- By Jim Evans
- Entertainment
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Smart Talk SMART TALK By Dr. Viva Palaver
WITH REGARD TO: This expression is neither redundant nor ungrammatical. It comes under my purview as staff psychologist at the Institute for the Linguistically Impaired because it’s pompous, inflated language. It fools only the foolish and tells EFL (English as a First Language) speakers that the person who says it needs a few sessions with me, so I can treat his or her chronic insecurity.
Alfred Kahn pioneered treatments for William F. Buckley Syndrome while chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board under President Carter.
In a memo to staff, he wrote, “And all your uses of with regard to, and regarding, and concerning — ‘we have received a written evaluation concerning X’s safety record’ — how about of? Or, in other contexts, about?”
Now you know why Dr. Kahn is one of our heroes. In fact, the Institute treats Buckley Syndrome at the Alfred Kahn Clinic.
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