[Dixielandjazz] Most Unique humbug? Or maybe not!
Jerry Gordon
jerrygordon at juno.com
Tue Jan 17 14:09:51 PST 2012
I didn't say it "might" happen, Steve, I said it "will" happen. As a matter of fact, my Random House Unabridged dictionary says the meaning "unusual" (which is qualifiable) started around the middle of the 19th century.
As I also said, it's a losing battle.
Jerry
-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com [mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Stephen G Barbone
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 4:41 PM
To: Jerry Gordon
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Most Unique humbug? Or maybe not!
> From: Don Ingle <cornet at 1010internet.com>
>
> The thing that rankles about using "most unique" has nothing to do
> with Jazz. It is the simple misuse of the word "unique."
> "Unique means "one of a kind," therefore singular, unlike anything
> else.
> it is like being pregnant - "you either is or you ain't!"
> Unique needs no adjective, scale of comparison, or other modifying
> embellishment. It stands on its own. Yet it is among the most abused
> words in the English language.
> No matter where used or applied or in what circumstance it occurs, if
> it is unique you've said all that needs to be said.
> Don Ingle (unique heard misused earlier today on NBC news broadcast by
> a "talking head" of supposed great reporting skill) and it indeed
> rankled me!!
Dear Don
Most of us oldsters (but not me) probably follow your and Jerry's view.
However see the following definition in the American Heritage
Dictionary. Read especially the "Usage Note" and that portion which I
have Capitalized for emphasis. This usage, now fairly common, is what
Jerry warns us might happen. "Might happen" no longer applies. It has
already happened.
(yo͞o-nēkˈ)
adjective
Being the only one of its kind: the unique existing example of Donne's
handwriting.
Without an equal or equivalent; unparalleled.
a. Characteristic of a particular category, condition, or locality: a
problem unique to coastal areas.
b. Informal Unusual; extraordinary: spoke with a unique accent.
Related Forms:
u·niqueˈly adverb
u·niqueˈness noun
Usage Note: For many grammarians, unique is the paradigmatic absolute
term, a shibboleth that distinguishes between those who understand
that such a term cannot be modified by an adverb of degree or a
comparative adverb and those who do not. These grammarians would say
that a thing is either unique or not unique and that it is therefore
incorrect to say that something is very uniqueor more unique than
something else. Most of the Usage Panel supports this traditional
view. Eighty percent disapprove of the sentence Her designs are quite
unique in today's fashions. But as the language of advertising in
particular attests, UNIQUE IS WIDELY USED AS A SYNONYM FOR "WORTHY OF
BEING CONSIDERED IN A CLASS BY ITSELF, EXTRAORDINARY," AND IF SO
CONSTRUED IT MAY ARGUABLY BE MODIFIED. IN FACT, UNIQUE APPEARS AS A
MODIFIED ADJECTIVE IN THE WORK OF MANY REPUTABLE WRITERS. A TRAVEL
WRITER STATES THAT "CHICAGO IS NO LESS UNIQUE AN AMERICAN CITY THAN
NEW YORK OR SAN FRANCISCO," FOR EXAMPLE , AND THE CRITIC FREDRIC
JAMESON WRITES " THE GREAT MODERN WRITERS HAVE ALL BEEN DEFINED BY THE
INVENTION OR PRODUCTION OF RATHER UNIQUE STYLES." ALTHOUGH THESE
EXAMPLES OF THE QUALIFICATION OF UNIQUE ARE DEFENSIBLE, WRITERS SHOULD
BE AWARE THAT SUCH CONSTRUCTIONS ARE LIABLE TO INCUR THE WRATH OF SOME
READERS.
Therefore is would seem to me that the writer of the press release
that started this thread, was fully is correct, usage wise in saying:
"It's the most unique thing that we may hear musically for a long time."
At least according to the American Heritage Dictionary, that is. VBG.
And note also that the Webster New World College Dictionary agrees
also with their definition 3.
eg. Definition 3 - Highly unusual, extraordinary, rare, etc.: a common
usage still objected to by some.
Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband
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