For a long, long time, “begs the question meant” referred only to a fallacy in argument where an issue is sidestepped, usually assuming a questionable point to be irrefutable proof.
Now, even better dictionaries carry an alternate definition: “to invite or provoke a question” (American Heritage).
http://parade.condenast.com/277567/marilynvossavant/277567/
In last Sunday’s Parade, Marilyn offers, “The phrase was first misused by unwitting speakers who were trying to sound learned, but as more listeners repeated the blunder, it became so common that the term began to acquire a new meaning: “raises the question,” followed by a question.
In seventy-plus years of listening and reading, I recall lots of misunderstood words and phrases (my own “trying to sound learned” included) mutating into other meanings. There’s probably a list.
Is it the dumbing down of our language? Or is it inevitable change? Marilyn double-begs these questions by sidestepping and asking for a truce: If we mean the argument fallacy, why not call it “circular reasoning”? If we want the other, isn't “raises the question” clearer?
Now, even better dictionaries carry an alternate definition: “to invite or provoke a question” (American Heritage).
http://parade.condenast.com/277567/marilynvossavant/277567/
In last Sunday’s Parade, Marilyn offers, “The phrase was first misused by unwitting speakers who were trying to sound learned, but as more listeners repeated the blunder, it became so common that the term began to acquire a new meaning: “raises the question,” followed by a question.
In seventy-plus years of listening and reading, I recall lots of misunderstood words and phrases (my own “trying to sound learned” included) mutating into other meanings. There’s probably a list.
Is it the dumbing down of our language? Or is it inevitable change? Marilyn double-begs these questions by sidestepping and asking for a truce: If we mean the argument fallacy, why not call it “circular reasoning”? If we want the other, isn't “raises the question” clearer?
