because they r afraid they will begin to think for themselves, but the opposite is true. Insight into how shallow many of the students supporting Sanders were: Just 1 example, out of 10 recently polled, not 1 was able to accurately define socialism, read system in which the state controls means of production.Flustered, 1 student responded, " Gee, that's a tough one. Hope nobody at home is watching this!"As an adjunct instructor at NYU, had a freshman student who was convinced that Ottoman Empire was German since Otto was a German name.
OMG, you are so right. Trump stomps on the English language like a kangaroo (no offense, Australians) jumping from one subject to another. His flight of consciousness is so jumbled that anyone can interpret his words anyway they want. I don't beileve it's intentional, that's what's so confounding.
Imagine if he had been one of the writers of the constitution, Bro.
Imagine if he had been one of the writers of the constitution, Bro.
1
The uneducated are likely to do this. He's an incorrigible child.
1
“France is America’s first and oldest ally."
uh.. The first ally, by definition, is the oldest ally.
uh.. The first ally, by definition, is the oldest ally.
6
Most French citizens who received a high school degree (about 90%) can form better sentences in English than Monsieur Trump! "C'est triste, triste, triste!"
Beyond that, it seems appropriate to quote Boileau, a notorious French poet and critic who said "Ce que l'on conçoit bien s'énonce clairement, Et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisément." - "What one conceives well one enounces well. And the words to say it come easily."
Beyond that, it seems appropriate to quote Boileau, a notorious French poet and critic who said "Ce que l'on conçoit bien s'énonce clairement, Et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisément." - "What one conceives well one enounces well. And the words to say it come easily."
1
Mr Blow, please explore and explain to your reader how the president communicates when off camera. Do his verbal skills improve off camera? Is he capable of informed, educated, precise language when engaged in conversation with leaders?
Yet, his speaking is a direct window into his mind. With no curtains.
1
So, don't listen to him speak. Everything he says is a lie and a distraction.
3
Lest we forget, Donald himself reminds us... “I know words, I have the best words. I have the best, but there is no better word than stupid.”
1
I thought Trump's favorite word was "I", as in "I am tremendous and bigly good when I questioned Putin twice about Russian election interference."?
Mr. Trump’s language is the embodiment of deconstructionism.
1
Trump's vocabulary has not evolved past being top dog at Miss Universe pageant. Just beauty-ful!
Macron is killing him with kindness. Shrewd!
Macron is killing him with kindness. Shrewd!
1
Wish you guys would have called him a liar when he was still campaigning.
3
One of the many pathological traits of a clinical narcissist is projecting onto others precisely what they are thinking, doing or who they are.
Trump exhibits this constantly:. Examples:
Who he is:
Hillary Clinton is a crook who should be locked up.
President Obama got into Harvard even though he was too ignorant to get in on his grades. He was given preferential treatment.
McCain was a coward during the Vietnam War.
The news media spews lies.
President Obama was a "disaster" as president.
What he's actually doing:
His adversaries are destroying the country.
The news media desciminates "fake news"
What he's thinking:
Others, including a Mexican American judge, are bigoted or racist.
Anarcissist compulsively project their bad actions and thoughts onto others because in their own eyes they must never be wrong. Shoring up megolanania is a full time job.
Trump uses his limited vocabulary, as this astute column asserts, to destroy the meaning of truth. That truth is too much for Trump to face, and that is he is far from perfect, and as president, he is wholly unfit .
Trump exhibits this constantly:. Examples:
Who he is:
Hillary Clinton is a crook who should be locked up.
President Obama got into Harvard even though he was too ignorant to get in on his grades. He was given preferential treatment.
McCain was a coward during the Vietnam War.
The news media spews lies.
President Obama was a "disaster" as president.
What he's actually doing:
His adversaries are destroying the country.
The news media desciminates "fake news"
What he's thinking:
Others, including a Mexican American judge, are bigoted or racist.
Anarcissist compulsively project their bad actions and thoughts onto others because in their own eyes they must never be wrong. Shoring up megolanania is a full time job.
Trump uses his limited vocabulary, as this astute column asserts, to destroy the meaning of truth. That truth is too much for Trump to face, and that is he is far from perfect, and as president, he is wholly unfit .
7
In this present crisis, language is not the solution to our problem; language is the problem.
In this present crisis, truth is not the solution to our problem; truth is the problem.
In this present crisis, somebody is not the solution to our problem; somebody is the problem.
Make morning in America great again. Ronald Donald McFibber in 2020.
In this present crisis, truth is not the solution to our problem; truth is the problem.
In this present crisis, somebody is not the solution to our problem; somebody is the problem.
Make morning in America great again. Ronald Donald McFibber in 2020.
Simple explanation for this. Donald, like his predecessor George, is dyslexic.
Astonishing how the understanding of this language difference is still horribly mauled by the general public. Does the President read or write? Can the President spell? Can the President stay in one place longer than a day or so? Is the President likable (most dyslexics hone this trait to perfection)? Don't understand how good journalist can point to every red flag of a dyslexic mind yet refuse to reach this obvious conclusion.
Astonishing how the understanding of this language difference is still horribly mauled by the general public. Does the President read or write? Can the President spell? Can the President stay in one place longer than a day or so? Is the President likable (most dyslexics hone this trait to perfection)? Don't understand how good journalist can point to every red flag of a dyslexic mind yet refuse to reach this obvious conclusion.
1
With all due respect, Nelson Rockefeller was dyslexic but governed the state by making sound choices. Trump makes choices based on one thing; that is who will kiss his ring.
Trumps tutors that got him through IVY League schools are not available to speak from behind a "curtain" and have him move his lips.
It might not be a bad idea to require presidential candidates to take a basic vocabulary test -- say, something a sixth grader might need to pass.
3
It's part of the job of getting elected to be concise.
"Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." - George Orwell
'nuf said.
'nuf said.
3
I'm reminded of Mark Crispin Miller's book, "The Bush Dyslexion" (2001). In it he relates Bush's significant problems with language. The difference, it would seem, is that--unlike Trump--Bush was really struggling to say something meaningful. It just often came out correctly or it contained laughable grammatical or syntactical errors. My favorite examples:
1. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."
2. "I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain -- I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being President."
3. "They misunderestimated me."
4. "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
5. "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
6. "There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on --shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again."
7. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."
8. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
For more, if you can stand it: http://bit.ly/2uBmRKc
At least Bush was more entertaining. "Beautiful!"
1. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."
2. "I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain -- I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being President."
3. "They misunderestimated me."
4. "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
5. "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
6. "There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on --shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again."
7. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."
8. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
For more, if you can stand it: http://bit.ly/2uBmRKc
At least Bush was more entertaining. "Beautiful!"
4
Yeah I thought W took the cake for mangling the English language. But there was a certain Texas good-ol-not charm to the way he did it, like he was in on the joke and knew, and accepted, that he wasn't an eloquent guy. So to that extent, W lived wishin his linguistic means, and could laugh at himself once in a while. Well, that, and he did have political experience.
Trump mangles the language much as a bull "maneuvers" through a china shop, with no idea where the exit is and oblivious to the very things he is destroying. And Trump has absolutely no ability to laugh at himself, which is problematic all by itself.
And the way Trump mangles the language is so utterly bizarre. W just didn't have a large vocabulary, but more often than not, he could put sentences together well enough that you didn't have to constantly stop and say, "Huh?"
Not so with Trump. It's hard to believe he's always spoken this way. It's easier to believe there is something wrong with him, physiologically or psychologically, that makes verbal communication a challenge that may not have been the case when he was younger. And unlike W, nothing about it is funny, as the overall tone is mean-spirited.
Trump mangles the language much as a bull "maneuvers" through a china shop, with no idea where the exit is and oblivious to the very things he is destroying. And Trump has absolutely no ability to laugh at himself, which is problematic all by itself.
And the way Trump mangles the language is so utterly bizarre. W just didn't have a large vocabulary, but more often than not, he could put sentences together well enough that you didn't have to constantly stop and say, "Huh?"
Not so with Trump. It's hard to believe he's always spoken this way. It's easier to believe there is something wrong with him, physiologically or psychologically, that makes verbal communication a challenge that may not have been the case when he was younger. And unlike W, nothing about it is funny, as the overall tone is mean-spirited.
5
Trumps proclamation that he "knows words - lots of words" as proof of a large and diverse vocabulary, translates to "I know a few words that I use lots of times".
5
Thank you for all your editorials. They are heartening! Unfortunately for those of us who thought the Kardasians were a mirror of the potential ignorance of the American people, we had no idea what was to come. Trump outdoes them but is far more dangerous. He is humiliating us throughout the world with his vulgar, illiterate and crass words and manners.
5
Believe me, folks, it's going to be so beautiful you won't believe it.
1
Well put in the two posts below, from Rosemary and Jay. To their points add the possibility of increasing clinical dementia, or mental decline. This unemotional article provides specific examples and comparisons: https://www.statnews.com/2017/05/23/donald-trump-speaking-style-interviews/
1
Charles -- you are missing it -- Trump's diction and prose are obvious evidence of mental decline ... some sort of pre-dementia. All the hallmarks are there:
* very limited word selection, simplified, fractured grammar
* vague or generic referents
* even his angry bluster and generic name-calling. This is a common device to say something when nothing else comes to mind, and attempt to divert the topic to something he can manage.
Trump is some combination of marginally mentally ill and also in mental decline. Do Wharton some credit -- they never would have graduated the Trump we see now. Many people have shown that Trump's public comments (that were not telepromptered) of two decades ago (or so) were far more lucid than today's, e.g.
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/05/donald-trump-brain-health
The tragedy here is that so many Americans seem to be operating at this level, and find Trump compelling in some way.
* very limited word selection, simplified, fractured grammar
* vague or generic referents
* even his angry bluster and generic name-calling. This is a common device to say something when nothing else comes to mind, and attempt to divert the topic to something he can manage.
Trump is some combination of marginally mentally ill and also in mental decline. Do Wharton some credit -- they never would have graduated the Trump we see now. Many people have shown that Trump's public comments (that were not telepromptered) of two decades ago (or so) were far more lucid than today's, e.g.
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/05/donald-trump-brain-health
The tragedy here is that so many Americans seem to be operating at this level, and find Trump compelling in some way.
2
Lee -- you know that it is dangerous, and perhaps malpractice for mental health professionals to make long distance diagnoses. It is difficult to assess Trump's public utterances under any circumstances, but any clinician would suggest you need comparable circumstances to assess differences in language use. In his earlier public moments he wasn't a politician running for office nor was he speaking extemporaneously in front of millions and responding to a hostile press.
Moreover, we don't have access to Trump's use of language when he is not in the public eye. When he meets with business leaders, cabinet members, advisers, he may be (or not) articulate. We simply don't know.
I personally find Trump's use of the same adjectives annoying. But I'm more concerned about policy. That's the ultimate test.
And if I understand your scientific credentials correctly, your aren't a mental health professional. Your assessment is more partisanship than science.
Moreover, we don't have access to Trump's use of language when he is not in the public eye. When he meets with business leaders, cabinet members, advisers, he may be (or not) articulate. We simply don't know.
I personally find Trump's use of the same adjectives annoying. But I'm more concerned about policy. That's the ultimate test.
And if I understand your scientific credentials correctly, your aren't a mental health professional. Your assessment is more partisanship than science.
Sometimes his comments sound like they were designed using one of those 'random word' magnets made for refrigerators that were popular several years ago. His manner of speaking and the ignorance of almost any subject is proof money can't buy intelligence any more than it can buy class.
2
"But his usage is also a way of reducing language to the point that it is meaningless because the use of it is mindless, and in that compromised state, language becomes nearly worthless. As a consequence, truth becomes relative, if not altogether removed."
The awful thing about this state of affairs is that not only do Trump and family have very personalized ways of lying all the time, they've also got Bannon and company feeding them Soviet propaganda words and phrases that are used by Russian media to this day. So on top of doing this specific obfuscation shtick, described so perfectly by Mr. Blow, they're also using generalized catch words and phrases that seem to be born of text book mental illness terms: the obvious projection: "fake news" - until you want to shoot yourself - "dishonest mainstream media, dishonest Hillary", "lock her up" (he knows what's coming) - and on and on. If you (grudgingly) listen to Gorka's rants, you can see where the disinformation machine might have originated. It makes sense that paranoid government officials create and perpetuate paranoid stock phrases.
It is felt by many Germans that their language never recovered its beauty after the ravages of Nazi propaganda. I hope America can ultimately be spared this miserable fate.
The awful thing about this state of affairs is that not only do Trump and family have very personalized ways of lying all the time, they've also got Bannon and company feeding them Soviet propaganda words and phrases that are used by Russian media to this day. So on top of doing this specific obfuscation shtick, described so perfectly by Mr. Blow, they're also using generalized catch words and phrases that seem to be born of text book mental illness terms: the obvious projection: "fake news" - until you want to shoot yourself - "dishonest mainstream media, dishonest Hillary", "lock her up" (he knows what's coming) - and on and on. If you (grudgingly) listen to Gorka's rants, you can see where the disinformation machine might have originated. It makes sense that paranoid government officials create and perpetuate paranoid stock phrases.
It is felt by many Germans that their language never recovered its beauty after the ravages of Nazi propaganda. I hope America can ultimately be spared this miserable fate.
5
How about: .. he's simply just a buffoon, an idiot incapable of modesty in language and decency in action.
.... a Sad 71-year old man!
.... a Sad 71-year old man!
6
This is a silly op-ed. You can do better, even on this topic, Charles.
1
All good thoughts. Don't overthink it. They're not being Orwellian in their political calculations. Consider the source. The language is recognizable. Watching the news, I have flashbacks to my youth in Jamaica, Queens! It reflects the strategic thinking of a 11 year-old Queens bully:
- You lie
- I'm going to sue you
- My dad's going to sue you
- I'm going to tell on you
- You're going to go to jail
- I have more money than you do
- I know more than you do
- I'm not the liar, you are
- I have the bigger, better [insert blank]
- If you do that, I'll be your friend
- They have cooties, stay away from them
- I'll going to get you later
- Whatever you say goes back to you, what am I?
- ...
And the list goes on (many more that are impolite.) I presume there are translations to other parts of the country. Figure those out and respond accordingly. Get to the point simply. Being erudite ("you're such a smarty pants, no one likes you") is a losing strategy ("you're a born loser.") Call a lie a lie, not the 10 other ways of saying that to show off your vocabulary (because it just rolls off their backs, and it doesn't move the dial.)
- You lie
- I'm going to sue you
- My dad's going to sue you
- I'm going to tell on you
- You're going to go to jail
- I have more money than you do
- I know more than you do
- I'm not the liar, you are
- I have the bigger, better [insert blank]
- If you do that, I'll be your friend
- They have cooties, stay away from them
- I'll going to get you later
- Whatever you say goes back to you, what am I?
- ...
And the list goes on (many more that are impolite.) I presume there are translations to other parts of the country. Figure those out and respond accordingly. Get to the point simply. Being erudite ("you're such a smarty pants, no one likes you") is a losing strategy ("you're a born loser.") Call a lie a lie, not the 10 other ways of saying that to show off your vocabulary (because it just rolls off their backs, and it doesn't move the dial.)
2
Trump's father, who was no angel himself, recognized that his son had serious behavior problems and sent him off to military school. Unfortunately a sociopath in military school is just one of the boys so Donald learned how to manipulate the rules, the faculty and his fellow students and graduated a Caligula in waiting.
3
beautiful column mr blow. fantastic in fact.
perhaps the greatest column ever written in any language. esperonto included.
why should anybody be surprised trump savages our beautiful english language when he savages everything else.
and our beautiful english comes from england.
a lot of people don't know that.
i found out last week that the usa used to be part of england.
a lot of people don't know that incredible fact.
australia's foreign minister had a beautiful retort to trump's comment about mme macron's appearance.
perhaps the greatest column ever written in any language. esperonto included.
why should anybody be surprised trump savages our beautiful english language when he savages everything else.
and our beautiful english comes from england.
a lot of people don't know that.
i found out last week that the usa used to be part of england.
a lot of people don't know that incredible fact.
australia's foreign minister had a beautiful retort to trump's comment about mme macron's appearance.
3
Trump doesn't actually talk - he merely channels the speech of past and current thugs and dictators. He is a Zombie or maybe a Dummy for Bannon's ventriloquism.
I have noticed this about the beast quite awhile ago. His orations are" A tale
told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,signifying nothing".( Thank you William) HIs style of speaking reveals his vast immaturity. He speaks only to lie, bully, or offend. He is a blight on this country, something that we may never recover from. He has brought shame, and dishonor to the presidency. The world looks on in amazement, and ponders how we could have disrespected ourselves so much to have elected such a loathsome individual as our leader.
told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,signifying nothing".( Thank you William) HIs style of speaking reveals his vast immaturity. He speaks only to lie, bully, or offend. He is a blight on this country, something that we may never recover from. He has brought shame, and dishonor to the presidency. The world looks on in amazement, and ponders how we could have disrespected ourselves so much to have elected such a loathsome individual as our leader.
1
Bad enough that Trump was completely reliant on poorly reading index cards for his remarks in Paris (my kingdom for a teleprompter, or at least some reading glasses!), but he wings it when he looks up, especially awkward when he's not addressing a sea of red baseball caps. "A lot of people didn't know that." "Believe me." "Beautiful." The world has thought we're fat for years, now we're fat and stupid.
2
Trump's inability to use language coherently is part of what appeals to his base. They think, "He's one of us!" (How easily they forget that he is a billionaire who has NO understanding of or connection with their problems.) He is the primal-scream Commander-in-Chief for an electorate that knows no other way to express their hatred and loathing of "elites" and "politics as usual." It may have been emotionally satisfying for those people to Trump, but now we are all suffering for Trump's incompetence, his viciousness, his brazen criminality, his frightening immaturity, and his butchering of the English language. His garbled rhetoric makes sane political discussion impossible. #NotMyPresident #RESIST #ImpeachTrumpNOW
1
"I know that there are things of graver consequence..."
I couldn't read any further. Mr. Blow please move on to those things of graver consequence.
I couldn't read any further. Mr. Blow please move on to those things of graver consequence.
2
It's embarrassing you have this imbecile leading your country. I've worked extensively in the States. Some of the brightest minds I've had the pleasure of dealing with. This man is the complete opposite of what your country is. Take it back please.
2
For someone who claims that he is an outsider, not a politician, Trump employs every linguistic trick in the book. From "the big lie," championed by Hitler and Goebbels, repeating large lies so often people surrender to them, to Orwell's definition of "political language": "...is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." Trump himself is too stupid and illiterate to do this consciously, for that matter, to do anything consciously; however, he is the unwitting fool, and tool, of Putin, Bannon, et al, whose goals, among others, are the destabilization of American democracy and, to quote the latter, the "deconstruction of the administrative state". Their very campaign slogan, "make America great again," is a bit of Orwellian doublespeak, straight out of The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism: ignorance is strength, war is peace, freedom is slavery, two and two make five.
he is his own naked truth.
1
Don't let up, Mr Blow. Keep calling Trump what he is.
2
Personally I prefer a leader who is somewhat clumsy with his speech but tells the truth to an eloquent liar.
7
And now we have the best of both world's -- an clumsy, ineloquent liar!
2
But he lies all the time, baldly, badly. He is not "somewhat clumsy" with the English language. He is not managing as best as he can in his second language. He is a full frontal liar. He denies facts as well as his own recorded words and tweets. He blames others for his own acts and lies. His behavior is deeply transgressive and offensive to any thinking person. Why assume that eloquence is a beard for insincerity?
2
Yeah, but we have a leader who is terminally inelegant in his speech and a clumsy liar
2
Trump told Agalarov, after meeting his wife and daughter, and commenting on their beauty, that he produced such "beautiful stuff".
I haven't watched him read the teleprompter in awhile. That was really something. I have seen 3rd graders read with more cadence and fluency. His polling is now at the lowest ever for a President at this point since they started taking polls. But he's doing a "tremendous" & "beautiful" job. .... I can't even look at him anymore, or really anyone from this bad joke of an administration.
Orange, NJ
Orange, NJ
1
Oh how I wish Macron’s wife would have come back with “and I am only 7 years younger than you. I can give you some advice on a diet and exercise program if you like. When you marry a younger partner you have a duty to stay in shape. I am sure your wife would agree.” He destroys more than language.
2
People in the sciences in academia create the new science, and teach some. That is where I work. In the humanities, and outside academia in journalism, most discuss other people's work.
Mr. Blow confuses the two, making things happen, like Mr. Trump, and talking about them, like himself.
I find it likely that Trump did not know that France was the oldest ally of the US. So what? Lafayette did not choose to help America based on a historian's view of the precedents.
Trump may have learned at the last moment about the French American alliance, but he made sure his visit strengthened that alliance quite a lot. He acted on it.
He had the intuition that a compliment to Mrs. Macron, in France, would be appreciated, while saying a similar thing in the US would earn you a slap... Just like, in Poland, as is the custom, the wife of the premier shook first a woman's hand and then Trump's.
That intuition for which is the best way to proceed and to communicate in a given unusual situation is something that the elite schools could never teach Mr. Blow. Nor Mrs. Clinton, by the way. Who, with her "deplorables" comment, lost the election.
PS The NYT spelling checker here needs a context adjustment. Bigly. It does not recognize the word "deplorables".
Mr. Blow confuses the two, making things happen, like Mr. Trump, and talking about them, like himself.
I find it likely that Trump did not know that France was the oldest ally of the US. So what? Lafayette did not choose to help America based on a historian's view of the precedents.
Trump may have learned at the last moment about the French American alliance, but he made sure his visit strengthened that alliance quite a lot. He acted on it.
He had the intuition that a compliment to Mrs. Macron, in France, would be appreciated, while saying a similar thing in the US would earn you a slap... Just like, in Poland, as is the custom, the wife of the premier shook first a woman's hand and then Trump's.
That intuition for which is the best way to proceed and to communicate in a given unusual situation is something that the elite schools could never teach Mr. Blow. Nor Mrs. Clinton, by the way. Who, with her "deplorables" comment, lost the election.
PS The NYT spelling checker here needs a context adjustment. Bigly. It does not recognize the word "deplorables".
2
His indecipherable gobbledygook appeals to his 'base'. Many of whom speak exactly the same way. It is only designed to convey earnestness and bombast, not clarity of thought (of which there is none). His occasional understandable gibberish is the scariest revealing glimpses of the horror in his head. His unfiltered blabbing should be keeping us all up at night. Sad.
The ignorant fool is way beyond embarrassing. He is frightening.
2
Hey, Trump's contribution to the language is "covfefe". It summarizes him perfectly.
3
...It just makes my skin crawl, when he says 'Everybody knows'.
The diplomatic community no doubt took note of the fact that the Playboy of the Western World stopped just short of calling Madame Macron "Hot!" That is the highest status a woman can achieve in the New World Order.
Trumps childish use of language brings to mind the following from my childhood days:
Humpty Trumpty sits on a wall
Humpty Trumpty will have a great fall
All of Putins hackers
Will not be able to put Trumpty together again
Humpty Trumpty sits on a wall
Humpty Trumpty will have a great fall
All of Putins hackers
Will not be able to put Trumpty together again
We've arrived at the final installment in War for the Planet of the Apes, with Trump as commander of an impoverished illiterate & ignoble human army. Looks like we're losing.
2
Trump's poor language skills bear more than a passing resemblance to Sarah Palin's--told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
1
Much like with George W. Bush, you can always tell when Trump says something that is new to him. GDub over-enunciated new words or terms of which he had just been made aware. And Trump, as Mr. Blow mentions, talks as if something new to him is new to everyone. These are not the traits of intelligent, or even curious, people.
Were the HRC emails handed over to the Trumps at that meeting?? They could easily have been in an envelope of San discs. The usual suspects were available to feed Assange on Trumps's schedule.
Truth is this country's use of the English language has been going downhill for years. Think of the number of times people use the word beautiful. Everything is beautiful. Everything is great. You don't say hello anymore, you say hey. The examples are countless. It's all part of our dressdown society. When it comes to the use of the English language, Trump is us.
13
trump is 71 years old; he should have learned better language skills a long, long time ago.
Think of advertising when you think of Trump. Slogans work better than ideas, hollow language allows listeners to sketch in the blanks and repeated lies sink in.
Trump, like his audience, consume TV, not books. Why would we expect subtlety or eloquence from the same medium that gives non-stop singing Brillo pads, dancing toilet-scrubbing bubbles and "The Apprentice"? Great demagogues understand how best to sell a message to an ill-read audience: first cripple the language.
Trump, like his audience, consume TV, not books. Why would we expect subtlety or eloquence from the same medium that gives non-stop singing Brillo pads, dancing toilet-scrubbing bubbles and "The Apprentice"? Great demagogues understand how best to sell a message to an ill-read audience: first cripple the language.
6
Trump's mangled misuse of language is an extension of the condescension and disparaging of anything intellectual by his base. For years now there has been a steady mocking of intelligence and eloquence in favor of "telling it like it is".
The result has been a revival of all things coarse, including racial and religious slurs, pornographic references to women's genitals, and a dumbing down of the language to the point where the words coming out of the president's mouth are unintelligible. Along with lowering the bar of acceptable presidential behavior, he is now the champion of the proudly and profoundly ignorant.
The result has been a revival of all things coarse, including racial and religious slurs, pornographic references to women's genitals, and a dumbing down of the language to the point where the words coming out of the president's mouth are unintelligible. Along with lowering the bar of acceptable presidential behavior, he is now the champion of the proudly and profoundly ignorant.
4
What's curious to me is how his spoken words correlate to his body language. I wish someone with expertise would address that. He has a tendency to jut his shoulders forward, alternating from left to right, juts his chin up and out along with his chest, his mouth seems to always be in a scowl or pout, and who could miss the constantly flying hands. He seldom speaks in what I consider a normal tone of voice, and as others have noted, I've never heard him laugh or give a genuine smile. There is something really wrong with the man - I know - understatement.
7
This nicely put into words what I have been thinking.
The other thing Trump does with his language is reduce everything to polar opposites. Something is either "good, beautiful" or it is "sad, bad." You either win completely, or you have lost everything.
There is no gray area in Trump's world view, so he has no vocabulary to express the thought that something might be mediocre, but still work, or parts of something might be good, while other parts are bad.
And that's a frightening view into the mind of a President, someone who needs to be able to bring people to consensus, who needs to be able to see a compromise as a "win."
The other thing Trump does with his language is reduce everything to polar opposites. Something is either "good, beautiful" or it is "sad, bad." You either win completely, or you have lost everything.
There is no gray area in Trump's world view, so he has no vocabulary to express the thought that something might be mediocre, but still work, or parts of something might be good, while other parts are bad.
And that's a frightening view into the mind of a President, someone who needs to be able to bring people to consensus, who needs to be able to see a compromise as a "win."
49
President Trump is incoherent, shameless and incorrigible. I pity those who, with Trump's best interests in mind, attempt to advise him as to how he should comport himself.
With Trump in office, America, on the world stage, is itself becoming an object of ridicule and scorn. How many pratfalls can this Trump-nation take before it can no longer rise with any semblance of dignity?
Trump's presidency is no longer funny "Ha! Ha!" It has long been funny "strange and dangerous." If his supporters cannot understand that Trump is clearly and presently "strange and dangerous," they themselves must be "surpassing strange and dangerous."
With Trump in office, America, on the world stage, is itself becoming an object of ridicule and scorn. How many pratfalls can this Trump-nation take before it can no longer rise with any semblance of dignity?
Trump's presidency is no longer funny "Ha! Ha!" It has long been funny "strange and dangerous." If his supporters cannot understand that Trump is clearly and presently "strange and dangerous," they themselves must be "surpassing strange and dangerous."
2
This is not surprising. I hope it won't be considered too partisan for me to say, when one of our two major political parties has turned itself wholly (as opposed to mostly--and that would be the Democrats) over to corporate interests then the party head is increasingly idiotic. We've gone from Nixon, an intelligent if troubled man, to Reagan to Bush II to Trump. Rapid decline.
2
He uses very....very very much.
A computer wiz will do a study of all of Trumps words from interviews, press conferences, TV appearances, etc. ( not speeches because they represent the vocabulary of others ).
We'll discover that the lifelong businessman politician has a vocabulary of about 250 words. Not much different from a slow 7th grader.
A computer wiz will do a study of all of Trumps words from interviews, press conferences, TV appearances, etc. ( not speeches because they represent the vocabulary of others ).
We'll discover that the lifelong businessman politician has a vocabulary of about 250 words. Not much different from a slow 7th grader.
6
This president's deficiencies (including his mauling the language) demonstrate repeatedly that he's startlingly/terrifyingly in way over his head. Also, his short falls and inadequacies are made even more glaring (if that's possible) because he follows on the heels of President Obama who in my view is one of our most articulate intelligent evolved deep minded leaders ever.
4
Troubling times for teachers when we could use the communication skills of person in the highest office in our nation as an example as to how not to write. And DJT's behavior exhibits the crude, bullying and ill-mannered actions that we tell our students not to emulate. Sad!
4
Trump's mind is totally self absorbed, unrelated to the truth.
Why should we expect his words be related to the truth?
What people could have voted for such a person to be president and continue to support him?
Why should we expect his words be related to the truth?
What people could have voted for such a person to be president and continue to support him?
3
Trump can barely articulate beyond words that are four letters in length. And worse, he redundantly uses the same four-letter adjective while trying to express a thought. Here is a sampling of Trump recently using "very, very" in a redundant manner while trying to be articulate: On North Korea after its government has set off another missile: "Very, very bad behavior." Again on North Korea: "They are behaving in a very, very serious manner." On what he finds disturbing about Robert Mueller: "He’s very, very good friends with Comey." On a potential trade agreement with Great Britain: "Very, very big deal, a very powerful deal, great for both countries and I think we will have that done very, very quickly” (wow, that's so articulate -- repeating "very, very" twice in the same sentence and throwing in an extra "very" for good measure). During his recent trip to Paris: "Very, very peaceful and beautiful Paris." May I take a language lesson from the master and remind readers that Trump's hands are "very, very small." When Don goes to the federal penitentiary, I hope he goes to a facility that has English for Beginners Lessons.
7
What scares me is that Trump's lack of intelligence and incoherence regarding the English language will rub off on teenagers and children (not to mention their parents) -- and they will start using Trumpese which will be another step in the dumbing down of America.
4
But... but... he has a very good brain, and he's said a lot of things! Believe me.
2
Why do Benedict Donald and his troupe lie?
Because the truth will put them in prison.
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE.
Because the truth will put them in prison.
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE.
2
Cheeto: "Make Language Useless Again...!"
3
If you really want to inspire a face-palm, don't listen to Trump... read the transcripts of his interviews, they are blithering nonsense...he fails to stay on point for more than half a sentence. The results is that there are no sentences.
4
Perhaps the president's favorite word is "sad", an apt description of his stewardship of the country and his failed promise to make America great again.
Another sad fact is that this president is unable to move the country forward is because he's stuck in the past. His obsession with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, the general election that he won but doesn't seem to know that he did, and now Loretta Lynch is a clear indicator that he's three cans short of a six pack.
As for putting the King's English through a meat grinder, maybe that's why his favorite dish is meat loaf. You are what you eat.
Another sad fact is that this president is unable to move the country forward is because he's stuck in the past. His obsession with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, the general election that he won but doesn't seem to know that he did, and now Loretta Lynch is a clear indicator that he's three cans short of a six pack.
As for putting the King's English through a meat grinder, maybe that's why his favorite dish is meat loaf. You are what you eat.
3
a true malignant narcissist with his constant lies and projections. his simple superlatives reflect the attention span of his supporters as well his own. they are extreme and black and white so things are either the best or worst . beautiful or a disaster...... i can only hope this disaster of an administration and their bigly man will end soon.
4
The most troublesome part is that so many of our fellow American citizens still support this man. We know that for the GOP, Trump is just a useful idiot but what motivates his supporters? We could say it is just lack of higher level thinking skills but I am afraid it is not only just emotions but the most toxic emotion of all: hate. No matter how much of blabbering idiots, Trump, Fox News, right-wing radio talking heads and pundits are, Trump supporters will eat it up. Not sure how to fix this. Education fixes ignorance and stupidity, how do you fix hate?
2
They really believe that they will be better off after death for their efforts.
Remember, his base know less than he does. Every time he reads a speech it is the first time he has heard it. Hence, "wow", or "amazing". I believe he cannot read well which is why he always has a family member in the room with him.
They are helping him cope with whatever his learning disability is. His use of projection helps with his guilt for lying. Mrs Khan doesn't speak, Melania won't speak. POW'S are losers, I dodged the draft 5x. Look at Carly's face, look at my face. Little Marco, I have little hands. The media is fake, I get my news from the Sunday shows. I watch TV because I can't read. On and on
They are helping him cope with whatever his learning disability is. His use of projection helps with his guilt for lying. Mrs Khan doesn't speak, Melania won't speak. POW'S are losers, I dodged the draft 5x. Look at Carly's face, look at my face. Little Marco, I have little hands. The media is fake, I get my news from the Sunday shows. I watch TV because I can't read. On and on
3
I believe Trump declared the "the election is rigged". You know what that means in Trumpspeek - he rigged the election!
5
Yes, Mr. Blow, you "know that there are things of graver consequence in Donald Trump’s regime than his diction ..., " so why don't you concern yourself with those matters? Aren't you playing into Trump's, Bannon's, and McConnell's hands by not focusing on the horrible things they're *doing*, and on what our government should be doing?
"... but as a person whose vocation concerns him[self] with language" you can't help yourself?
Aren't you (unintentionally) providing a model of the kind of "elitist" liberal/progressive that scorns and thus angers ordinary, less privileged people? The people you think you are trying to help? The people who want *respect*? The people, many of whom voted against Hillary Clinton because they disliked her mien, and similar politically correct progressives?
Look back at the amazing interviews Vann Jones of CNN conducted with white Democrats in Ohio, who didn't vote for Hillary, especially the family that, with tears in their eyes, repeatedly said, "She hurt us."
If liberals/progressives aspire to represent ordinary people, not just credentialed elites, they need to treat all people *as people," not "demographics" (ugh!), and not just subjects of "programs". They need to recapture the spirit of leaders like Harry Truman (why do I have to reach back so far in time?). Can *you* do it? Will you? Please?
"... but as a person whose vocation concerns him[self] with language" you can't help yourself?
Aren't you (unintentionally) providing a model of the kind of "elitist" liberal/progressive that scorns and thus angers ordinary, less privileged people? The people you think you are trying to help? The people who want *respect*? The people, many of whom voted against Hillary Clinton because they disliked her mien, and similar politically correct progressives?
Look back at the amazing interviews Vann Jones of CNN conducted with white Democrats in Ohio, who didn't vote for Hillary, especially the family that, with tears in their eyes, repeatedly said, "She hurt us."
If liberals/progressives aspire to represent ordinary people, not just credentialed elites, they need to treat all people *as people," not "demographics" (ugh!), and not just subjects of "programs". They need to recapture the spirit of leaders like Harry Truman (why do I have to reach back so far in time?). Can *you* do it? Will you? Please?
1
I read the transcript of the Q and A session on Air Force One following the G20 summit.
Something seriously inhibits the man's ability to answer coherently. He begins a sentence, gets lost, has another idea, mentions Hillary ( still), ....it's like a foreign language.
Something seriously inhibits the man's ability to answer coherently. He begins a sentence, gets lost, has another idea, mentions Hillary ( still), ....it's like a foreign language.
4
You are obviously a DNC obstructionist. POTUS has no trouble communicating. His speeches relay hope and real change, not the Obama era lies. We voted Trump in because of 8 years of elequent political correct lies. We do not want a president who promises unkeepable promises, supports ideals and actions that are detrimential to our country, like socialism,wealth redistribution, overregulation and weak, ineffective foreign policy. After reading this article, I support Trumps war with the media. He should republish the wrestling video clip, remove CNN, replace with NYTimes
1
Thanks, Walter. Your comments reflect perfectly the unthinking and ignorant attitude of Trump's supporters. So, you provide us with a textbook example of what rational Americans are dealing with. I'm confident you would excuse Mr. Trump for shooting someone on the street, as he so arrogantly proclaimed he could - without consequence - during the campaign.
You really should listen to what you're saying - I mean REALLY listen. But apparently that's not going to happen, and that's too bad .... for all of us.
You really should listen to what you're saying - I mean REALLY listen. But apparently that's not going to happen, and that's too bad .... for all of us.
3
Sorry, but the polls indicate that the country does not currently support this sorry excuse of a human being.
1
HE makes Bush JR. look like a Mensa member. Seriously.
Yes, projection: Lyin' Ted, Crooked Hillary, rigged election....and "a lot of people don't know that France is our oldest ally." I daresay Mueller is watching, and is clever enough to take a few investigative clues from DJT's accusations.
1
As a foreign born citizen who learned English as the second of three foreign languages, I think that Trump should be indicted and convicted for murdering his own native language.
Foreign leaders fluent in English whom he meets or talks to on the phone need an interpreter to translate his mangled Trumpian English into a halfway understable language, bigly.
Foreign leaders fluent in English whom he meets or talks to on the phone need an interpreter to translate his mangled Trumpian English into a halfway understable language, bigly.
1
Trump's command of English got him into Fordham.
This buffoon occupying the Whitehouse has not one redeeming quality that I can see.
2
Thank you for this column, Mr. Blow. Trump's sliming of our language is one of the key emblems of his unfitness (if I may use a single word to encompass a world of negatives). It's also, as you point out, a tool that he uses in the sliming of our shared institutions and values. The points you make here have been troubling me in a vague (though powerful) way since he opened his mouth, and it's edifying to have them enunciated so clearly.
Although there is truth to the old line in Linguistics that "structure is meaning" with Trump it's more semantics than syntax. It is his obvious intent in both vocabulary and tone to boast, insult, and lie. There was no problem with his diction in the way he talked about his daughter's body, the first lady of France's body, or the bodies of women who he sexually assaulted and bragged about it... or all of the childish insults levels at anyone who crosses him. Without the need for much analysis, he speaks like an unrepentant creep.
2
"I would submit that the Trumps lie in two ways: first, by directly and intentionally saying things they know well aren’t true, and second, by obfuscating with linguistic obtuseness, by overusing a nebulous relativism and by spouting an excess of superlatives to stand in for meaningful description and disclosure."
Pot, meet kettle. Does Mr Blow ever use a two-syllable word when a five-syllable word is available?
Pot, meet kettle. Does Mr Blow ever use a two-syllable word when a five-syllable word is available?
1
The only time he uses a personal pronoun is when he talk about how great he is.
When the accompanying photo first came up on my screen and Trump's face was in shadow, it looked like it was the photo of an empty hat with that empty phrase on it. That would have been the perfect symbol of him and his presidency -- empty, a void.
Trump is basically an illiterate nitwit. He's Sarah Palin dressed as a man. Word salad is his specialty. Meaningless words tossed out with no purpose other than to get through the moment. It's something he learned when chasing women -- say anything that works to get her into bed -- tell her she's "beautiful" "cool" etc. etc. -- his language is the equivalent of the catchall "whatever."
"At one point, Trump exclaimed: 'France is America’s first and oldest ally. A lot of people don’t know that.' Actually, everyone who was awake in history class and reads books knows that."
That statement was typical of the every day ignoramus -- the assumption by the ignorant and dumb that many others are as ignorant and dumb as they are. One suspects that his "a lot of people" are the ones who voted for him - the ignorant and ill-informed.
Trump is basically an illiterate nitwit. He's Sarah Palin dressed as a man. Word salad is his specialty. Meaningless words tossed out with no purpose other than to get through the moment. It's something he learned when chasing women -- say anything that works to get her into bed -- tell her she's "beautiful" "cool" etc. etc. -- his language is the equivalent of the catchall "whatever."
"At one point, Trump exclaimed: 'France is America’s first and oldest ally. A lot of people don’t know that.' Actually, everyone who was awake in history class and reads books knows that."
That statement was typical of the every day ignoramus -- the assumption by the ignorant and dumb that many others are as ignorant and dumb as they are. One suspects that his "a lot of people" are the ones who voted for him - the ignorant and ill-informed.
1
Here is a man that attended elite schools and managed to graduate yet has zero vocabulary or language skills. He may have attended those schools but he values nothing of what he was taught.
He has been running a con game for many years now. If Trump had been born poor, he would probably had done a stint in jail by now. The money and the connections he received from his rich father have allowed him to build a fraudulent empire marked by shady deals and multiple bankruptcies.
He is now in the process of destroying our institutions and our prestige in the world. It is unbelievable that his supporters are willing to overlook lies, fraud, sexual predation and now collusion with the Russians. Something is really off kilter if you are willing to support a traitor, yet here we are.
He has been running a con game for many years now. If Trump had been born poor, he would probably had done a stint in jail by now. The money and the connections he received from his rich father have allowed him to build a fraudulent empire marked by shady deals and multiple bankruptcies.
He is now in the process of destroying our institutions and our prestige in the world. It is unbelievable that his supporters are willing to overlook lies, fraud, sexual predation and now collusion with the Russians. Something is really off kilter if you are willing to support a traitor, yet here we are.
3
Sarah Palin, but with smaller hands.
2
Mr. Blow, American voters prefer a plain-talking President who communicates ideas that are understood to mean only one thing over eloquent obfuscations that are crafted to convey almost anything or almost nothing and that requires parsing in order to conform to either side, or both sides, of an issue depending on the needs of the speaker. The latter is what Mrs. Clinton thought that she did so well. The results of the past election showed that the American people were on to those arrogant prevaricators who were sure that they could fool the voters. However, they fooled, in the main, only the media and themselves. The result: everlasting shock, surprise and profound disappointment.
A plain-talking President who mocked a disabled reporter, incited people at his rallies to beat up protesters, groped women, defrauded people at a fake university and whose son is now in the middle of a political scandal for colluding with the Russians. This is better than so call obfuscations, really??? We are the laughingstock of the world but hey lets not have any obfuscations.
Language overladen. Lard language.
I was barely paying attention to Trump's speech in Paris and counted at least five gross grammatical errors. We used to laugh at George W.'s Bushisms, but Donald J.'s Trumpisms are far worse.
1
We need to apply some of the same language to him. For a start, FAKE PRESIDENT!
I once read (here in the NYT?) a linguist's take on Sarah Palin's syntax, which was described as the kind of bad translations you hear in a Latin 101 class. To adequately analyze Trump talk you have to go back even further in language pre-history, to early primate speech.
I see Trump's coyness with Macron over climate change as cowardice. He doesn't have the courage or strength of his convictions to confidently stand for them. He took that anti climate change position to pander to his vapid base in the US and it made him look like an idiot on the world stage. He knows he's wrong and he's stuck.
I noticed that he, Trump, tweeted that Caputo testified that there was no Russian meddling in the election. From over here in Australia, my understanding is that Caputo said that he witnessed no Russian meddling. They are 2 different things, and I would have thought any intelligent person would know the difference. It's hard to work out whether your POTUS is too thick to know the difference, or he just bluffs and blusters his way through twitterland.
Trump is the charlatan from 8th grade English who didn't bother to read the assignment and then stands in front of the class and wings an oral book report.
Grifter grammar.
Charles chose candor, clarity, concision, comprehension, certitude. Trump would have settled for conciseness. What a difference among the two.
I had to go to Amazon to order George Orwell: A Collection of Essays just to get Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language" written in 1946. It is essential reading in the Donald era. I think Mr. Blow's op-ed piece is a good companion to Orwell.
Trump has been correctly nailed for non-stop "lies." But here's the rub: is it lying if you don't acknowledge or perceive that there is a truth which you are violating? I don't think Trump is capable of seeing that something is true, or is false. He has spent his life as a huckster, peddling real estate with florid descriptions of the property or proposed deal. It is irrelevant to him whether what he's saying is true or a lie. All he cares about is what works.
2
There are a number of Speech Language Pathologists and myself with more than 40 years of experience who have determined that DJT has profoundly impaired language. Any linguistic analysis shows that impairment which is similar to those with prefrontal cortex dementia or Alzheimer's. The language impairment is secondary to a primary disorder which is likely mental illness. His reading and language skills are more involved than President Reagan. I also identified those before they were formally announced as Alzheimer's. His access to vocabulary is so reduced that while he word searches he just uses the word system he has immediately available. And if you watch his reading of NEW material he often has difficulty with phonological elements and prosodic elements. He is severely impaired.
For some reason, Trump supporters seem equate eloquence, education, and intelligence with lying. Trump has proven that one can lie just as effectively with a poor vocabulary.
1
Good article Charles. I've always thought that Trump projects his views, traits on to his enemies. Now I believe that everything he says about them is really about him. Not "beautiful".
1
I never thought we'd have a president who makes George W. Bush sound like Patrick Henry.
2
Great column Charles. I often wonder about hair furor's education. I believe he graduated from the Wharton School, a prestigious university no doubt about it. I have heard about people who buy research papers and pay students who are smart and know the subject matter, to take notes for them. In the days before computers, it was much easier to cheat one's way through school. Trump's behavior, as others more qualified have noted, exhibits profound mental illness; a mental illness (narcissistic personality disorder and ADD) that probably made it difficult for him to pay attention in class and stay on task. He apparently has very limited knowledge, probably has a difficult time reading anything. How did he get into Wharton and how did he get a diploma? My suggestion is, he did it like his son-in-law getting into Harvard, his father bought it for him.
1
It's hard to know whether to laugh or cry...
1
Surely this is why so many writers (I'm one of them, but not one of the Big Names) take note of Trump and object to him. The list is long, and features some of the best-known: Stephen King, Sara Paretsky, Anne Lamott (but measured and peaceful, as she does), J.K. Rowling, and on and on and on.
39
As Layla and others have observed, Trump's mind and language were much more plastic in his younger days. We've all seen the videos, I assume. His thoughtsand actions, today, show classic symptoms of the calcification of an aging brain.
Reagan was well insulated, later in his second term, when his mind was deteriorating more and more rapidly; but Reagan surrounded himself with more benign and talented people than Trump. I'm afraid, as is a quarter of the country, that Trump's fitness poses a serious danger to our future. My concern is also about the other three quarters of the voting population. Trump's behavior and leadership issues are symptoms and indicators of our national liabilities. To paraphrase Orwell, the degeneration of language is the first sign of a state's decline.
As much as I enjoy your fine use of language, Charles, I think that more formal language and an impressive vocabulary (concision, solipsistic, obfuscation, etc., etc.) don't help us in our arguments against oversimplification and outright lying. In the world at large, I try to speak more practically. Trump can't even keep track of his own lies. The genius of it is that we can barely keep up with them ourselves. Trying to do so just distracts us from the damage being done behind the scenes of the Donald Trump Show, by Congress and his staff.
Reagan was well insulated, later in his second term, when his mind was deteriorating more and more rapidly; but Reagan surrounded himself with more benign and talented people than Trump. I'm afraid, as is a quarter of the country, that Trump's fitness poses a serious danger to our future. My concern is also about the other three quarters of the voting population. Trump's behavior and leadership issues are symptoms and indicators of our national liabilities. To paraphrase Orwell, the degeneration of language is the first sign of a state's decline.
As much as I enjoy your fine use of language, Charles, I think that more formal language and an impressive vocabulary (concision, solipsistic, obfuscation, etc., etc.) don't help us in our arguments against oversimplification and outright lying. In the world at large, I try to speak more practically. Trump can't even keep track of his own lies. The genius of it is that we can barely keep up with them ourselves. Trying to do so just distracts us from the damage being done behind the scenes of the Donald Trump Show, by Congress and his staff.
Why is ageism morally superior to racism to you?
Sure, he uses "beautiful" a lot. But more often than that his very favorite word happens to be "very". It's so important to his speaking style that he frequently uses it twice in a sentence. And to me, only means he's very, very hyperbole-prone. So, suppose what would happen if we took those two words out of his vocabulary. Would he be able to speak a complete sentence with meaning and conviction? And, this past week while he was in France, he spoke (from a teleprompter, presumably) fairly well. But knowing his intellect I couldn't, for a moment, believe that the words he spoke were his own thoughts. Just, for the record, unbelievable (another Trumpism).
Blow: "But his usage is also a way of reducing language to the point that it is meaningless because the use of it is mindless, and in that compromised state, language becomes nearly worthless."
Do not ascribe to trump, ANY capacity to speak otherwise and ANY analytical prowess - there is no there, there.
His locution skills are limited to simplistic metaphors and grand-adjectives because he does not have a command of the English language. He does not have the analytical prowess to work with legislators to develop policy because he: (a) does not know and cannot speak in terms related to the policy, and (b) shows no interest in learning.
Given those two conditions, we will have a man occupying the presidency who continues to be the "greatest president" who's going to give America the "the best health plan" and get America going again with a "wonderful tax cut."
Do not ascribe to trump, ANY capacity to speak otherwise and ANY analytical prowess - there is no there, there.
His locution skills are limited to simplistic metaphors and grand-adjectives because he does not have a command of the English language. He does not have the analytical prowess to work with legislators to develop policy because he: (a) does not know and cannot speak in terms related to the policy, and (b) shows no interest in learning.
Given those two conditions, we will have a man occupying the presidency who continues to be the "greatest president" who's going to give America the "the best health plan" and get America going again with a "wonderful tax cut."
6
Several of Trump's friends, defenders, and apologists have commented that Trump speaks at the fourth grade level, in contrast to more educated individuals who clock in at 8th grade or higher. Unfortunately, Trump speaks at a fourth grade level because he thinks at a fourth grade level. We live in a complex, rapidly changing and interconnected world, and our president has the intelligence of a ten year-old. Just beautiful!
7
Actually, France was NOT our ally in fighting the British.
"Defying the explicit orders of King Louis XVI, who did not wish to provoke Great Britain, the marquis eluded authorities and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to assist the rebellious Americans in 1777. Although still a teenager who spoke little English and lacked any battle experience, Lafayette convinced the Continental Army to commission him a major general on July 31, 1777."
Trump was wrong! I have seen no one correct his glaring misstatement of history.
"Defying the explicit orders of King Louis XVI, who did not wish to provoke Great Britain, the marquis eluded authorities and crossed the Atlantic Ocean to assist the rebellious Americans in 1777. Although still a teenager who spoke little English and lacked any battle experience, Lafayette convinced the Continental Army to commission him a major general on July 31, 1777."
Trump was wrong! I have seen no one correct his glaring misstatement of history.
1
President Trump's diction and vocabulary certainly make me squirm from time to time, but I can deal with it - not everyone has a way with words.
What drives me to distraction is his inability to construct a sentence that isn't interrupted by at least one or two completely unrelated thoughts. Before I can say, "wait, what?", Mr. Trump has moved on to another topic and I'm left behind trying to unpack a grab bag of words from three sentences prior. It's completely manic and a person bound by normal rules of language, rhetoric, and logic can't possibly keep pace.
What drives me to distraction is his inability to construct a sentence that isn't interrupted by at least one or two completely unrelated thoughts. Before I can say, "wait, what?", Mr. Trump has moved on to another topic and I'm left behind trying to unpack a grab bag of words from three sentences prior. It's completely manic and a person bound by normal rules of language, rhetoric, and logic can't possibly keep pace.
3
Trump talks doubleplusgood.
7
Words and truth matter as you have so eloquently pointed out Mr. Blow!
5
Trump's use of language is one barometer of his limitations, which are many and manifest. He cannot plan, focus, follow a script, nor read an executive order. He can't count crowds, nor tell if it's raining during an outdoor speech.
In short, we don't expect anything beyond tweets and rabble rousing from this nowhere man. His lasting contribution to the language is "covfefe".
In short, we don't expect anything beyond tweets and rabble rousing from this nowhere man. His lasting contribution to the language is "covfefe".
14
I agree with all the educated letters about this uneducated moron and his misuse of language. But the most dangerous of all is his and his lawyers use of "transparent". They obviously don't know they mean "opaque". Because little Donny has not been "transparent" about his cavorting with Russians and we all know that The Princeling Kushner hasn't been "transparent" either about his secret Russian meetings. Actually on reflection though I think the Trumps are all very transparent - transparently stupid, avaracious and illiterate.
12
I am confounded. How did this idiot even earn a college degree?
12
Easy, you buy it, not earn it. Another case in point, the precious son-in-law Jared, 'Secretary of Everything', his father bought his seat at Harvard when his grades and test scores didn't earn him his place. Money can buy you a diploma but not intelligence or class.
2
' A lot of people are saying the President is an idiot. I just heard some people say that. Well. I hear a lot of people saying that lately. I'm going to have my people look into that in the coming period of time. They tell me that they've just started, but they're finding incredible things.'
8
Charles is spot on. I cringe when I hear trump speak; my reaction has nothing to do with the 'content' - actually lack thereof - in his ejaculations that pass for his rhetoric. He is a testament to the dumbing down of America. The irony is that he clothes himself in the trappings of education - bragging about his attendance at Wharton, calling his racket a (Trump) university, calling into question Obama's Harvard credentials - while undercutting those who make a career of seeking knowledge. Science and journalism are just two of the professions he habitually denigrates. And because he is such an ignorant twit, he constantly makes claims that have absolutely no mooring in historical knowledge. The investigation into his Russia connection is the 'the greatest witch hunt of all time'! Really? Has he ever heard of Salem? I doubt it.
Because he is president, we must concern ourselves with all the drivel that pours from that ugly mouth of his, yet that is an exercise in absurdity. His speech and his Twitter vomit has drained all meaning from language. No more proof of that is needed than when his enablers - the KellyAnns and ReincePriebuses - implore us to ignore what Trump says rather look into his heart. Believe me, I have looked. It is one ugly place.
Because he is president, we must concern ourselves with all the drivel that pours from that ugly mouth of his, yet that is an exercise in absurdity. His speech and his Twitter vomit has drained all meaning from language. No more proof of that is needed than when his enablers - the KellyAnns and ReincePriebuses - implore us to ignore what Trump says rather look into his heart. Believe me, I have looked. It is one ugly place.
18
Brilliant piece Mr Blow!!
6
Mr. Blow. I believe Louis C.K. summed it up best.
https://youtu.be/XNxG2PBVMlI?t=1m30s
https://youtu.be/XNxG2PBVMlI?t=1m30s
2
Also, study this: when he knows he is about to lie, he does that little sniff, snorting thing with his nose just before the mishmash of deceit comes tumbling out of his mouth. It's a tell. Watch for it.
11
Another tell is this particular facial expression.
https://youtu.be/SYoOPgeTMQc?t=20s
https://youtu.be/SYoOPgeTMQc?t=20s
Another tell.. 'Believe me'...
Our President is emphatic in an inarticulate way expressing elliptical thoughts flowing in a non-orotund manner. Further his turgid language impresses his base along with his portentous presence at events. And being a strong advocate of sententious mannerisms, again displays his perjorative behavior to his opponents.
In other words he's a "nut-job".
In other words he's a "nut-job".
5
If any one language-use sin of trump's struck me as most embarrassing, it was the adjective he used to reference the considerable number of "killings in Syria, while patting himself on the back about the corner-of Syria cease-fire 'pact' he made with putin, to wit: "tremendous" killings!
What a boob.
What a boob.
4
"... I believe, projection, one of Trump’s compulsive traits. What he is guilty of is exactly what he accuses others of being guilty ". BAM! Right on, Mr. Blow.
6
"What he is guilty of is exactly what he accuses others of being guilty of."
Bingo. I have been thinking this since he started pointing the finger at others way back in the early years of Barrack Obama's presidency. He points his finger blaming the elite for the country's economic woes. Tell me, who is a greater elitist than he and his family. "Only I can fix it." Right. If that is not an elitist statement than I don't know what one is.
Bingo. I have been thinking this since he started pointing the finger at others way back in the early years of Barrack Obama's presidency. He points his finger blaming the elite for the country's economic woes. Tell me, who is a greater elitist than he and his family. "Only I can fix it." Right. If that is not an elitist statement than I don't know what one is.
4
Everything you say is perfectly rational about a bigly irrational man. Words in the wind.
You assume everyone knows France was our first ally. Trump knows everyone does not.
They think you're pompous; he's paternalistic.
He's gotten all their votes, especially those with "young men" like his son who have made some big mistakes and are suffering now because of them.
Trump mauls the English language the way the star high school quarterback is sacked by the SAT--with a scholarship to Clemson.
You assume everyone knows France was our first ally. Trump knows everyone does not.
They think you're pompous; he's paternalistic.
He's gotten all their votes, especially those with "young men" like his son who have made some big mistakes and are suffering now because of them.
Trump mauls the English language the way the star high school quarterback is sacked by the SAT--with a scholarship to Clemson.
1
When I was in the eighth grade a long time ago we were taught how to diagram sentences. With Trump the diagram would consist of many many beautiful vertical lines containing really really great adjectives and adverbs.
7
Excellent again, Mr. Blow.
And we thought Bush was an embarrassment. He was - but this is so much worse. It'd be easier if Trump were an actual moron - but he isn't. He's just ignorant and *incurious* (Its that last one that's the killer), and his narcissistic personality disorder has disordered all our lives.
Note the contempt all our allies hold him in.
David
NYC
And we thought Bush was an embarrassment. He was - but this is so much worse. It'd be easier if Trump were an actual moron - but he isn't. He's just ignorant and *incurious* (Its that last one that's the killer), and his narcissistic personality disorder has disordered all our lives.
Note the contempt all our allies hold him in.
David
NYC
10
A fourth grade level is where Donald "Lying Sack of Smarm" Trump's speech is designed register.
We need to keep in mind that his intended audience is not so very smart, no?
We need to keep in mind that his intended audience is not so very smart, no?
3
It is never good to call voters "not so very smart". It does more harm than good.
I don't blame the Trump voters. They knew what they were after. 35% of the population will fall for anything; that has always been the case. That's why we have late night informercials, Nigerian lottery scams, and had Trump University (until the fraud trial) and other patently ridiculous get rich schemes. Some people never learn. I guess that makes the world go around... Other Trump voters are grifters and tax evaders as well and think they might flourish under such an "administration" (unless you are a member of the "family", good luck).
I blame those who couldn't bother to perform their most basic civic duty on last November 8th. Heck, it's not like we were asking them to spend six months in an Iraqi desert!!! But hey, we have our priorities. Sometimes the nation just doesn't rate.
But I especially blame the holier than thou third party "voters". They knew better. But decided to storm half cocked into their voting booths and throw their ballots away on hopeless and hapless vanity "candidates". They sure showed us! They fell for the Karl Rove, Sean Hannity, Vladimir Putin sowed confusion hook, line and sinker. They couldn't tell a competent, experienced candidate that they might not have loved from a clear and present danger to humanity.
Sad!
I blame those who couldn't bother to perform their most basic civic duty on last November 8th. Heck, it's not like we were asking them to spend six months in an Iraqi desert!!! But hey, we have our priorities. Sometimes the nation just doesn't rate.
But I especially blame the holier than thou third party "voters". They knew better. But decided to storm half cocked into their voting booths and throw their ballots away on hopeless and hapless vanity "candidates". They sure showed us! They fell for the Karl Rove, Sean Hannity, Vladimir Putin sowed confusion hook, line and sinker. They couldn't tell a competent, experienced candidate that they might not have loved from a clear and present danger to humanity.
Sad!
12
The press should always quote Trump sord for word. Never miss a thing. The resulting incoherent word salad would wake up even his most ardent admirers. He has a child's vocabulary with the attention span of a gnat. He's an idiot.
5
In his novel 1984, Orwell had a name for such people, who used the invented language Newspeak to drain language of all thought and meaning. In Orwell's world Trump is a "double plus good duckspeaker".
6
My head is spinning trying to grasp- and explain- the reality of what has occurred. Sounding like a complete idiot has been employed to indicate that you are "one of the people". You "understand and therefore can solve" REAL problems. REAL problems- such as all those nonwhite white people taking jobs from white americans because of affirmative action. All the foreign invaders pouring into the USA sucking up resources. How did the hybrid driving, kale crunching elitists miss this? It is because both sides are stealing from the same common via the corporatization of the USA.
2
I remember when Reagan was offering the use of the US Navy to M Margaret Thacher in her Falklands war with Argentina, he declared , in a speech that England was our " oldest ally." That's Republican memory adjustment. Burning Washington to the ground? A nothingburger.
3
More eloquence about ineloquence! Very well said. Keep it coming Mr. Blow!
5
" A lot of people don't know that" translation: (Until I read this speech, I didn't know that)
4
I thought President Trump's speech in Warsaw defending and extolling Webern civilization would have made Winston Churchill proud.
7
Anton Webern?
Really? Winston Churchill did not assume that "Western" values are exclusive to a particular region of the world let alone a particular race or religion, which is certainly what motivated that speech in Warsaw.
Indeed, it has inspired the government of Poland, already far right wing, to become even more aggressively authoritarian.
Churchill would NEVER have approved of this implicit support for the anti-democratic.
Indeed, it has inspired the government of Poland, already far right wing, to become even more aggressively authoritarian.
Churchill would NEVER have approved of this implicit support for the anti-democratic.
2
A difference is that Churchill could have written that speech, not just deliver it like a network talking head.
1
Trump is completely tone- deaf to any nuance or subtlety, and is completely unable to read a situation and speak appropriately. I just assume that every remark, every speech, and every tweet is Trump either lying or just being clueless. Sad.
3
.
We have the worst of Archie Bunker in the White House: None of the comedy, but all of the bigotry, oafishness, provincialism, and lack of intelligence.
.
We have the worst of Archie Bunker in the White House: None of the comedy, but all of the bigotry, oafishness, provincialism, and lack of intelligence.
.
8
"lizard" is the perfect way to describe Trump.
1
Kinda makes you long for the eloquent logic of Sarah Palin, doesn't it?
4
Thank you, Mr Blow, for so clearly providing the analysis of the language of the liar-in-chief. I find it exhaustive when I listen to his rambling rants, because he is on to the next round while I am trying to process the phrase he just uttered. The content and the structure he uses consistently is as you describe so succinctly.
It is high time that the real press covering the fake president call him out on his buffooneries, such as you describe with Ms Lynch. The questions posed to him and his spokespersons would be prefaced with "...as evidenced by..." which would ask him to cite specifics for his references to "somebody," "a period of time," "alot," and other such unmeasurables which you describe so aptly. He needs to be called-out for each and every one of these irrational and absurd insults to our language, our democracy, and our citizenry.
It is high time that the real press covering the fake president call him out on his buffooneries, such as you describe with Ms Lynch. The questions posed to him and his spokespersons would be prefaced with "...as evidenced by..." which would ask him to cite specifics for his references to "somebody," "a period of time," "alot," and other such unmeasurables which you describe so aptly. He needs to be called-out for each and every one of these irrational and absurd insults to our language, our democracy, and our citizenry.
95
Remember he is refusing to do press conferences except to his servile media organizations. They never challenge his garbage.
The Donald follows the general rule of ruthless executives: put nothing in writing. The higher you go in the chain of command, the fewer documents are written and signed. Perhaps it was his dealings in the sleazy real estate/casino gambling industry and the Russian mafia that brought him to this new level. Show me something that has his signature. Show me his emails. Tell me what he has said under oath. Everything else is noise and distraction. Show me the tax returns. Follow the money.
5
He doesn't have as good a brain as he said he does.
2
I applaud your article.
I've been saying the same (though less eloquently) since Trump was elected.
[I made few Trump comments prior to election, as I thought it unlikely he'd be elected. His ignorance and dishonesty seemed SOOOOO obvious. On election day, I told a friend that if Trump were wearing a blinking red button saying "ignorant narcissistic pathological liar", it could not be more obvious. We haven't spoken since.]
Patting myself on the back has made me feel a tad Trumpish. Yuck.
Your "a lot of people don't know" comment is right on the money.
Trump repeatedly makes a comment suggesting that he's just learned something every American high-school graduate should know.
He claims that scientific knowledge shows that AGW is a hoax. Yet I'd be EXTREMELY surprised if he's scientifically literate. I'd be surprised if he could tell the difference between an isotope and an ion (without being told).
Based solely on Trump’s statements, if one knew nothing of the facts related to them, and knew nothing else about him, one cannot escape the conclusions that he tries to convey a belief in “facts” that favors him, and that actual facts are completely irrelevant to him.
To him, the “truth” is whatever benefits himself.
I've been saying the same (though less eloquently) since Trump was elected.
[I made few Trump comments prior to election, as I thought it unlikely he'd be elected. His ignorance and dishonesty seemed SOOOOO obvious. On election day, I told a friend that if Trump were wearing a blinking red button saying "ignorant narcissistic pathological liar", it could not be more obvious. We haven't spoken since.]
Patting myself on the back has made me feel a tad Trumpish. Yuck.
Your "a lot of people don't know" comment is right on the money.
Trump repeatedly makes a comment suggesting that he's just learned something every American high-school graduate should know.
He claims that scientific knowledge shows that AGW is a hoax. Yet I'd be EXTREMELY surprised if he's scientifically literate. I'd be surprised if he could tell the difference between an isotope and an ion (without being told).
Based solely on Trump’s statements, if one knew nothing of the facts related to them, and knew nothing else about him, one cannot escape the conclusions that he tries to convey a belief in “facts” that favors him, and that actual facts are completely irrelevant to him.
To him, the “truth” is whatever benefits himself.
3
America's oldest trading partner is the Netherlands not France.
1
Who knew English was so complicated?
4
"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."
-Kris Kristofferson, best known via Janis Joplin
-Kris Kristofferson, best known via Janis Joplin
1
He speaks the language he understands best; simple, easy, redundant, condescending, lying. He's happy (crazy), yet we cringe (shake), so some of us (a lot of us) are trusting the press (NYT) to speak in the most efficient (smart) and honest terms as our antidote to simplicity (ambiguity).
2
Aren't we a little late to go after trump for the poor grasp of his own language? It's been a feature of his since day dot, a useful non-attribute that makes him palatable to the 'poorly educated' he claims to love so much. As saddening as it is to see trump attempt to express himself on the world stage, it's also one of the clearest indicators of his fury against the educated western elites that will never count him among their own. It may also go part of the way in explaining why naked power is his preferred stance over soft power, hence his closeness to Putin. It's sobering to think this entire assault on American democracy is in part driven by inadequacy, but it's been obvious from the start, and is key in his support from his disgruntled, angry base.
Trump is the archetypal velvet-gloved thug, with a massive chip on his shoulder. Now that he's potus, the chip paradoxically grows ever bigger. Not even the greatest office on the planet can shine him up sufficiently to be acceptable - and his infantile, threatening use of language just proves he knows no club will have him. Unless he owns it, of course.
Trump is the archetypal velvet-gloved thug, with a massive chip on his shoulder. Now that he's potus, the chip paradoxically grows ever bigger. Not even the greatest office on the planet can shine him up sufficiently to be acceptable - and his infantile, threatening use of language just proves he knows no club will have him. Unless he owns it, of course.
1
Will no one rid us of this turbulent priest?
I would bet money that Trump doesn't even know what most of your column's big words even mean. Sad.
1
"... but as a person whose vocation is diction...".
I had to read the first sentence of this article three times, before I finally understood whether the author's career involves presidential speech writing or history. It does not.
The first sentence in an article should always be concise and engaging. The first sentence of the article [without my correction] includes too many words and confuses the reader.
I had to read the first sentence of this article three times, before I finally understood whether the author's career involves presidential speech writing or history. It does not.
The first sentence in an article should always be concise and engaging. The first sentence of the article [without my correction] includes too many words and confuses the reader.
2
Wouldn't it be wonderful if that were his only offense. What he has and is doing to our country is disgraceful. What sort of spell has he cast on his supporters. Anyone with half a brain could not possibly condone some of the disgusting, deplorable things he has said about women.....and they were not "fake news".
Heard on the news today that he is declaring this week, "Made in America". So that must mean he and his daughter will stop having their "stuff" manufactured overseas. I won't hold my breath.
Why must he go to NJ to play golf, aren't there any golf courses closer to the WH. It cost the taxpayers vast amounts of money. He used to complain that President Obama played too much golf. "t" has played more golf in 6 months than President Obama played in 8 years! Please stop the madness.
Heard on the news today that he is declaring this week, "Made in America". So that must mean he and his daughter will stop having their "stuff" manufactured overseas. I won't hold my breath.
Why must he go to NJ to play golf, aren't there any golf courses closer to the WH. It cost the taxpayers vast amounts of money. He used to complain that President Obama played too much golf. "t" has played more golf in 6 months than President Obama played in 8 years! Please stop the madness.
1
"Two Scoop"Trump is melting.
1
Listening to this buffoon speak is painful and embarrassing - he is inarticulate, ill-informed, arrogant, etc., etc. What increasingly concerns is his repeatedly incompetent and pathetic attempts to show the world what a bright, urbane, cosmopolitan and well-educated person he thinks he is, not so and the more I hear him speak the more I would wonder if there is not something missing in the attic. Suffice it to say he has mega personality flaws but his thinking would appear to indicate not so subtle signs of intellectual limitations, flaws in attention, poor and limited language skills, inability to plan and anticipate, problems with reflecting and learning from experience, questionable ability to change his course of action or thinking. His language, regardless of his audience - the media, his supporters, national audience, rarely changes when he gets off the script and begins his oh so predictable and pathetic rants about "fake news", crooked Hillary and the evils of Obama and all his failed programs. Whatever the source of his language problems, and they are quite obvious, the bigger question here is: What justification is there for his continued presence as our president - he gives new meaning to the word "fake."
2
Were it not for the magic of the teleprompter and the words placed there by "someone," donald would not be able to utter one coherent word on the national and international stages. He is, quite simply, a dunce with money. Oh yes, he is also an embarrassment.
1
“...because the use of it is mindless...”
—
“...first, by directly and intentionally...”
You’re right; Trump’s diction is driveled fustian palaver, hot air needing desperately to rise out of the atmosphere of Washington’s o’ so great and grand rhetorical eloquent oratory. That’s why I guess you say he’s or rather; it’s both—“mindless” and “intentional.” Of course, Aristotle would disagree, “A” not concomitantly not “A”; however, in the parlance of political dialect, “contra” and “diction” will always be non-compos mentis and never non-sequitor, even for the most articulate and facile of glib, silver—tongued sophistry and persuasion.
—
“...first, by directly and intentionally...”
You’re right; Trump’s diction is driveled fustian palaver, hot air needing desperately to rise out of the atmosphere of Washington’s o’ so great and grand rhetorical eloquent oratory. That’s why I guess you say he’s or rather; it’s both—“mindless” and “intentional.” Of course, Aristotle would disagree, “A” not concomitantly not “A”; however, in the parlance of political dialect, “contra” and “diction” will always be non-compos mentis and never non-sequitor, even for the most articulate and facile of glib, silver—tongued sophistry and persuasion.
Trump's mind and personality are abnormal and his language reflects that. He has no decency, shame, honesty, capacity for empathy, or understanding of any substantive issue or area. His strengths are in lying, cheating, bullying, and taking advantage of others by manipulating or threatening them in every possible way. In short, Donald Trump is a social predator who abuses politics, women, the media, victims of his scams, truth, tradition, decency, and language. The mistake of rivals, adversaries, and voters is to take him as a flamboyant personality given to stretching the truth who should be given as much of a chance as anyone else, or even expected as an outsider and billionaire businessman to shake up political elites and affirm the marginalized. He's an outsider in the same way any wolf is an outsider to sheep. Trump should be behind bars or in a facility where he cannot harm society, America, and the world. He's likely to end up there.
2
If Americans wanted a President who spoke in complete, complex sentences, was familiar with basic American history, understood that health care is complicated and was not so shallow that he makes George W Bush look like Plato, then they would have elected Hilary Clinton. But they didn't, and now is the time is to focus more on what Trump does, and less on what he says. He is gutting environmental standards and upending 40 years of US diplomacy. He wants to deprive millions of people of health care and give the rich a tax break which probably will not stimulate the economy.
Criticizing and mocking his language and ignorance only affirms his supporters' belief that the elites are out to get him and them.
Criticizing and mocking his language and ignorance only affirms his supporters' belief that the elites are out to get him and them.
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Carpe, finally a reasonable, logical and practical submission from the left (though I think what you say Trump wants to do is arguable).
Read the rest of the posts here: you'd think there is some kind of infectious disease going around on the loony left.
The apparent scarcity of folks like you on the left is why Republicans will keep winning, despite your best efforts.
Read the rest of the posts here: you'd think there is some kind of infectious disease going around on the loony left.
The apparent scarcity of folks like you on the left is why Republicans will keep winning, despite your best efforts.
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With all due respects, I am saddened by the fact that you do not appreciate the fear of losing our health insurance.
Who are the "elites" ?
Talking with a linguist friend about the precariousness of Trump's language, he told me the following: A Mexican immigrant (with or without documents) between A12 and 15 months in our country and working in a restaurant or in landscape or cleaning In hotels or Host families, achieves an average internalization of 300 to 400 words in English, without any difficulty. Obviously, he added, linked to issues of integration need to the socio-economic life of the environment in which he lives and, in addition, the group Of study considers at random to the immigrants whose average age is of 23 years. Trump with 71 years in shoulders, a doubtful intellectual capacity, a rejection by the chronic reading and the normal decay of the learning curve, is below any immigrant In many personal respects, within them, the ability to speak decently the national language.
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