Rooting out bad language with a unicorn

This year's list of banished words includes fused names, such as 'Brangelina,' which one critic says are'lamethetic.' By Dale Roberts

I've never been much of a joiner, but who could pass up the chance to join the Unicorn Hunters? In 1980 I set out to find Peter Thomas, the poet who taught my college freshman English class. I wanted to thank him for encouraging me to write and inspiring me to teach.

The letter I wrote to him was forwarded to the college that is now Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. When Mr. Thomas wrote back, I learned that he was a professor of English, the editor of a literary magazine, and a Unicorn Hunter.

The Unicorn Hunters were founded in 1971 by W.T. Rabe, Thomas, and other LSSU faculty and staff to encourage and regulate the hunting of unicorns. The regulations define the unicorn hunting season – "All days of the year except St. Agnes' Eve" – and list the "Approved Questing Devices: Unicorns may be taken with: (1) Serious Intent (2) Iambic Pentameter (3) General levity (4) Sweet talk." continue...