A forum for examining the language of speech and writing.
Vale of tribalism
Many valid words are rendered incorrect based on the context in which they are used. The spellchecker does not understand context. In a recent article about Bev Manley's new book the writer presented the quote from the author, "It was hard to pierce through that vale of tribalism to reach to the interests of Jamaicans" ... lazy writer with spellchecker-itis.
The writer has relied on the spellchecker to proofread his work, and since there was no red squiggly line under the word 'vale', he thought it was good and valid.
Vale is a valid word, but not in that context, and you do a bright woman like Mrs Manley a great disservice. Unless it is that she meant that the situation of tribalism was so low, that it was like a vale. Do ... check up on the spellchecker.
Douse of pepper
The Wordsmith needs glasses because, no, the food writer did not write, could not have written that the food at the little restaurant in Clarendon was bland and could have done with a douse of pepper. Perhaps the food was really so bland that a little dash or sprinkle would not do ... it needed a proper dousing of pepper. The chef should be fired.
For questions and comments, email: the speechcoach_ja @yahoo.com.
CALLING LITERARY ARTS WRITERS
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