Song on my iPod: Love Today by Mika
I was driving to an appointment yesterday, listening to the radio and minding my own business (should have been listening to my iPod) when I was verbally assaulted. No, not by some mad driver on the road, but by a radio advert.
It was advertising laser hair removal, and the gal promoting the clinic/product announced the service was the 'unhurtingest' laser hair removal out there. What the?! She may as well have reached through the radio and punched me in the ears. I'm sure I cringed and swerved as I heard the bold announcement using a non-existent word. Aaaargh!
What is it with advertisers, the media and companies using bad, bad, bad language? Or rather non-existent language which teaches kids it's okay to make up words, or better yet, these fictional words actually exist? There are people who don't comprehend these words are, in fact, made up by marketers to make people remember their stupid campaigns.
It's like those 'Un' ads with the NRMA. Grrr. They don't UNannoy me, or UNworry me. They make me very UNhappy. It's very poor English on the part of the marketers and, in my opinion, bad judgement by the NRMA.
Then there are companies that name themselves without any concept of grammar. Every time I drive past Fishing-R-Us (displayed in giant letters on the side of a building) I want to park my car, get out, and give them an earful. Yes, yes, it might be dramatic, but how dumb can these people be? Apart from trying to rip off the Toy-R-Us concept, they get it so VERY wrong.
I probably need to get off my high horse, but stuff like this drives me nuts. We all make mistakes, but these are unacceptable. I think crimes against language should result in punishment - in the form of a spanking using a dictionary and/or a thesaurus. The bigger and heavier the better! Lol.
10 comments:
Don't get me started Mon, lol. Add Americanisms, words like Lite or Ezy, SMS language uesd anywhere but in an SMS, inappropriate apostrophe use.... said don't get me started.
Haha, I really get irate when I see your and you're misspelt in twenty foot high letters. Because that's one of the easiest ones to figure out if they just took half a second to think about it!!
Oh, AJ, I'm so glad you feel the same, and I agree with the 'lite' and 'ezy'.
Although, I am guilty of the LOL and BRB etc., which is kind of SMS speak. ROTFL *VBG*. Oh, my! :-)
Hey Christina, the 'your' and 'you're' thing is a good one. It happens a lot, and I hate it.
I really think companies should look at their advertising before they pay for printing or the manufacture of signage. Honestly, if I see a spelling error, it turns me off buying/using the service.
Funny story, I'm so nuts I had to tell a salesperson I hated the fact her shop was called 'Temt', as opposed to 'Tempt' (obviously I have issues!!).
I need a headache tablet and a lie down, now. Getting a bit worked up here! :-)
LOL Mon. Yes advertising does take liberties with the language, but do you know what, you've remembered the ad! ;)
I know, Eleni, but I REFUSE to buy their product/service on principle!
Obviously I have issues and need my head read (he he he), but it drives me bonkers *pulls hair out*.
I agree entirely Mon. Un words with NRMA, what are they trying to make up their own language?
I guess they think it's cool. A new way of saying things like slang.
As for me, I think it's a terrible approach, especially misleading the younger generation. How on earth are they going to learn to spell when they see misspellings on the T.V.
As for remembering the add. The only reason I remembered, as I was speaking with hubby the other night about spelling. He was the one that had to remind me who undertook the illiteracy.
I agree about misleading young people, Suz. The problem is it becomes normal to use this kind of language. I know I'll be one of those cranky old people saying "Back in MY day..."
I need to take a chill pill, don't I? He he he.
Temt! Maybe that's just a temorary thing!
I'm not surprised you said commented.
My issue is with apostrophes, which are often used incorrectly.
But, I have an admission, I think the 'Un' ads are really clever... maybe it's the dog with his fur and flappy tongue blowing in the wind as he hangs out the car window.
Hey Shayne,
Yep, the apostrophe issue is a biggie. I see apostrophe errors in signage as well. Gets me hot under the collar! Doesn't take much to read up first to check if you're writing it correctly or not. Grr.
And I see you're UNworried about the NRMA ads, eh? He he he. Part of the reason I don't like them is the voice over guy - his voice annoys me (I'm shocking, aren't I?).
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