Komyunikayshun

The English language still manages to elude most of us who (nominally) speak it.

Today’s irritating usage comes from the Motion Picture Ratings, specifically from the movie “Robots”.

This movie is rated PG, and says “Some Material May Be Unsuitable for Children”, with specific information as follows:   “Brief Language and Suggestive Material”.

What is “brief language”?   Is that when someone speaks extremely fast, in staccato bursts?  Or is when they speak like, “Ths iz wht I wld cal brf lngwg.”?   Just how brief is ‘brief’?

And what is ‘suggestive material’?   Is that, like, fishnet stockings?   Or sheer gauze?

C’mon, people, say what you mean!  Language is here for us to communicate with—if not, then just grunt and point like our bestial forebears.

And so it goes…