In most legislatures, punctilious attention to correct usage is considered elitist. The word 'government,' for example, is normally pronounced 'gummint'; bureaucracy is 'bureaucacy'; fiscal comes out 'physical,' and one moves not to suspend the rules, but to 'suppend.'
This quote highlights how formal language and proper pronunciation are often undervalued in governmental settings, where colloquialism and casual speech tend to dominate. It underscores the irony that what might be deemed 'elitist' is actually essential for clarity and precision in governance. The playful examples serve as a reminder of the importance of language correctness, even if it is sometimes viewed as pretentious. Maintaining proper usage fosters effective communication, especially in lawmaking and administration, where ambiguity can have significant consequences.
