daily nebraskan
Wednesday, October 29, 1975
QftS&
page 8
barnstein on words
Shambles needs tightening
By Theodore M. Bernstein
Word to be tightened. Sentence from a
news article: "At the school, faculty meet
ings are disorganized and record-keeping is
in a shambles."
Basically, shambles meant a bench
where meat is sold, but it was broadened
to mean a slaughter house, then a scene of
slaughter or carnage and then a scene of
great destruction or wreckage.
More recently writers searching out the
lurid word have applied shambles to mere
confusion or turmoil. Thus the word has
lost much of its power.
It would be well to tighten up on its
use and keep it strong, although that may
be a lost cause. Incidentally, the use of the
preposition in ahead of it is not unusual or
idiomatic.
Word to be loosened. The continuing
conflict over the word hopefully is brought
to the fore again by a letter from Mrs. Ben
H. Williams of Arkadelphia, Ark., who con
demns the word's overuse.
The normal use of the term to which
nobody objects is in the sense of full of
hope, as in "We looked hopefully for a
break in the stormy weather." The use to
which many people object is in the sense of
"it is hoped," as in, "The two sides began
negotiation, hopefully with an end to the
strike in sight."
To be quite honest, a decade ago your
host was on the side of the objectors, but
in recent years additional thought about
the matter has changed his mind.
In that secondary use the word makes
sense; it is somewhat analagous to words
such as fortunately, luckily, regrettably
and happily. Unfortunately, no parallel
word that means "it is hoped" exists. And
happily, to use hopefully in that manner in
no way distorts or corrupts the first
meaning of the word.
But strangely, the opposition continues
, to grow. Bruce Bohle, usage editor of the
American Heritage Dictionary, tells me
that approval of the secondary sense
among the dictionary's usage panel was 44
per cent in 1968, 42 per cent in 1970 and
37 per cent in 1975.
But he adds this personal opinion about
the secondary meaning; "Realistically, I
suppose it is here." I think he is right.
Those who continue to oppose mat
meaning are Canutists.
Word Oddities. That word Canutists was
coined here just a moment ago. Can't you
hear people saying, "I suppose it's related
to King Canute. But what does Canute
connote?" And then they will recall that
Canute tried in vain to sweep back the
waves of the ocean.
Personality
'extended'
by juggling
VLrV
(c) 1975 T ha odor M. Bern stain
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FOR THE HUSOES) illDiVIOIIALIST 1
There's a whole new way of looking at yourself today. When you're
not "packaged" by the dictates of others. And the choice of how you
look and feel is yours. ,
Feeling good is our business at Bivouac. Yet part of feeling good is
looking good, and we know that too. Stop in. You'll be surprised
at the warm, wonderful things we have for you to wear.
Bivouac for functional fashion.
1235 Q Gunny'i
"Juggling is communicating with in
animate objects-they become very ani
mated, an extension of my personality."
Such is the feeling of the juggling UNL
senior, Jek Kelly.
"I can do that," was Kelly's response to
a juggler's television performance more
than two years ago. Since inspiration, Kelly
has developed an impressive repetoire of
juggling acts with torches, clubs, balls and
hoops.
According to Kelly, an audience favorite
is his juggling of three apples and taking a
bite from each as they pass by.
Kelly entertains at college gatherings,
state and district conventions and night
clubs. His most recent engagement was in
Kearney at the Nebraska Theater
Convention. ,
Although he says he enjoys public per
formances, he also has acquired an almost
intimate relationship with juggling.
Kelly claims he gets numerous personal
benefits ' from his juggling. 'Tangible"
benefits include good exercise, improved
coordination, reflex action and peripheral
vision. These physical attributes are recog
nized professionally and consequently,
Kelly is teaching juggling to a stage move
ments class in the Theater Dept.
The "intangible" benefits of juggling de
rive from what Kelly calls the "inter
meditative state." Kelly believes success
depends on the proper transcendation of
levels of consciousness.
The first level is awareness of the
objects he is juggling, he said. After the
skill is developed, the juggler moves to a
second "automatic" stage in which juggling
becomes second nature.
Although usually aware of his juggling
tools during daily practice, Kelly compares
the meditative state of juggling to another's
relaxation derived from a "cranked-up
stereo."
"Carlos," an accomplished New York
City juggler, believes juggling alleviates
stress and promotes relaxation, Kelly said.
A speech and dramatic arts major in
Teachers College, Kelly said he would not
oppose juggling as a career "for a couple of
years." Kelly said he plans to continue jug
gling, adding, "juggling isn't important
commercially, it's a personal endeavor."
Llghthearted look at love
English troupe to perform
A four-member troupe of England's
Royal Shakespeare Company will present
Pleasure and Repentance this evening at 8
in Kimball Recital Hall.
Pleasure and Repentance, billed as a
lighthearted look at love, is a combination
of music, poetry and prose from some of
the great romantic writers of history, in
cluding Dickens, DJL Lawrence, George
Bernard Shaw, Keats, Browning, Nash and
Shakespeare.
The performance which is part of the
UNL Performing Arts Series, is open to the
public. The production features British
actors Huge Sullivan, Bill Homewood and
David Suchet and actress Lynette Davies.
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