'VolunTARily' is another word where the stress seems to be moving to the (default?) antepenultimate syllable. What I believe to be the traditional RP pronunciation includes two successive indefinite vowels (what I believe linguists call a 'schwa') - 'VOl-uhn-tuh-ri-ly'. Perhaps people think that sounds awkward. Personally, I think it sounds rather classy.

'Picture perfect'. A phrase new to me which I've heard twice in the last twenty-four hours. Is it about to become fashionable?

'There's no timeline yet for action against Syria' (BBC news). What's wrong with the good old 'timetable'? To me, a 'timeline' is a graphic way of showing the chronology of past events, so that you can see at a glance for example that the dinosaurs came a long time before the evolution of human beings.

But yes, I know, language too evolves, let's just get used to it...

I wonder if the use of 'timeline' there was a genuine mistake? Users of social media know the term well, and it does indeed refer to a sequence of past events, as it should. As it has come into more common use with the rise of social media (people often refer to checking someone's 'timeline' on Twitter) I wonder if the journalist who said it meant timetable but fluffed it?

It's not the first time I've noticed this usage, so I don't think you can blame it on an individual mistake.

A timeline can also be used in project management so it is not just used for past events. I think that using timeline in preference to timetable is perhaps better suited in this context as it more strongly implies a forward direction or purpose (or lack of in this case).

Yes, that's an interesting point, lacb, you may be right. I suppose 'timetable' suggests something more static, such as a school timetable.

I know that 'no problem' is increasingly used to respond to 'thank you', like the German 'bitte' or the Italian 'prego.' But I heard it used today in a way I don't think I've ever come across before:

Vet's receptionist (consulting appointments diary and pointing to dog): Is this Charlie?
Me: Yes.
Vet's receptionist: No problem.

Why might it be a problem, one wonders?

A new way of saying, 'Good, please take a seat?'

Might it just have been the receptionist doing that thing I know I do from time to time - using the wrong stock phrase because your brain's on automatic?

"Happy birthday."

"Thanks - and you."

This post was last modified: 13-09-2013 05:49 PM by MightyMouse.

Or 'No problem' maybe = 'ah yes here you are in the diary, thank God nothing's gone wrong this time'?

Shame about 'empathic' being replaced with 'empathetic'. It was even used on Newsnight Review the other day. I always feel 'empathic' has more gravitas somehow.

Interesting. I must admit I would naturally say 'empathetic', on the analogy of 'sympathetic'. The Oxford English Dictionary gives both. The first recorded usage of 'empathic' is from 1909, as a technical term in psychology. 'Empathetic' goes back to 1932 - it first appeared in America - and the context of the earliest citations seems to be rather broader and less technical than that of 'empathic.'

I shall try to remember to say 'empathic' in future, which I agree sounds classier.

Thanks Robin. That is interesting that 'empathetic' has been around so long and is not, as I thought, a new-fangled expression. I must have picked up 'empathic' through psychology reading.

I thought 'empathic' was a sci-fi invention - 'empaths' reading people's emotions.

So 'pathic' as an alternative for 'pathetic'?

Ah......perhaps not.

I have noticed on a forum based not a million miles from SE23 an interesting extension of the usage of the word 'kudos'. I think it generally used to carry the sense of 'glory' or 'honour' - 'His exploits on the football field brought him much kudos'. But I see it can now be used to mean 'credit' or 'congratulations', as in 'kudos to you for your generous gesture.' Originally a US usage, according to my dictionary.

I don't particularly like that use of 'kudos' and it jarred when I read it. I think you can earn kudos, I don't think people can 'give' it as praise.

Funny that, as I thought it was just a synonym for praise. In which case either usage works nicely. Actually from Greek, BTW.

The Greek word means 'glory' or 'renown', rather than 'praise', I find.

If you prefer. Still works though.