Auto accident causes students to push for lower speeds

Wed, May 28, 2008
Posted in Metro News

In April an East High student was seriously injured crossing Northern Lights Boulevard. The accident has prompted some east side students to try and slow traffic by the high school.

ASD: Hazardous Transportation Committee

Len Anderson, KSKA – Anchorage

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Comments

5 Responses to “Auto accident causes students to push for lower speeds”

Rick Stice on May 28, 2008 at 7:03 pm

“…and she sees the accident as stemming from an all too common student situation, irregardless of traffic laws…”

Len, that was a very timely and newsworthy local story about another school zone traffic/pedestrian hazard, but were you not just a bit embarrassed to have to read that illiterate copy, with the illogical “word” that completely reverses what was probably meant by the author of that sentence? By saying “irregardless,” you are saying that the common student situation is “regarding,” not “despite,” traffic laws.

Coming through my radio in the car, this turned your story suddenly into fingernails scratching across a blackboard, and I had to stop the car to avoid running off the road from severe confusion in my brainial organ!

Here is an interesting excerpt from the omniscient Wikipedia, on this non-word: “The approach taken by lexicographers when documenting a word’s uses and limitations can be prescriptive or descriptive. The method used with irregardless is overwhelmingly prescriptive. Much of the criticism comes from the illogical double negative pairing of the prefix (ir-) and suffix (-less), and the argument that irregardless is not, or should not be, a word at all because it lacks the antecedents of a “bona fide nonstandard word.” A counterexample is provided in ain’t, which has an “ancient genealogy,” at which scholars would not dare level such criticisms.[1]

The descriptive approach to “irregardless” is to note that it is considered nonstandard by educated people.
John Proffitt on May 28, 2008 at 8:11 pm

Drive safely!
Len Anderson on May 29, 2008 at 9:16 am

Dear Mr. Stice,

You are entirely correct concerning “___________.” I shall not even repeat the non-existant word. I do indeed appreciate your note and am glad that you avoided bodily injury while driving.

I assure you “______________” will not pass my lips again. In grammatical penance I shall squat atop my American Heritage Dictionary for 15 minutes in the newsroom corner. By the way, that dictionary also upbraided me.

Thanks again for your attention to such details.
John Proffitt on May 29, 2008 at 9:22 am

You are a fine man, Mr. Anderson.

Irregardless of what they say about you.
Louise on May 29, 2008 at 11:12 am

Whew! I was sure that non-existent word did not pass your lips, Len, when I heard your report last night. But when I listened again this morning, I gasped. We English Majors are such a finicky bunch, talking back to the radio when gramatical errors are made. Regardless, I am still a fan of yours.