I sanction this article
But do I mean I approve or I punish?
Merrill Perlman discusses the opposite (but not really) meanings of sanction over at her Language Corner at the Columbia Journalism Review:
If you take a closer look, however, both uses of “sanction” hew to the same overall definition: subject to the law or regulations that govern the conduct. Context is the key, as it is for so many things. “Sanction” in a negative sense is almost always accompanied by other negative words—punishment, actionable, violation. When it’s used in a positive sense, it almost always stands alone, with no qualitative accompaniments.
And in case you’re wondering, I definitely approve.
Posted on November 18, 2008 1:00 pm, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
I won’t go into it since I don’t recall whether or not you’ve got a language policy here, but I recently posted about how I like the fact that Yiddish is the language of choice for all the words you’re not allowed to say on TV in English.
They totally get away with murder.
Oops, I apparently posted this in the thread for the wrong post. Pretend I put it in the right place, please.
I don’t have a language policy, so long as it is germane to the topic. So feel free to let loose with the Yiddish cussin’.
And I’ll put your comment over on the right post for ya.