Full English Lesson (27) - What does Pedantic mean? / What is a tariff? / Uses of the word 'plant'

Oh there you are. I’ve been waiting here for ages. Where have you been?

Welcome to another Full English lesson with me Misterduncan, coming to you from the birthplace of…

Johnny Rotten - Phil Collins - Billy Idol - Ringo Starr, and of course the English language.

I love English so much. I might actually marry it one day. Mr and Mrs English.

We will be the most elegant guests at the ball. I can see it all now. What a wonderful feeling.

Oh sorry…I drifted away there. I went into a daydream. I became lost in my thoughts.

Okay…without any more fantasising or daydreaming…let’s get on with today’s Full English lesson…right…

Now !

Do you ever find yourself being pedantic? Have you ever met a person who has a pedantic character?

The word ‘pedantic’ is an adjective that describes a person who is excessively

concerned with minor details. A person who always obsesses with the minor points of a

conversation and insists on correcting small mistakes made during the exchange of ideas

or information is pedantic. The person being pedantic can be described as a ‘pedant’.

This person cannot resist pulling someone up on a minor error or mistake.

''I enjoyed your essay, however you said ‘historical’ instead of ‘historic’, which is incorrect.’’

You might feel that the person telling you this is being pedantic.

On social media, you might see someone comment on another person’s grammar mistake.

''You wrote 'there' instead of the possessive ‘their’ in your comment.’’

What a pedantic thing to write.

A pedantic person might be described as a… nitpicker - faultfinder - hair-splitter - sophist

– they are being ‘finicky’. The word ‘pedant’ derives from – ‘paidagogos’,

which refers to a slave who would accompany a child to school. A strict teacher might

also be described as a ‘pedagogue’. Their teaching methods are methodical and pedantic.

Here’s an interesting word that relates to a common form of human behaviour.

The word is...

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE

A passive-aggressive person is someone who uses non-direct resistance

as a form of protest or as a means of reacting to something.

A common form of this behaviour

is the action of pretending to misunderstand or feign confusion. You avoid confrontation

by ‘acting dumb’. Non-direct confrontation can take the form of silence.

Avoiding contact or refusing to speak to someone can be described as passive-aggressive behaviour.

It is common for those in long-term relationships to develop patterns of passive-aggressive behaviour.

The word ‘passive’ is often used to show a submissive state, whereas ‘aggression’

is often seen as being the opposite. Some see this word as an ‘oxymoron’.

Two words that are used together, but have opposite meanings is an ‘oxymoron’.

Passive-aggressive behaviour is generally seen as a ‘normal’ part of human interaction; however it can

however it can sometimes be linked to certain personality disorders. To avoid responsibility or conflict

in a non-compliant way can be described as ‘Passive-aggressive’ behaviour.

It's now time to take a look at another buzzword. A buzzword is a word or phrase that is used

often during a certain period of time. Today’s buzzword is…

TARIFF

The word 'tariff' can be used as a noun or verb. As a noun, the word ‘tariff’ is a form of taxation,

or charge, which is added to the sale of goods imported from overseas.

“If China wants to sell their goods to the USA, then they will have to pay tariffs on what they export.”

The amount of each tariff depends on what types of goods are being sold.

High-end or expensive items tend to have a very high tariff attached to them. Luxury items such as cars

and valuable commodities sold overseas, such as oil and steel often carry heavy tariffs.

The charge is added as a way of collecting the lost revenue, which would otherwise be

generated domestically. As a verb, ‘tariff’ is the action of putting the charge in place.

A tariff can also be described as a…

levy - tax - toll - duty - excise.

It is a form of export tax. The country exporting the goods pays a tariff to the country that is importing them.

To charge a tariff is to ‘impose’ a fee. The tariffs are put in place.

They are required. They have been enforced.

Ah! Do you like my garden?

I must say it looks rather nice today, with all the plants coming into bloom.

Did you know that the word ‘plant’ can be used in many ways?

As a verb, the word ‘plant’ means to put something in the ground.

You place something in a hole and cover it with soil. You bury something in the ground.

You plant something. To push something sharp into the ground is ‘plant’.

You can plant a flagpole. To carefully place a small flower or tree with its roots under

the soil is to plant. You plant a flower, You plant a tree. You can plant a kiss on another person.

To place something where it can easily be found is to plant.

“The evidence was planted in his apartment by the police.’’

As a noun, the word plant can refer to a large factory.

A person who goes undercover to pose as another person is a plant. A certain species of flower

or other green foliage can be described as a plant. You can plant a plant. Grow a plant.

Nourish a plant, or like now…You can enjoy a plant.

Wow…I can’t believe it. We’ve reached the end of another Full English lesson.

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This is Misterduncan in The birthplace of English…that is of course, England, saying...

thanks for watching and of course until next time...

ta ta for now.