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wordplay, the crossword column
Daniel Hrynick makes his New York Times debut.
By Sam Corbin
Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues
WEDNESDAY PUZZLE — Some grammarians balk at the use of intensifiers to describe extremes of emotion. Of particular contention, for example, is the use of the word “literally” — you’re “literally dead” in response to something funny, Sam? Really?
I often think of an article by Chi Luu, a linguist, that explained the emergence of new intensifiers in everyday speech as follows: “Familiarity breeds contempt.”
In other words, we get bored with the intensifiers we already have (such as “very”) as overuse renders them less emphatic, so we go foraging for new ones. Thus, “literally,” “dead” — and yes, eventually “literally dead.”
Today’s crossword is a New York Times debut for its constructor, Daniel Hrynick. I hope you won’t fault my use of intensifiers when I say that it absolutely destroyed me. Yes, I was just gutted when it was over.
Today’s Theme
As you might have predicted, my choice of words above was hinting at the inner workings of Mr. Hrynick’s theme. It’s cleverly crafted, and comes crashing into focus in the best way possible.
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