Posted by
Andrews on Tuesday, September 09, 2008 5:51:40 PM
There is a particular mispronunciation which has been driving me nuts for years now. It started with second string journalists, at least that was where I first noticed it, then spread to some military liaisons, and then on to higher ranking journalists. But regardless of who says it, it is still WRONG.
The word "cache" is pronounced like "cash", not like "cachet". The final "E" is silent, as it is in most words without some sort of accent on the terminal "E". And this word is no exception. "Cash" not "cachet".
Yet, over and over I have heard about our military finding a "cachet of weapons." I'm sorry, but that just makes no sense. Perhaps if you have a Chanel designed FN-FAL it may have some cachet, or perhaps in Mogadishu weapons are enough of a status symbol to be said to have cachet, but a "cachet of weapons" is simply nonsense. I can't even torture them into something approximating sense.
Well, it feels better having that off my chest. Please no more "cachet of weapons". Please.