Thursday, September 14, 2017
It's not stunning
I am stunned when advertisers etc. use the term "stunning" to describe things that are actually quite mundane, or at best, are interesting or attractive, but certainly do not warrant such a superlative. Or perhaps I exaggerate with the explanation of my response as I am more likely annoyed than just stunned.
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Have you noticed that the over-use of superlatives is a very American thing? "That is the best film EVER!" "OMG, that meal was AMAZING!" Just look at the basic words used by #45 - great, amazing, tremendous, phenomenal... And apparently many are simple-minded enough to fall for inflationary praise. Superlatives have lost their meaning for mindful people. "Greatest" means good. "Amazing" means good or fine. "The best ever" means decent. Where an American would say, "OMG, that was the best film I've ever seen!!!!!" a German or a Brit would say, "I enjoyed the film."
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely overdone in the US. I like the British superlative, "it was rather good." ;-)
ReplyDeleteOr a German might say (especially one from the north, as my northern friend told me): I have no complaints.
ReplyDeleteThat's a Swabian thing, too! My mom-in-law once grumbled at her Swabian husband because he didn't say anything about dinner. If he liked it, why didn't he say so? His response was, "Well, I didn't say I _didn't_ like it, did I?" The Swabians say, "Not grumbling is praise enough."
ReplyDeleteI prefer the British superlative as well.