Trash Talk Tops Political Buzzwords List in August PQ Index
The Incivility of Political Discourse in American Politics has reached unprecedented heights according to the August PQ Index (Political-sensitivity Quotient) released by The Global Language Monitor (www.LanguageMonitor.com). The PQ Index is a proprietary algorithm that tracks politically sensitive words and phrases in the media and on the Internet. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Girlie Men,' Vice President Cheney's use of vulgarity, President Bush and Senator Kerry both being characterized as 'Liars!', Mrs. Kerry's rude directive to a reporter, and RFK, Jr's 'Fascist America' proposition highlight Top 10 for August.
Danville, CA (PRWEB) August 10, 2004 -- The Incivility of Political Discourse in American Politics has reached unprecedented heights (or depths) according to the August PQ Index (Political-sensitivity Quotient) released by The Global Language Monitor (www.LanguageMonitor.com). The PQ Index is a proprietary algorithm that tracks politically sensitive words and phrases in the media and on the Internet.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Girlie Men,' Vice President Cheney's recent use of a vulgarity, President Bush and Senator Kerry both being characterized as 'Liars!', Mrs. Kerry's rude directive to a reporter, and RFK, Jr's 'Fascist America' proposition highlight Top 10 for August.
The New York Time's categorization of the President's verbal gaffe during a recent bill signing ceremony as a 'Freudian Slip' follows close behind. In an August 6th editorial, The Times stated that the President uttered, "a gem of a Freudian slip ... the President said, "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
If The Times actually intended to characterize the President's words as a Freudian Slip, this would mean they believe that his incessant "thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people" actually reveals a deeply held belief by Mr. Bush that was inadvertently revealed.
"The Incivility of Political Discourse in American Politics has reached unprecedented heights or, rather, lows," said Paul J.J. Payack, President and The WordMan of the Global Language Monitor. "Not since the Civil War era, when President Lincoln was frequently depicted by adversaries as a gangly, gaping baboon, has the discourse sunken to such a profane level."
"Such is the decline in political discourse that future historians might actually wonder if the battle being fought was between the 'Blue States' and the 'Red States' rather between the forces of Terrorism and The West," Payack concluded.
Top Movers Since the July PQ Index (Gainers)
· Two Americas (up 12 from No. 23 to No. 11)
· Bush or Kerry as Liars (up four from No. 8 to No. 4)
· Kerry as 'flip flopper' (up three from No. 10 to No. 7)
· Likeability Kerry (up 3 from No. 22 to No. 19)
Top Movers Since the July PQ Index (Losers)
· Shock-and-Awe (down eighteen from No. 13 to No. 31)
· Embedded in Iraq (down fourteen from No. 12 to No. 26)
· President Reagan (down thirteen from No.3 to No. 16)
· Rumsfeld Resignation (down twelve from No. 17 to No. 29)
· Abu Ghraib Abuse/Torture (down eleven from No. 9 to No. 20)
· Iraq as Quagmire (down eleven from No. 16 to No. 27)
The PQ Index is a proprietary algorithm that tracks politically sensitive words and phrases in the media and on the Internet. The words and phrases are tracked in relation to their frequency, contextual usage and appearance in global media outlets, thereby separating the 'spin' and the 'hype' from the facts.
The PQ Index is published monthly leading up to the US Presidential Elections on November 2nd, and quarterly thereafter.
The August PQ Index with comments and key factors follows.
1. Michael Moore Fahrenheit
Comment: Hangs on to top spot
Factor: Barely Edges out Schwarzenegger's 'Girlie Men'
Last Month: No. 1
2. Girlie Men comment by Gov. Schwarzenegger
Comment: Governor's characterization of California Democrats
Factor: Symptom of a larger trend
Last Month: Not Listed
3. Cheney's Vulgarity
Comment: Difficult to track since never precisely defined
Factor: Up nearly 500% for the month
Last Month: Not Listed
4. Bush or Kerry as Liar!
Comment: Bush wins the Liar poll by 2:1 but Kerry too has strength
Factor: Up nearly 500% for the month
Last Month: No. 8
5. 'Shove it' Teresa Kerry
Comment: Mrs. Kerry's rude directive; her linguistic contribution from the DNC
Factor: Top gainer for the month
Last Month: Not Listed
6. Red States/Blue States
Comment: A favorite of the pundits but confusing to the actual voters
Factor: Up 800% for the year
Last Month: Not Listed
7. Kerry as Flip-flopper
Comment: Still haunting Kerry
Factor: Up almost 100% in the month
Last Month: No. 10
8. Behead/Beheading
Comment: Fortunately losing ground
Factor: Down nearly 50% for the month
Last Month: No. 4
9. Clintons Bio 'My Life
Comment: Finally, Kerry can take center stage
Factor: One of the largest monthly declines
Last Month: No. 2
10. RFK, Jr's characterization of the Administration as Fascist
Comment: Significant though not widely reported
Factor: Huge leap from a very small base
Last Month: Not Listed
11. Two Americas
Comment: The largest mover from the DNC
Factor: Huge gain for Sen. Edwards
Last Month: No. 23
12. NY Times editorial on Bush's 'Freudian Slip'
Comment: Interesting comment from 'The Paper of Record'
Factor: Creating quite a debate in the Blogosphere
Last Month: Not Listed
13. Iraq Sovereignty
Comment: The media less unsure of what 'sovereignty' means to Iraq
Factor: Down 35% month over month
Last Month: No. 5
14. Economic Recovery
Comment: Gaining credence as evidence mounts
Factor: Up slightly month over month but recent news might affect ranking
Last Month: No. 6
15. Out of the Mainstream
Comment: If 60% of the people agree, how can something be 'out-of-the-mainstream'?
Factor: Holding steady
Last Month: No. 14
16. President Reagan
Comment: Finally, some breathing room for the current candidates
Factor: Down 13 places
Last Month: No. 3
17. Bush the Misleader
Comment: Whatever happened to, "My esteemed opponent?" Another study in 'Incivility'
Factor: Down six spots
Last Month: No. 11
18. Iraq al-Qaeda link
Comment: Debate over the 'link' of Saddam to al-Qaeda losing steam
Factor: Down 11 places
Last Month: No. 7
19. Likeability Kerry
Comment: Bush had nearly identical numerical gain
Factor: Convention results in modest 6% gain
Last Month: No. 22
20. Abu Ghraib Abuse/Torture
Comment: Losing traction as an issue
Factor: Down 15% from July Index
Last Month: No. 9
About The Global Language Monitor
The Global Language Monitor documents, analyzes, and tracks the latest trends in word usage and word choice, and their impact on the various aspects of culture, with a particular emphasis upon Global English.
The GLM is supported by a worldwide assemblage of linguists, professional wordsmiths, and bibliophiles to help monitor the latest trends in the evolution (and demise) of language, word usage and word choices, and their impact on the various aspects of culture.
For more information, call 1.925.367.7557, send email to info@LanguageMonitor.com or visit Http://www.LanguageMonitor.com .
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