I once picked up on a colleague's threefold use of the word "enhance" in the same memo and wondered why she hadn't varied it a bit by using "improve". Salandria looked quite shocked and was eager to put me straight.
"'Improve' means what you were doing before was no good."
"But doesn’t ‘enhance’ have the same kind of implication?" I said.
"No," she said categorically. "'Enhance' means we've further refined our service."
"You mean made it better than it was before?" I said, doing my best Socrates impression.
"Exactly," she beamed.
That was some years ago, since when "enhance" has achieved a place in the pantheon of Hong Kong English words alongside "hub" and "cum".
A graphic demonstration of the power of the word was provided to me yesterday when I stepped into the lift to be greeted by a poster advertising the latest offering in the HR Healthy Workplace Talk series.
A "registered" social worker by the name of Herman Chan will be giving a talk next month on "how to vitalize your marriage" by offering the "top 10 sentences to touch/hurt your spouse".
The title of the talk? Why, of course, "Marriage Enhancement".
9 comments:
I thought you were going to say:
"The title of the talk? Why, of course, "Enhanced Cum Hub".
That's the stuff, Mr T! Why do I keep thinking of facial treatments?
perhaps they should ask the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/opinion/27Paglia.html?ex=1293336000&en=4fefc26ff2fb6c96&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=OP-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M155-ROS-0610-L2&WT.mc_ev=click
at least this is humorous!
I see the government using "scheme" in ways some might consider foolhardy--unless they intend to conjure up an image of Dr. Evil rubbing his hands together.
Got to hand it to those NY types, who can make even the simplest thing seem mighty complex:
"Men must neuter themselves, while ambitious women postpone procreation. Androgyny is bewitching in art, but in real life it can lead to stagnation and boredom, which no pill can cure."
"Scheme", "package" - what next? I'm tipping "basket".
Surely the "top 10 sentences to touch/hurt your spouse" must include "no" and "headache"?
The worry is that you say 'no' and 'headache' and she's touched.
Or hurt. I hope the latter!
The joys of newlyweddism!
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