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"Klingon Language Interpreter" Urban Legend (Media) By Seth Finkelstein Sun May 11th, 2003 at 03:12:23 PM EST |
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Every once in a while, in order to remind myself of the quality of information typically reported, I trace down the source of a particularly ridiculous story. The "Klingon Language Interpreter" myth, which is spawning now, provides an amusing case study of the process of pack journalism. |
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In the original article, it's very clear nobody every seriously expected to procure the services of a Klingon interpreter:
The county would pay a Klingon interpreter only in the unlikely case he or she was actually called into service."We said, 'What the heck, let's throw it in,' " Jelusich says. "It doesn't cost us any money."
And the humorous aspect was emphasized:
The county's purchasing administrator, Franna Hathaway, greeted the request with initial skepticism. "I questioned it myself when it first came in. "But, she adds, "There are some cases where we've had mental health patients where this was all they would speak."
Jelusich says that in reality, no patient has yet tried to communicate in Klingon. But the possibility that a patient could believe himself or herself to be a Klingon doesn't seem so far-fetched.
"I've got people who think they're Napoleon," he says.
And "Elvish" was suggested as the next language to be added.
So far, very funny. Very much along the lines of Klingon Google.
Then the article entered the media echo-chamber of stories-too-good-to-check (or even sanity-check). A joke about Klingon-speaking mental patients was transmuted into a story implying nonsensical bureaucratic requirements, the sort of rabble-rousing fiction one would expect to hear from ranting right-wing talk-radio.
An unbylined AP story carefully excised all context which would convey the just-joking aspect. Compare the AP version to the Oregonian version.
The AP headline, "Oregon County Seeks Klingon Interpreter" makes it sound as if a staff position is being offered. Then this impression is reinforced by using the quote "We have to provide information in all the languages our clients speak," as if it were an earnest indication of a legal requirement, not a deadpan joke. The second quote concerning "this was all they would speak", is similarly used as if it were serious. All material indicating only-kidding-folks has been deleted in the AP rewrite: "County officials said that obligates them to respond with a Klingon-English interpreter, ..."
And from there, we're off, echoing away. From Newsday or CNN to other sites, and then to uncounted blogs.
A new Urban Legend is born.
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quality of information original story source The Oregonian "Klingon language" Klingon Google AP version Oregonian version Newsday CNN other sites Urban Legend |
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