Please don't catch this buzz

GRASSROOTS LEVEL

- RAVI GOVENDER

I HATE buzzwords.

Politicians use them liberally. They think it somehow makes them sound knowledgeable and "with it" and to be in the know. I say no-no.

What are buzzwords? They are words or terms that appear suddenly and stay around for a certain period of time, and then disappear as fast as they appeared and another word becomes popular.

In today's tech-savvy world, the term "AI" has become common. Put on any politico's speech on television or radio and slash me if they don't use the term "grassroots level". Do they know the meaning? Have they ever brought themselves down to that level and experienced what the majority of their supporters know simply as existence?

The words "keynote address" flashed around at political rallies, and indabas carry with it the necessary pomp and authority as one would accord the main speech. Until the time I heard the Nkandla tycoon say the following during an address: "What is this keynote address they say I must give. Hee hee hee. There is a key and there is a note."

If the former number one doesn't know the meaning, heaven help the man in the street - the one at grassroots level.

Speaking of number one, South Africa is not the only country that is guilty of this practice. I watch numerous American podcasts as much as I do South African ones. In the coming weeks, I will be discussing more about podcasts. One podcaster I follow often is the controversial Piers Morgan. He is the king of buzzwords.