Word of the Day (03/05/08)
For once, I didn’t wait for a word to be emailed to me. I picked this word myself based on a minor incident this morning.
tautology noun
       a: needless repetition of an idea, statement, or word
       b: an instance of tautology
This word was used by the brainy annoying kid in last week’s Doctor Who (Series 4: The Sontaran Stratagem) in an attempt to take the Doctor down a peg or two (didn’t work of course). I was reminded of it this morning at the library, when the librarian didn’t at first understand my request for a PIN for their website – she thought at first I asked for a PIN, and then I clarified with “So I can request and renew books”, she replied, “Oh, you want a PIN number!”
Cue internal groan from Catherine.
OK, I admit to being guilty of commiting the act of tautology fairly frequently without realising it. But I’m a bit more aware of it at the moment. There are other forms of tautology, of course, aside from the common ‘PIN number’, ‘ATM machine’ and ‘GPS system’ constructions, but I can’t think of any brilliant examples at the moment – anyone help me out here? 
[Also, on a completely unrelated note, today's 'amusement at weird wording' came when I visited the farmer's market and noticed that the organics stall was selling 'organically reared sausages'. I just had a fun image in my head of lots of sausages with little legs, roaming pesticide-free across the hills.]
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on May 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
“Organically-reared sausages”! *giggle*
As for tautologies, how about “free gift”? Er, yes, most of the gifts I get tend to be free alright…
on May 4th, 2008 at 4:19 am
I think we’re all guilty of tautologies every now and again. Hell, my friends hate it when I start on a Web 2.0 rant
. Though this does remind me that I need to catch up with the new Doctor Who.
Roberto Villegas’s last post: And for All you Earthbound fans
on May 5th, 2008 at 12:19 am
There is a case to be made that repition of an idea statement or word is not always needless.
In the case of the examples you gave. A conversation involving people with various levels of technical expertise benfits from the common use of PIN number rather than PIN.
I myself would get quickly lost if people were using two acronyms per sentence.
Also, anything that serves to reduce ambiguity is no bad thing, especially when communicating verbally.
I shall continue to say PIN number, rather than PIN, When “corrected” I shall stand my ground, and now have the word tautology to throw into the argument, thankyou.
Tam’s last post: Saturday Sink – 006
on May 5th, 2008 at 12:33 am
The way the world is going, with new gadgets ever year, an average of two acronyms being used per sentence is not a situation too far removed from reality.
I’d love to research this, maybe look into whether or not it is a coincidence that it’s always the last word in an abbreviation where the tautology exists.
Are these examples of tautology deliberate efforts from those who market new technologies (and their acronymmic accompaniements) so that it is easier for everyone to get to grips with a new thing?
Would more people be inclined to subscribe to RSS feeds if we start calling them RSS summaries instead?
Tam’s last post: Saturday Sink – 006
on May 6th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
At the mention of ‘organically reared sausages’ the little lad at the back of the class (Ken) raised his hand excitedly. The teacher wisely ignored him sensing, quite correctly, that the contribution he had in mind would not be of any benefit to anyone.
Ken Armstrong’s last post: Hunting The Ken? Try Brady’s Place.
on May 7th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Like your tautology, Fiendish!
What’s your Web 2.0 beef, Roberto? (Maybe I’m being dumb.)
Tam, those are some very interesting thoughts on tautologies. I wonder….
But as for you, Ken… well, there’s always one, isn’t there?