The podium or the lectern?

[ErikB]

The heck with it. I have had so much fun sharing my first post here about written pet peeves that subject being the proper spelling of blond/blonde in relation to male/female respectively, that I've decided to open myself up for a second dose of interesting and fun feedback with "Podium vs. Lectern."

There are few things that I find more annoying than someone saying or writing that they are "standing behind this podium today to address you..." etc.

Because the upright structure whether wood, metal, stone, glass, or what have you is actually called a "lectern."

A "podium" is a raised platform. A small riser or stage. An elevated stand. These are podiums.

You stand ON a podium. You stand BEHIND a lectern.

And in the US this misuse is widespread to the highest levels. The folks who write speeches for Presidential Addresses to the nation seem oblivious. Many recent US Presidents have began an address to the nation with statements pronouncing, "I am here behind this podium today to talk about a critical issue that we face as Americans."

Yeah, literacy and knowing the difference between basic words might be something these leaders should have thrown in to their discussions.

The use of podium instead of lectern is widespread in the US. I am not certain if this is also as widely an issue in the UK, but there it is.

The little things that drive me nuts hearing or reading.

Cheers!

 

[The Judge]

Well, I knew the difference, and I've not heard it used wrongly, but then I tend not to listen to politicians making speeches. Interestingly, perhaps, I just had a look at the online dictionary I use (Collins, so not definitive, but OK) as it always gives examples of use, and no less a writer than Joyce Carol Oates has "... she's standing at the podium." -- I suppose it's possible she used it correctly and the character was standing beside the dais (or this is a mistake by a character -- there's no context), but it certainly looks dodgy.


NB If you really want to wind people up, how about the wrong use of alternate when they really mean alternative?!

 

[VinceK]

The heck with it.

Keep 'em coming! @ErikB

From Wiki:
Lectern - from the Latin lectus, past participle of legere, "to read"
Podium - from the Greek (unpronounceable to me), "foot"

 

[ErikB]

Keep 'em coming! @ErikB

From Wiki:
Lectern - from the Latin lectus, past participle of legere, "to read"
Podium - from the Greek (unpronounceable to me), "foot"

Pod is indeed foot. Marine snails are referred to as gastropods meaning " stomach foot" because most of their digestive system and stomach are housed over their single foot.

The roots of words often tell a lot about the subject. Nice find mate!

Cheers!