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7. FB's letters to the Press
7.3. Letters published in The
Times
7.3.3. List of FB's letters in The
Times
7.3.3.3. Letters on The Times
Debate page
2004.010 D011 - Smacking of children
It is always a giveaway when a controversialist
finds it necessary to misuse the English language to achieve their
end. Claire Rayner talks of “hitting” a child when
what she actually means is smacking. The two words do not have
the same meaning.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary
(2nd edn) to smack means: “To strike (a person, part of
the body, etc.) with the open hand or with something having a
flat surface; to slap. Also specifically to chastise (a child)
in this manner.” [An example is given of Dickens writing
“Mrs. A. smacks Mrs. B.'s child for making faces”.]
To hit on the other hand means: “To
give a blow or blows; to strike with something”. [An example
given is “There were lads hitting at stones with hammers.”]
This misuse of language is common
among controversialists. For example animal rights extremists
talk of animals being “murdered”, while pro-life campaigners
say that in abortion the foetus is “murdered”. In
fact the term “murder” applies only to humans who
have passed the birth process. That is the meaning of the word
in the English language. It simply doesn’t apply to an animal
or a foetus.
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The Times Register (Debate), 8 July 2004 (words in square brackets
omitted).
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