An unexpected phenomenon
Over the course of these years, I have been fascinated by the lack of attention that a subject as crucial as corruption has received in our conversations. How, despite the obvious relevance of this concept, may have remained in the background for so long? Corruption, a central element in politics, seems to have not been the subject of our reflection. This situation leaves me perplexed.
Exploring the origin of the term
While I am looking for answers, my curiosity related to the root of the term comes to my mind. The verb ‘Breut’, which is the source of this discussion, reveals new dimensions. Last week, Catalan vocabulary was enriched by the introduction of the term ‘ceda’, which, despite being little known, has a great variety of derivatives. In the same way, ‘Breut’ presents a significant set of words that have gone unnoticed so far.
A rich and diverse vocabulary
We are talking about about fifty derivatives that, far from being unusual, are part of everyday language. In the Balearic Islands, ‘Breut’ is a living verb in conversation, while in other regions it can generate some distrust. People with literary training can recognize it in poetic contexts, but there are those who consider it Castilianism. Nothing farther from reality: words like ‘defeat’, ‘route’, ‘routine’ and ‘abrupt’ are examples of how ‘break’ has been integrated into our vocabulary.
The ‘corrupt’ family
In the little space we have left, I want to focus on the branch of ‘corrupt’, which is the one we really do. This lexical family is significantly extensive and includes terms such as ‘corruption’, ‘corrupt’, ‘incorrect’, and even ‘corrupt’. We must not forget the adjectives and adverbs who accompany this family, such as ‘corruptly’ and ‘incorrectably’, which often appear in political speeches and election promises.
Linguistic curiosities
One of the jewelry of this family is ‘corrupt’, which refers to a legal or right abuse, a word that is often used in the plural. It is interesting to notice the use of the geminated Ela, a mystery that invites us to reflect on its etymology and its use in language.
Final reflection
As we continue to explore language and its relationship with politics, it is crucial not to forget the role that corruption plays in our society. Maybe it’s time to bring this topic to the front page of public debate, because its absence can lead us to erroneous conclusions about the health of our political system.