I learned the word 'bloviate' yesterday. I have Jolyon Maugham to thank for it. He used it on Twitter.
Wikipedia offers the best definition I have found:
Bloviation is a style of empty, pompous political speech particularly associated with Ohio due to the term's popularisation by United States President Warren G. Harding, who, himself a master of the technique, described it as "the art of speaking for as long as the occasion warrants, and saying nothing".
If ever there was a word created for Theresa May then this was it. She bloviates like no one else on earth.
And she's been rumbled.
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What an excellent word. I suppose purists would cavil at its being an Americanism and of relatively recent (mid nineteenth century)origin.
That said I recently came across the equally excellent word “Snippa” which is of Sedish origin and very much of this century. It applies perfectly to the fustian style of some politicians and experts.
That’s a good one. So many new words these days about the same sort of people. WGCE was one I saw before, I think it means When Governing Care for Everyone, or something.
It’s uncanny that this should have a link to Warren Gamaliel Harding, given that:
a) Trump is in SO many ways (corruption, incompetence and unfittedness for high office) a 21st century clone of Warren G, but
b) Even more amazingly the inventor of gobbledeygook language, with his mysterious “covfefe” word. (FYI – here’s a definition https://www.wired.com/2017/05/internet-defines-covfefe/)
It’s worth recalling that the great American poet, e.e. cummings, had this to say on the death of Warren G:
The only man, woman, or child who ever wrote a simple declarative sentence with seven grammatical errors is dead. (e. e. cummings, on the death of Warren G. Harding, 1923)
the similarity is almost frightening – certainly uncanny!
I suspect I could beat him on typos
Being partnered to an American I’ve strangely heard it a lot this election campaign!
I had to catch up!
How apt.
Perfect in fact.
Yes! Never come across the term myself, but ‘Bloviate’ is a fine term for meaningless, pompous, inaccuarate, self-serving drivel. Perfect.
As this is a blog that is not aligned with any political party, I’ll refrain from further comment here at this very sensitive time…
I watched May yesterday and thought she hit all the right notes,even accepting that Corbyn is right when it comes to getting involved in foreign conflicts. Today the newspapers are claiming Corbyn is the terrorists friend so when it comes to choosing who should run the country people are going to use the information that’s out there now rather than facts. So even if Labour lose on Thursday it won’t be because Corbyn was wrong on the economy,tax,health,education or housing but because the media exploited the terrorist attack in support of the Tories because they had simply lost the argument for change. And when you consider the bigger picture it can’t be right that the election will be decided by terrorists.
“it can’t be right that the election will be decided by terrorists”
Indeed.
There is a considerable chance that the timing of the little rash of attacks we have been subject to is to put “pressure” on the electorate.
If the carnage is unbearable than many people will vote for appeasement.
You don’t believe that it works like that?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_general_election,_2004
I am very concerned that there will be an even more major slaughter of the innocent on the eave of the election.
I sincerely hope you’re wrong Mark in your final sentence.
Thank you though for the link: I will be using that and borrowing from your words to make my own facebook post – hope you don’t mind 🙂
Sententious is one of my favourites, and seems aposite in this instance