ACRONYMIA

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 12

ACRONYMIA

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ACRONYMIA! Are your Pulses stirred, Sir, by the solemn Uttering of the Word? They needn’t be. I picked It up Somewhere, Some Book or Other, but that’s MY Affair. A Process which I used to think anonymous Is ACRONYMIA, the Result’s ACRONYMOUS. When Pedants, Journalists, or tired Officials Make up new Words from other words’ Initials, That’s ACRONYMIA! The word’s 0.K., Never mind What the Dictionaries say. Pronounceable Words like CARP or CARE or ANZUS, Are clear to Anyone who understands Us; And there’s a semi-private Pidgin, say, Like 8.D.L., SOCRED, or P.T.A.;, And near-words, non-words, more and more of Them: One’s Annual Meeting is an A.G.M.; One’s Doctor a G.P.; one’s Brain, I.Q. That’s ACRONYMIA, and it’s Nothing new. Ah, Sir, it seems that We’ve heard Nothing yet! How ACRONYMIAC are We going to get? National Development Conference must be A household Word the Word is N.D.C. Gross National Product become G.N.P.! Our Children’s Children will be lisping These While IBMs correct their ABCs. Like savage Magic, saving the Illusion That somehow we CONTROL the blank Confusion Of all dur Aims, our Plans, our Words no Less, Our dreamed-of Chaos and our actual Mess! ACRONYMOUSLY. Sir, I hate to trouble You, Please address all Communications to W.W.