Language on the Skids Planet Biscotti Goddess Richmond Writing

Language on the Skids Planet Biscotti Goddess Richmond Writing Admittedly, unlike the cartoon (taken from UPenns Language Log blog) this post is tepid stuff. I find myself, by inclination a descriptivist about propriety in language, vexed by the overuse of goddess and planet and even club. Each of these words has been debased and lost some of its grandeur by their use in marketing. This screed of mine began as I looked across the desk, delaying grading student work, when my eyes lighted on the box of biscotti Id picked up at Ellwood Thompsons Local Market, my favorite place to shop. The brand, Biscotti Goddess, appears at the local coffee shop and Im fond of them. Im not fond of the name. Deities, even heathen ones, or especially those, merit some respect.   Id say Biscotti Diva except Id be falling into the same trap. My concern with using such signifiers this way comes from the ability to suck the life from what they signify.   If you look up weasel word in Wikipedia, youll see that the term comes from how an actual weasel empties an egg that still appears intact. And thus with language. Almost time for Planet Lunch!