Daily English Vocab
PDF 22nd Feb 2017
The Trumping of Neutrality
Trump's belief that the media has ganged up on him isn't entirely misplaced.
Those who read accounts of President Donald Trump's 75-minute press conference on February
16 may well have concluded that it was “surreal” (a headline description in a New Yorker column)
and characteristic of the dysfunctional (बेकार) administration that now governs the United States.
Some pundits even went so far as to call the exercise “insane (उन्मादी/उन्मत्त)”.
However, those who watched a live or recorded version of the event may have come away with an
alternative impression. Trump is by no means a riveting speaker, but he is an effective
communicator who uses conversational language to drive home a point. He used these skills to
stress that his first four weeks in office have been frenetically (अत्यधिक उत्तेधित हो कर) purposeful, that
he has his eye firmly set on his campaign promises and that his commitment to drain the
Washington DC “swamp” hasn't waned (क्षीण होना/फीका पड़ िाना).
In operational terms, he made it quite clear that he would come down heavily on “insider” leaks
that make governance and the conduct of foreign policy impossible, announced a five-year ban on
lobbying of White House staff and boasted that his administration was a “fine-tuned machine,
despite the fact that I can't get my Cabinet approved”.
Interestingly, few of these points apart from his steadfast denial of any Moscow links and his
explanation of why his erstwhile national security adviser had to go made it to the big headlines.
What dominated the media discourse and, presumably, the Beltway conversation was his unending
jibes (उपहास/ताना) at media organisations, including a rant (शेख़ी/डींग) against CNN's partisanship.
His assertion that “the public doesn't believe you any more” and that the media's “level of
dishonesty is out of control” was calculated to ruffle (अस्त-व्यस्त करना) media feathers. It worked,
even as supporters cheered his plain speaking.
During his spirited banter (पररहास), Trump made a curious observation. “Real” news, he argued in
the context of his former NSA 's controversial conversation with the Russian ambassador, could
also be “fake” news. To him what mattered was not merely the bare bones content but the
presentation: “I just see many, many untruthful things. I see the tone. The tone is such hatred.”
Trump's interpretation of “fake” news may not be universally shared but his belief that the media
has ganged up to paint him as a monster isn't entirely misplaced. The media may claim to be
dispassionately professional as many of the foot soldiers undoubtedly are but when it comes to
Trump, detachment has been thrown overboard. From plain mockery something that President
Ronald Reagan endured uncomplainingly to outright visceral (relating to deep inward feelings
rather than to the intellect.) hate, neutrality is not a term the media can seriously claim in its
portrayal of Trump.
This fierce partisanship (पक्षपात) is also not confined to the US media that was united in its
disavowal of Trump ever since he started winning primaries. When the BBC reporter asked a
question, Trump couldn't resist a snide (व्यंग्यपूणण बनावटी) aside “There's another beauty ... Just like
CNN” perhaps alluding to Conservative charges of the publicly-funded corporation's apparent
anti-Brexit bias during last year's referendum.
But he could just as well have directed his sarcasm at that section of the global English language
media that takes its cue from the New York Times (whose loathing of India's prime minister
couldn't be more transparent) and Guardian. Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar's sage advice to
analyse Trump rather than demonise him, is unlikely to be appreciated by desi editors who
inexplicably feel that the Not-my-President crusade (िमणयद्ध
ु (धकसी पररवतणन हेत)ु ) of American coastal
elites is also their battle.
Part of the distortion stems from the liberal and cosmopolitan (स्थानीय पक्षापात रधहत) group-think that
defines English-language newsrooms, added to which is the trade union mentality that prompts
any attack on media integrity to be interpreted as an assault on free speech and democracy. The
free media is accustomed to being spoilt and prickly.
Yet, regardless of whether the media is yet to get over its shock at having backed the losing side,
Trump's charge of media “hatred” of him is spot on. The outrage over immigration controls
proposed by the new administration, for example, doesn't take into account that this is also the
trend all over Europe, not to mention India's concern over illegal migration and demographic
changes.
Then there is selective indignation.The mindless rioting in parts of Washington DC was wilfully
glossed over in the euphoria over the Women's March. Further, as Trump pointed out, there was
media silence over the shocking Wikileaks disclosure that Hillary Clinton was leaked the questions
to be asked at her debate with Trump in advance an act of cheating that should offend all notions
of fair play. Trump was also not kidding in saying he would have been roasted alive had he been
guilty of the same offence. And there was little media tut-tutting when Ivanka Trump's designer
label was withdrawn from a major department store simply because she was her father's daughter.
Trump is a unique US president who is seeking to jolt (झटका देना/धहला देना) his country out of a
stagnant consensus (मेल/मतैक्य) culture. He has become an allergy to Western intellectual elites
accustomed to certifying right and wrong. The media should certainly reflect the turbulence over
the changes, but it must not become a player in the game. The return of detachment and neutrality
is overdue.
Courtesy: The Times of India (International)
1. Dysfunctional (adjective): Not operating normally or properly. / unable to deal adequately
with normal social relations. (बेकार)
Synonyms: Malfunctional, Flawed, Defective, Maladjusted.
Antonyms: Apt, Fitting, Apropos, Apposite.
Example: Family dysfunction led to drug use by the oldest son and a life of crime for the
youngest.
Related words:
Dysfunction (noun) – शिशिलता
2. Frenetic (adjective): Fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way. (अत्यधिक उत्तेधित हो
कर)
Synonyms: Frantic, Frenzied, Delirious, Wild, Hyperactive.
Antonyms: Calm, Peaceful, Balanced.
Example: Yesterday the sales floor was even more frenetic than usual because of the big clearance
sale.
Related words:
Frenetically (adverb): (अत्यशिक उत्तेशित हो कर)
3. Wane (noun): (of a state or feeling) decrease in vigor or extent. (क्षीण होना/फीका पड़ िाना)
Synonyms: Decrease, Decline, Diminish, Dwindle, Dim, Fade, Lessen, Ebb.
Antonyms: Brighten, Develop, Enhance, Enlarge, Grow, Increase, Rise.
Example: Due to budget cuts, the nonessential services offered by the county will begin to wane
in December.
Verb forms: Wane, Waned, Waned.
4. Jibe (noun): An insulting or mocking remark; a taunt. (उपहास/ताना)
Synonyms: Snide Remark, Taunt, Sneer, Jeer.
Antonyms: Compliment, Praise, Commend.
Example: She took his jibe on her heart, and their new friendship ended immediately.
5. Rant (noun): An act complaining or speaking about something in a loud, lengthy, angry,
emotional manner (शेख़ी/डींग)
Synonyms: Tirade, Harangue, Diatribe, Fustian.
Antonyms: Calm, Quiet.
Example: The woman’s irate Facebook rant was not representative of her character and was
eventually taken down.
Verb forms: Rant, Ranted, Ranted.
Related words:
Rant (verb) - speak or shout at length in an angry, impassioned way.
6. Ruffle (verb): Disorder or disarrange (अस्त-व्यस्त करना)
Synonyms: Disarrange, Tousle, Dishevel, Rumple.
Antonyms: Order, Organize, Arrange.
Example: The play acted by some unskilled artists ruffled the thoughts of public.
Verb forms: Ruffle, Ruffled, Ruffled.
7. Banter (noun): The playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks. (पररहास)
Synonyms: Repartee, Raillery, Sallies, Badinage.
Example: After the comedian ended his easy-going banter with the crowd, he thanked everyone
for coming to his show.
Verb forms: Banter, Bantered, Bantered.
Related words:
Banter (verb) - हंसी करना
8. Partisanship (noun): Prejudice in favour of a particular cause (पक्षपात)
Synonyms: Bias, Prejudice, One-Sidedness, Discrimination, Favoritism, Partiality.
Antonyms: Fairness, Justice, Disinclination.
Example: If you continue to follow your partisan plan and ignore other options, you are going to
lose a lot of friends.
Related words:
Partisan (adjective) – पक्षपा तपर्ू ण
9. Snide (adjective): Derogatory or mocking in an indirect way. (व्यग्ं यपूणण बनावटी)
Synonyms: Disparaging, Derogatory, Denigratory, Insulting, Vituperative.
Antonyms: Kind, Nice, Gentle, Lovable.
Example: A true friend will never hear snide remarks about his best friend.
Related words:
Snidely (adverb) - व्यंग्यात्मक ढंग से
10. Crusade (noun): A vigorous campaign for political, social, or religious change./ a campaign
organized to support or promote a certain cause. (िमणयुद्ध (धकसी पररवतणन हेतु))
Synonyms: Campaign, Drive, Movement, Expedition, Holy war.
Antonyms: Halt, Stoppage.
Example: When the President learned his daughter was killed by a drug dealer, he started a
crusade to rid his city of illegal drugs.
Related words:
Crusader (noun) - समािसिु ारक/ िमणयोद्धा
11. Cosmopolitan (adjective): Familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures.
/ reflecting the influence of numerous cultures and countries (स्थानीय पक्षापात रधहत)
Synonyms: Worldly, Metropolitan, Sophisticated, Urbane.
Antonyms: Rustic, Unsophisticated, Particular, Specific.
Example: With restaurants representing over twenty countries, the mall food court has become a
cosmopolitan eatery.
Related words:
Cosmopolitanism (noun) - शिश्वनागररकता
12. Jolt (verb): To push or shake abruptly and roughly (झटका देना/धहला देना)
Synonyms: Shake, Jostle, Push.
Antonyms: Disadvantage.
Example: We hope that the new stores opening in the downtown will help jolt the economy back
to life.
Verb forms: Jolt, Jolted, Jolted.
13. Consensus (noun): Group solidarity in sentiment and belief. (मेल/मतैक्य)
Synonyms: Accord, Harmony, Concurrence, Consent, Unison, Unanimity.
Antonyms: Disagreement, Dissension, Opposition.
Example: When everyone stood up and applauded the president of the firm, it was obvious the
entire company was in consensus with the new goals.
Verb forms: Consent, Consented, Consented.
Related words:
Consensual (adjective) - सहमशत से
Consent (verb) – सहमत होना
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