Creative thinking at UWI

THE EDITOR: I was dozing in front of my TV, paying half-attention to a local event, the opening of a seminar at UWI. All was soporific, as usual, until one of our more distinctive academics, talking of the future, spoke of the “Operationalising” of plans. This long word was new to me: what could it mean? Were the plans to undergo surgery?

Perhaps the don had “invented” a word to replace simpler ones that more people would understand, such as: “putting the plans into operation”, or “implementing the plans” or making the plans work.” It impresses some folks to use long words like a Pierrot Grenade. He may however have borrowed this new long word from one of the UN or other international bodies — remember how the IMF was “imposing conditionalities:” not conditions, (6 extra letters ??? didn’t change the meaning).

Anyway, UWI can make new words, if  little else of use. As for the economists and business specialists who speak of “quantum leaps” and do not know that a quantum may jump up, down, or sideways, I doubt if they would recognise a quantum if they saw one (a joke which natural scientists may enjoy!!!) I remain, Sir, your devoted sender.


MATTHEW LEWIS
Santa Margarita
Curepe

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"Creative thinking at UWI"

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