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You've got questions, she's got answers. Be among the first to read Elise Mac Adam's new etiquette guide.
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I Want the Article Back!
Cutie-pie language gets me low. When I hear a spouse referred to as "hubby" I always feel as if I'm peering (unwillingly) into someone's bedroom, and I don't much care for it when people other than my one talking child refers to me as "Mommy".
The folksy tick that I find particularly grating when it comes to discussions of parenting is the insipid dropping of the article during discussions of infants:
"Baby likes a bath before bedtime."
"Baby is having a temper tantrum."
"When mommy forgets to buy batteries, baby is miffed."
How did this happen? Where did the "the" go? Where is the appeal? I want it back. The "the" goes missing in conversation but also in print. I have this sense that magazines (parenting and otherwise) want to tap into some kind of hideous "mommy speak" in an effort to "connect" to mothers who... I don't know what. Who simply don't have the time to let their weary eyes slide across a three letter word.
Why is this on my mind? I was glancing at a new web site for "mature" mothers, and was completely disappointed to see that even "old" mothers feel the need to write in this weird baby talk for grownups. There is something distasteful about proudly proclaiming your "experienced" status if you're just going to express yourself in the style of a toddler.
It makes me want to join in, just for a moment.
Blech.
posted by Elise at 7:21 AM
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erin said...
I'm sure it's just a trend, and will, hopefully, be gone soon!
My husband thinks it's cute to speak in instant messaging talk ("lol," "teh" instead of "the"), typos and all, and I can't stand it! It's not a battle I want to fight, and I am sure it will go away soon if I ignore it.
8/01/2007 10:39 AM
leighs said...
I COULD NOT agree more with this, the use of the word "baby" as a proper noun. I will ask dr's and whomever not to call me by "Mom" I fond it so patronizing. I don;t think it is a trend. It has been around since th e60's. But my larger pet peeve is when husbands and wives refer to each other as "mommy" and "Daddy." too Reagan-esque.
8/02/2007 5:50 AM
Beatrice said...
My background is in writing and editing, and I find the lack of articles in sentences such as you have described to be lazy writing. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who finds that practice to be objectionable!
8/02/2007 11:10 AM
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erin said...