THE USE OF MISSPOKE IN LIEU OF ADMITTING A LIE
There is a new term coined for politicians to use as a surrogate to lying.
The term goes a long way in history to the middle ages in England, as per the Oxford dictionary.
Misspeak verb.
to say something in a way that is not clear or not accurate
- misspeak (to somebody) He was confused and may have misspoken to reporters.
- misspeak yourself Let me rephrase, I think I misspoke myself.
- misspeak something a misspoken word
The fact that the word is abused by politicians is expected, for politicians have to please a majority of diverse people and this ultimately results in having to stretch the reaches of the language to cover all the demands from their electorate.
The most important problem, thus, is not the politicians using misspeak instead of lying.
The problem is the news people accepting the politician using misspeak and not calling the deceitful nature of the declaration from anyone with power, be this person a businessmen who will withdraw publicity from the news vehicle, a politician who will not invite the news people from that outlet for exclusive interviews or union people who will hostilize the news vehicle.
When the news people deliberately allow free interpretation of the word lying equating it to misspeaking, changes the intended misrepresentation of the fact – lie – to be mixed with the accidental bad choices of words, unknown circunstances and bad pronunciation – misspeak. This bad pronunciation comprising of all false cognates, bad grammar and sometimes actual confusing subjects.
The desistence of the news people of pressing for clarification on subjects makes misspeaking more pervasive and worse, normalizes lies as a requisite for public personalities that now are unbound by their word, not having to show any contrition and repent of their lies, but simply allege their misspoke.
NOT WHAT I MEANT TO SAY OR YOU ARE TOO IGNORANT TO UNDERSTAND MY MESSAGE
The other part of misspeaking is adjucating the misspeak to misshearing.
The agent says something that is a lie, absurd or a crime and when confronted, claims that the listener have missheard what has been said.
This gives way to corruption. The news people have the opportunity to clarify this, but when choosing not to confront the misspeaker, sell the whole news industry into the garbage can, for the expectation is that the news people are those in best position to demand an explanation from the misspeaker.
Moreover, in the XXIst century, everyone has a smart phone, with video recording and audio recording and these declarations are disseminated on X – Twitter – or WhatsApp or Telegram in minutes. We can all see what has been said and when there is no clarification, one will resort to his own perception of what has been seen and heard.