MLP: Orient your verbs

Now, loyal readers know Mrs. Language Person — that Snitty Old Bitty — has repeatedly resisted the persistently insistent ascendancy of the made-up word. Lo, though she religiously resists, English erodes under the sticky mudslide of misspellings now so steadfast the incorrect easily becomes correct.

Donut was once doughnut, illustrating its yeasty source.

Tonight fades under the looming shadow of tonite.

What of tomorrow and today?

Logic gives way to lazy ignorance. (Didn't I say she was a snit?)

Oh, woe to we lovers of that lost art of linguistics.

Syntax and etymology once mattered, but now your MLP needs a steady supply of Excedrin. How may those new to English, whether by youth or foreign birth, orient themselves to a language without rules adhered, without form sincere? Language should not be a rapidly moving target. Like Alice chasing her elusive rabbit, it just gets absurd.

That's orient, not "orientate." Is orientate a word? Why yes, but one which should not be used as the poor dear never seems to be used correctly.

Orientate is not, that's not, dear Reader, a verb form of "orientation." "Orient" is the verb form.

MLP can orient herself to her surroundings (get my bearings), or she may orient (direct) herself toward a new career (perhaps in the study of that yet-reliably snitty language, French). However, she will definitely not "orientate" herself to either.

When used as a noun, orient is a reference to the East. Therefore as logic may follow (lost though it may be to modern speech, sniff sniff), "orientate" means "to face, or go, east." So if east has nothing to do with the orientating, let it fade with the sunset. At least, those were the rules of yesterday. Persistent misuse may create a division of opinion.

Not true for "administrate," which continues to enjoy an English teacher's red pen.

Noun = administration.

Verb = administer. Hurrah, huzzah! Hip, hip, yippee!

Most grammar pundits yet agree: "administrate" is tantamount to injury.

So why, you may ask, is it OK to verbify (hey, if everyone else is doing it, why not MLP? Hmm?) other nouns by adding ate?

Easy peasy (there she goes again; isn't it annoying?): The "at" was always under the hat. One may abbreviate abbreviations, abominate abominations or abrogate an abrogation.

Well, one may have done so, anyway.

Ah, blessed certainty!

MLP pops open the champagne (always French — from Champagne, by the way; any other bubbly is simply sparkling wine). In these examples, even in the noun form ending with "ion," the "at" precedes.

But hold the phone (anyone remember that one?); "administration" has an "at." Why can't it "ate"? Well, dear Reader, this exception is a likely result of centuries of history [history, you say? Posh (that's light-hearted derision, not aristocratic)].

"Administrate" as used in the 16th century derived from the Latin "administrat" (administrated), from the verb "administrare." Earlier, in Middle English "administer" was used, deriving from Old French, "administrer" (now that's familiar). From whence came le mot Francais?

Why, Latin naturally; they were spelled (not spelt; that's a form of wheat) identically.

How does that help, you ask, other than to suck the fun from MLP's celebration (yes, she knows; the verb is "celebrate")?

Not much, but understanding may aid memory.

One other explanation of the administrate conundrum did MLP encounter, though with less reliable reference than mere rationale. MLP does not approve, but respects your right to disagree, dear Reader. Here goes.

We have two related nouns — administration and administrator.

Perhaps to administer is to conduct the administration of something (e.g., a doctor administers drugs), but an administrator may administrate.

Now doesn't that still sound awkward?

Je pense que oui.

Sholeh Patrick and Mrs. Language Person are columnists for the Hagadone News Network. Contact MLP at sholeh@cdapress.com.