XP: Wordsmithing

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey
I just read a message in which the writer perfectly used a word describing a group of people who had been blocked from participating in a group to which they belong.

He referred to how these "diaspora" were effectively disenfranchised in a pertinent matter.

Impressive to see such effective use of our language/vocabulary!

. . . . . . Pete
 
I think the correct word in this context would be "exiles". To me, "diaspora" implies that the entire group disbanded and spread over a large area.
 
Diaspora is certainly a group spread over an area external to the initial homeland, but it has nothing to do with disbanding.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Diaspora is certainly a group spread over an area external to the initial homeland, but it has nothing to do with disbanding.
Click to expand...

True. But there is an implied geographic scattering and separation.
 
Someone who wordsmiths instead of writing is likely to use the word "diaspora" in this way. The word refers to a scattered people with a common origin. There is a much more obvious word for people blocked from participating in a group in which they might have expected to participate: excluded groups.
 
Yes, there is no evidence that the "group of people blocked from participating in a group to which they belong" was, as a result of such exclusion, scattered. They may all be in one place. All in all, I'd say, if asked, which I wasn't, that this constitutes an impressively uneffective use of youse guys' language/vocabulary, and that people who use disapora in this way should be diaspored themselves.
 
Actually, the usage of the term was especially choice. And, yes, the group was excluded due to being scattered around the country.

This exercise has been fun, as expected.

Thanks for sharing all of your thoughts.

Any other wordsmithing goodies? (To the arguable extent diaspora was a goodie!)

. . . . . . Pete
 
OK, I'll try this again. There's a Jewish diaspora and an African diaspora, for example. These are people, scattered around the world and separated from their place of origin. They are not members of some group that votes on things from which they are now disenfranchised because they've left town. I certainly agree, however that the use of the word--even if it doesn't conform to standard usage--is a wordsmithing goodie. It's just bad writing.

On a related note, I guess, this morning, in a meeting, a dean referred to our need to service our students. I had to stop myself from warning her that if we did, we would surely be risking sexual harassment charges.
 
Using the same format you used as it pertains to the group referred to as diaspora...

The group in question consists of people scattered around the country and separated from their place of original community. They are members who should have the right to vote but are disenfranchised because they had to leave town.

I'm not as qualified as you are and diaspora is a new word to me. But it seems to be applicable the way the writer intended and in an effective manner.

. . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:

Using the same format you used as it pertains to the group referred to as diaspora...

The group in question consists of people scattered around the country and separated from their place of original community. They are members who should have the right to vote but are disenfranchised because they had to leave town.

I'm not as qualified as you are and diaspora is a new word to me. But it seems to be applicable the way the writer intended and in an effective manner.

. . . . . Pete
Click to expand...

A bunch of New Yorkers who've left NY and can no longer vote in the mayoral primary are not usually a diaspora of New Yorkers. The fact that in this case, they might be happy to be disenfranchised is irrelevant.

Equally, a bunch of prior members of some local group who have moved away and now can no longer vote in the group isn't a diaspora.

A population of people who have been forced to leave an original homeland and are now scattered around the globe constitute a diaspora. Voting rights are irrelevant. You will frequently find the word reserved for the Jewish diaspora, though I have in the past years heard it used to refer to others, by extension to that one. I don't know what this group is, but it really seems not either a recognized usage nor a wonderfully enlightening one. Since this is a new word for you, I'm unsure about your eagerness to defend the first and anomalous employment of it you've stumbled upon.
 
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