---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN#/ ISBN# issue/book “The Garden of Eden” cc&d, v308 (the April 2021 issue) Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book What Lies on the Other Side the cc&d Jan.-April 2021 magazine issues collection book		get the 424 page Jan.-April 2021 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

Coronavirus
From “Un” To “A”

John F McMullen

All my life, “un” has meant ”not”
        unable means not able
        unemployed means not employed
        unwelcome means not welcome
        unaccomplished means not accomplished
and so on

Well
maybe understandable causes confusion
but you get the idea

But now
real confusion enters the arena
My wife teaches online college courses
if the students and the professor are online together
        it is called “synchronous”
if the professor posts assignments and the students come on at other times
        it is called “asynchronous”
        not “unsynchronous”
why?
In the age of Coronavirus
if someone has the virus and has symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc)
        it is called “symptomatic”
if someone has the virus and does not have symptoms
        it is called “asymptomatic”
        not “unsymptomatic”
why?

I recognize that the
use of “a” meaning
“not” and “without”
comes from the Greek
and that asynchronous
first appeared in the
mid-1700’s and
asymptomatic

in the 1930’s
Yet it still seems
wrong in a culture
that grew up with
“un” or are you
“aable” to get this?

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...