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* From Eric Zorn’s column about Gov. Rauner’s 2017 State of the State address…
Of the 136 words Rauner spoke from the podium that ended with the “-ing” syllable, he dropped the final “g” on 76 of those, (“We convened bipartisan workin’ groups, doin’ our best to find a way forward together,” for example) for a 56 percent score on the Folksy-Meter.
* This year’s address was very different. The speech seemed written to specifically avoid so many words that end with “-ing.” A legislator marked up her copy of the address and we went through it together after the speech. She found just 25 of those “-ing” words written into the speech and Rauner added one more. By her count, he dropped his “g” eight times while pronouncing the hard “g” 17 times.
I found 29 “-ing” words, but whatever. You get the idea. He said those “-ing” words much less often than before (undoubtedly by design), and massively improved his pronunciation rate.
I can’t say for sure, but I’m betting we can probably thank Patty Schuh for this small listening favor.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 2:47 pm
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This is the most important news
Comment by MissingG Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 2:50 pm
This is literally what I live for
Comment by MissingG Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 2:50 pm
Thanks for listenin’!
Comment by Linus Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 2:54 pm
Why can’t the governor just divide his speech up into three parts? One for Chicago, one for the suburbs and one for downstate.
Comment by Forgetting Robert Marshall Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 2:56 pm
thanks Patty. Everyone loves ya.
But no thanks for lending your good name and service to a person who has harmed a lot of vulnerable people and disgraced the office with lie after lie to the public.
I wince every time your name is uttered alongside “Rauner”
Comment by Sugar Corn Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 2:56 pm
If we are picking on people for dropping the g, doesn’t Biss do it in his commercial when he says “teaching”?
Comment by BIgLou Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 2:57 pm
@WCIA3Mark - .@GovRauner rehearsed a few lines of his #StateOfTheState address from the House floor a few hours ago. Hud Englehart wrote it. I’m told the First Lady signed off on it and loved it.
Can you just hear Diana and Hud… lol
“I want Bruce likeabke, and real strong, and you know… at the cocktail parties… they’re still making fun of that g thing. Can you help, I’m tired of getting snickers, he went to Dartmouth”
“Diana, you’ll love it. I put in big words to make the rubes think Bruce is real smart, and just a smattering of g words, so he’s folksy…”
“That’s better. We have a library named for us at Dartmouth, dormitory too. I want people to respect his position, my own brand can’t take this much longer”
“Yes. You won’t be embarrassed this time.”
“I have friends coming in from Winnetka, I can’t have Bruce look ridiculous when they’re here.”
Oh, the emails…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:05 pm
Don’t you mean we can probably thank Patty Schuh for this small *listenin’* favor?
Comment by Bill F. Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:07 pm
He still pronounces “bureaucracy” incorrectly. It always sounds like he’s saying “burakasy” to me. I find it as obnoxious as dropping the “g”.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:07 pm
Since many words that end in ‘ing’ add a present active action to the root word, eliminating the ending might suggest a lack of action.
Yeah, I’ll go with that…
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:10 pm
I picture a dumpster out in back of the Governor’s Mansion, stuffed with errant “g”s and one lonely Carhartt jacket, the detritus of a bygone era.
Comment by Dome Gnome Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:12 pm
The dropping of “Gs” by the Governor is an insulting affront to all. He is just a working guy - he wears casual clothes - he rides a motorcycle. Come on! How stupid does he think people are. He makes a million dollars every two days and has as much in common with the average person as the man-in-the-moon. His speech said nothing. He did not address the state of the state and did not suggest anything going forward. Last night we had Trump’s nonsense today we have Rauner’s.
Comment by Professor Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:16 pm
==I picture a dumpster out in back of the Governor’s Mansion, stuffed with errant “g”s and one lonely Carhartt jacket, the detritus of a bygone era.==
LOL, can you see it from the back porch?
From everything I’ve heard about the man, dropping the Gs was always an affectation anyway. Glad he dropped it this time.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:23 pm
Did you notice in the Boss commercial, he says he “gave up teachin’?”
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:24 pm
Uh, Biss commercial.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:25 pm
–* This year’s address was very different. The speech seemed written to specifically avoid so many words that end with “-ing.”–
This just in: Chris Kennedy accused Gov. Rauner of promoting policies of strategic gerundtrification.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:27 pm
Lost it at the post title.
Comment by Stark Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:38 pm
When you want to sound patriotic but not take any specific stand about anything, you pander by “recognizing” veterans, cops, and first responders. Mind you, you don’t actually *do* anything for these folks with your policies… but it gets you automatic applause (for them, not you) which you then jump in after and act as if it is for you. Rauner takes a cue from Trump’s SOTU in this regard, but he also does it a lot on his road trips to events.
Because the polite applause Rauner would get on his own would be anemic.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:39 pm
Too late to be unphony, Bruce. That goose has been cooked a long time ago. Just sayin’
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:41 pm
OT, but the Indiana House just voted to allow farmers to grow hemp.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:43 pm
Wish I had as much free time as Eric Zorn…
Comment by Robert the 1st Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:51 pm
=- Robert the 1st - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:51 pm:==
Get off Capitol Fax
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 4:20 pm
At least in his speeches, he drops the “@$%#*” in “Speaker Michael @$%#* Madigan,” which is how he pronounces it in private.
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 4:22 pm
I dunno, I kinda liked ol’ folksy Rauner.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 4:32 pm
Looks like Rauner has already conceded the ‘g’ dropping wing of the Republican party to Ives.
Comment by Swift Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 4:47 pm
The official tally has been posted! And yes, it was a remarkable change from previous years. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-gee-whiz-a-reformed-rauner-halves-his-score-on-the-folksy-meter-20180131-story.html
Comment by Eric Zorn Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 4:55 pm
Like WHO CARES…..what does this have to do with anything…..
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 5:42 pm
^^^ Bruce- is that you?
Comment by Roadiepig Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 6:07 pm
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 3:27 pm: “This just in: Chris Kennedy accused Gov. Rauner of promoting policies of strategic gerundtrification.”
Wordslinger for the win! But really, shouldn’t that be “gerundrifyin’”?
Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 6:37 pm
“stuffed with errant “g”s and one lonely Carhartt jacket”
I’d like to have that Carhartt jacket, I think it would fit me and it’s never been dirty.
Comment by friendofthedevil Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 7:25 pm
Substance over form. What he says is so much more important than how he says it. I’ve never understood the obsession with the g’s.
Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 7:37 pm
==What he says is so much more important than how he says it. I’ve never understood the obsession with the g’s. ==
Maybe it’s because he cares more about dropping his g’s (and wearing working clothes, etc.) than he does about what he says?
Comment by Whatever Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 7:55 pm
Needs that phony accent to go with them phony words so it don’t sound like a lie just uneducated
Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Jan 31, 18 @ 11:00 pm
Picked up on that right away…he almost slipped back into it 3/4 through but survived inspite of himself. The kings English lives on in the Dome. Thank You Patti Schuh
Comment by theCardinal Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 7:06 am