Solecism. I was surprised to discover, via Merriam-Webster’s word-of-the-day, that solecism is a toponym.  It derives from the Greek term soloikos, or citizen of Soloi, one of the many cities in ancient Greece. The arrogant Athenians (well, they had a right to think well of themselves) were critical of the speech of the Soloikos, viewing them as unlearned and grammatically challenged. Greeks also had a word for anybody at all who wasn’t Greek: barbaros: that is, a barbarian.  Barbarian is an onomatopoetic word used by the Greeks (probably from an earlier Sanskrit version) that imitates what the speaker thinks of foreign speech.  Bar-bar.  It’s sort of like murmur, only insulting. Don’t please confuse this with solipsism.

There is all this blather about personal attacks in the presidential campaign.  One complaint of Romney is that the D’s question his work with Bain Capital and want to know more about his taxes and where his money is hidden.  But the integrity anyone who poses an argument is a principle concern of rhetoric.  First, if you are to be believed and your arguments considered worthy, you must establish your personal worth.  Anu Garg’s word of the day yesterday was cui bono (to whose benefit?) Wordsmith.  We need to examine what the candidate gets out of his endeavors and his policies and who benefits from his proposals.