Happy holidays!

Let’s get this festive Questions for a Language Ninja party started with a few topics that really bother her questions from her legions of devoted fans:

Q: What does the word paradigm mean exactly? Also, why is this nebulous word so popular?

A: We’ve restructured our internal resource pool in order to optimize our evolving philosophical paradigm. The ninja has no idea what that sentence means, either. Nevertheless, you’ll find passages exactly like it in mission statements and corporate brochures all over the U.S.

Paradigm entered the English language in about the 15^th century, and at the time it was used to describe… a thing. Yep, paradigm was basically another term for example, sample, structure and/or pattern. The Greek root word, paradeiknyanai, means an exhibit of an example of something. Around the 19^th century, paradigm had a grammatical context, and was used as the term for the structure of word variations, as in the conjugation of verbs. The word’s Greek origins were used rhetorically during deep epistemological discourse, but in English, paradigm didn’t become suffused with theoretical complexity until way later.

In 1962, Thomas S. Kuhn published the groundbreaking work of scholarship, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, which introduced the phrase “paradigm shift” to the popular lexicon. In the context used by Mr. Kuhn, a paradigm is the model within a scientific structure that allows the formulation of different principles.

The ninja understands that the word “paradigm” has become (1) somewhat overburdened by intimidating scientific ideologies, and (2) a completely unnecessary term when it is used in nearly all other applications. Honestly, “paradigm shift” is a fantastic phrase. (Paradigm Shift. In theaters January 9.) It has a muscular, yet melodious and pleasing, chime-like sound, and so was bound to be appropriated by people who want to sound smart, especially when coupled with an action noun. Hence, “paradigm” is the darling of mission statements and declarations of corporate principles. But really, you could substitute “model” for paradigm and be just fine.

Q: What is the difference between conscious, conscience, and conscientious?

A: Very easy to mix up. Similar sounding, similar spelling and even a slightly similar association, since all three terms have to do with the governance of behavior.

Conscious (adjective), in the simplest form, is the state of being awake. (“Are you conscious, bro? Dude, are you OK to drive?”)

It is also a deliberate act, or not accidental. (“You consciously ate all my Funyuns when I was asleep because you knew I’d want them when I woke up.”)

It can also mean an awareness of an event. (“I’m conscious of the fact that you’re being a complete tool.”)

In a philosophical context, it is the recognition of an environment, whether that environment is generally perceived, or possibly spiritual or hallucinatory. (“Whoa man, I’m totally opening up my higher consciousness.”)

Conscience (noun), unlike conscious, has a moral and ethical context. A person’s conscience is that person’s individual belief system, in terms of what he/she thinks is right and wrong. (“My conscience told me that it was wrong of me to steal your Funyuns while you were passed out.”)

Conscientious (adjective) relates to a person’s conscience, in terms of having a steadfastly honest and righteous disposition. (“I appreciate that you were conscientious enough to admit to your theft of my Funyuns.”)

However, conscientious also means having a meticulous nature; being able to plan and accomplish tasks in a systematic, thorough and disciplined way. (“Well, you were pretty conscientious about writing your name on every single Funyun – I knew you’d notice if they were gone.”)

Don’t you MAKE me use this candy cane!

Thank you, and the Ninja hopes this edition of Questions for a Language Ninja put just a little bit of

cheer into your grammar-loving hearts. (She is actually wearing jingle bells and chewing a Katana-shaped candy cane as she types this.)

Ho, Ho, Ho! Ninj out.

Holly Troupe is a professional web content writer and an amateur everything else. She spends her days writing, eating, and looking for ways to incorporate the term “perfidy” into the urban vernacular.