Turning the "Table"
Ok, blogdai has to get this off the brain once and for all. I don't know how long, politicians, pundits and media people have been using the political term to "table" in the exact opposite meaning from which the term was derived. Stop it already. It makes us all look like third-world goons. Just this week Mercantile published:
The government has tabled a motion in the parliament seeking amendment in the interim constitution to incorporate a new timeline for constituent assembly polls.
Look, by definition, to "table" a motion means to cease discussion and end further debate on an issue.
In Nepal, we seem to think it means something like dropping an idea on the table like a plate of dhal bhat so that we can adopt it.
If you want to be treated like a legitimate media or political entity in a democracy, get your terms right.
Well, that was a relief to finally get all my cards on the table. I hearby table this discussion.
-=blogdai
posted by blogdai @ 12/15/2007 04:29:00 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Only in America does to 'table' meaning to shelf a motion, or postpone discussion.
Since whatever English we use in Nepal is supposedly British English, the use of the word table is quite right when it is implied to mean 'to put on the agenda'.
(Or so says Wikipedia, in whom we trust http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_%28verb%29 )
So the usage is probably correct. Not that the 'tabled' motion and subsequent discussions lead anywhere though. So I guess even the American usage is not that off the mark.
Typo - "Only in America does to 'table' mean to shelf.."
Nice effort and well considered.
No, forget what you read on Wikipedia; it is reader driven and thus, subject to bias.
To "table" a motion stemmed from the older English parlamentarian procedure whereby an idea or motion was put on the table for future reference. The idea being that the motion was taken out of the hand of the petitioner and set aside on the table so that other measures might take precedence.
Basically, get this measure out of our daily agenda so that we might focus on more relevant petitions. .
-=blogdai
The three crook leaders are taking the meanings of table as ;
1. Item of furniture with flat top making it useless.
2. place for eating meals free of cost and spending retired life in it.
3. flat surface used for specific purpose which is for power grabbing and sticking in it although it already started to stink.
4. food served by followers in different names like civil servant,human right and media people.
5. a group of useless people sitting specially for power.
6. Postpone manythings as finalise by themselves many times.
7. enter misinformation into table
8. put something unending discussion on table
9. slab used for unresponsiveness
10. flat surface used for misrule
11. flat surface used by syndicate leaders.
I mean "syndicate rule"
Not sure how official rules of parliamentary procedure describe it, but in blogdai's mind, to put something on the agenda would be to "slate." To get something off the agenda would be to "table."
-=BD
this is nepal.
Fine. So why the big attempt to imitate western media and democracy? Using parliamentary terms incorrectly shows everyone we're not good copiers of the Western model.
All one has to do is look at Singha Durbar. We've mentioned democracy, federalism, elections and representation in just about every breath, but have we done anything in practice consistent with any of those concepts? No.
"This is Nepal."
Nepal needs regional autonomy with a limited central controlling body; not necessarily a democracy, since Nepal is not ready for the rigorous citizen participation mandated by a true functioning democracy.
I'm not even sure Nepal can handle being a sovereign country.
-=blogdai
mero angrezi ramro cha bhanera furti dekhauna khojeko hola...
amrikane buddhi!!!
We are a republic.
Now the communists have my country.
One step from the precipice.
Ah, sweet silence...
blogdai is simmering. Lots to do and lots to think about.
---Sujata is spouting nonsense and preaching the gospel of the NC.
---Oops! Blogdai's 3rd anniversary is up and we've not a decent comment. No fear gentle readers: excitement is on the way. Oh dear! could a comment from an ambassador(or former) be forthcomming?
---Blogdai is once again in the field. Photos and goodies from Kathmandu on the way.
god, a clean house for once.
-=blogdaddy
Hello Blogdai,
I am a freelance journalist from the Uk and I was hoping I might be able to pick your brains about a couple of ideas I have for some features on Nepal. I have lived in Nepal in the past and would love to have a email chat with you about amy thoughts. Do you have an email address I can contact you on. Mine is clem_js@hotmail.com I would be grateful if you could delete my address after you have taken in down. Many thanks
Clemmie
thanks for the inquiry. Private requests can be sent to blogdai@nepalimail.com
-=BD
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