Re: General nit

"5parrow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Heavyarms wrote:
> > "Nev" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> >>When speaking or writing your opinion, why say/write "My personal
> >
> > opinion",
> >
> >>"My personal belief", etc.? Using the word 'personal' after 'My' in such
> >>statements is redundantly unnecessary [umm... anybody catch that?]
because
> >>it's *understood* to be solely yours without you having to state so.
> >>
> >>Just say/write "My opinion", "My belief", etc.
> >>
> >
> > It's just part of some sort of feeling in our culture where we have to
put
> > superfluous words into our statements to make them sound more important
or
> > intelligent.
>
> Negative. There's a reason for using a broader range of
> vocabulary/sentence structure; it adds colour to what would otherwise be
> purely utilitarian communication.

But unless you're writing a novel or a screenplay, or you're trying to
impress a chick (or you're Shakespeare) isn't all communication utilitarian?

If someone were to ask you "Hot out, isn't it?" would you answer "It is my
personal opinion that it is" or would you answer "yep"?  If you answer the
first way, then the person who asked you probably won't talk to you anymore.
That, or he'll assume you're English.  Which brings us back to the original
poster's comment, why do people say "it is my personal opinion that..."
Obviously, if you are taking the time to offer your opinion, the person you
are offering it to will be able to tell that you are already ofering your
personal opinion (which is redundant, since saying that it is "your's" makes
it your personal) without your having to state the obvious.

Adding "colour," as you put it, is just another way that we try to make what
we say sound "highfalutin'"  Have you ever heard the expression "Cleanliness
is next to Godliness"?  I am of the opition that brevity is also next to
godliness.  Again, I point to my cited examples of talk radio callers
beginning their conversation with "I had a comment..." or those who begin a
question with "I had a question..."

>
> If we all used the barest minimum of available verbiage, the language
> would devolve into something vaguely resembling military radio chatter.
> I'm sure none of us want that to happen.
>
> - 5parrow
>