transformations and truth

you ever have the feeling that the universe revolves around you? occasionally something so strangely coincidental will happen that it really seems the media is talking directly to you. most often this results from something happening that perfectly reflects the theory i'm being taught in a class. the latest installment of this brad-centric universe effect was this week with the linguistics readings and the current proceedings in the house over the sacking of the ethics committee.

when i first started reading hodge and kress's linguistical analysis essay it seemed like a very obscure linguistics text, not intended for non-linguistic majors. but as i read on i realized that the very idea they were describing about transformation could be seen manifested on c-span in the speeches being delivered by reluctant republicans grudgingly recommending the GOP's new ethics rules be repealed. in particular the essay's description of how various words can be transformed to eliminate the actor from the result, thus nominalizing the responsibility of the actor in the situation. this delicate and precise semantic editing could be seen perfectly performed by republicans, trying desperately to inspire the integrity of his colleageus and support repealing lenient ethics rules, while also not wanting to actually finger members of their own party as ethics abusers. this process of nominilization occurred over and over by representative after representative as they tried to transform their words to reduce the imphasis of the the actor, Tom Delay, in the actions they were condemning.