When's the last time you were happy to hear the phrases "some assembly required" or "your call is important to us?" And for that matter, what exactly is an economic adjustment, a broad abstraction or sound science?

According to Dr. Paul Wasserman, professor emeritus and founding dean of the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland, these deceptive phrases are good examples of what can be called doublespeak, weasel words, or even gobbledygook.

Wasserman says we are bombarded with examples of doublespeak ranging from the politically correct to the downright annoying from corporations, the media and politicians.

He has parlayed his interest in gobbledygook into a new book co-authored with Don Hausrath, who also has ties to the university as a former adjunct faculty member at the College of Information Studies. Wasserman and Hausrath have translated over 1,200 examples of doublespeak in Weasel Words: The Dictionary of American Doublespeak,(Capital Books) scheduled for release in November (2005).

University of Maryland News
19 October 2005