Most things end up as rubbish. Words follow this cruel trend. Yet some of then can be saved from such ignominy. All it takes is to remember that language is not only a means of communication but also an artifact, a thing of beauty. Those who pay attention to the content and the form of what they say try to preserve their individuality in speech and steer clear of buzzwords.
Speech codes are rampant all over the country, courses in sensitivity are required in many places, and personal freedom is defended more fiercely than honor (the buzz synonym for honor is integrity). Against this background it is curious to observe how insensitive many people are when it comes to politically neutral speech (the buzz synonym for reasoned conversation is discourse) and how often, once they open their mouths, they become indistinguishable from their neighbors. (OUPblog)
