Re: Misconceptions assessments? decimate

["Bernard G. Cleyet & Nancy Ann Seese" <georgeann@REDSHIFT.COM>]

Thanks -- another "memorism"?  exposed!

I should ahve consulted my unabridged, which writes selected: by lot (every
tenth).  My search did find a "tipping point" for casualties, but did not give a
%age, and did indicate that morale was dependant on a variety of other factors
-- (so what else is new!).

Perhaps the generals selected tenth, because they had ten digits?

bc

P.s. I haven't found a reference to "memorism" -- is it the correct word?

Zach Wolff wrote:

> The Oxford English Dictionary tells us "decimate"
> comes from the practice in the Roman army of executing
> one of every ten as a punishment for mutiny.  A quick
> online search finds support for this:
>
> Word Detective:
> <<http://www.word-detective.com/110598.html>>
>
> Amercian Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:
> <<http://www.bartleby.com/61/35/D0073500.html>>
>
> About Latin:
> <<http://www.latin.about.com/homework/latin/library/blverbA-E.htm#decimate>>
>
> All these sources mention that in recent times the
> definition is sometimes extended to mean "to destroy a
> large part of" but they agree on the status of this
> use.  The OED marks it as "loosely or rhetorically"
> while American Heritage says that 66% of its usage
> panel supports this extension to killing a large part
> of a population, but only 26% support the extension to
> destruction of anything else.  About Latin supports
> the new use so long as it is not confused with
> "annihilate" Word Detective also finds the new use
> 100% acceptable and argues strongly against those who
> don't.
>
> In any event, it seems the extension to "a lot"
> happened in a different way than Bernard Cleyet
> suggested.  I do not believe this story lends
> particular support to the theory that 10% is a
> psychologically important amount.
>
> Zach Wolff
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bernard G. Cleyet & Nancy Ann Seese
> [mailto:georgeann@REDSHIFT.COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 12:54 PM
> To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
> Subject: Re: Misconceptions assessments?
>
> Speaking of better wording:,  some psychology and
> etymology:  It is no
> accident
> that Jeffery picked 10%.  Since at least roman times,
> morale
> deteriorates
> when
> 10% battle casualties occur. Hence the term decimate
> means to kill a
> LARGE
> part.  So psychologically =/> 10% is equated to much
> ....  Anyone have
> an
> idea
> of how the fact we have ten digits may complicate of
> supplement my
> suggestion?
>
> bc
>
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