4 ms·
Unearth can be used in a literal sense, which in this case is false. It can also be used in a figurative sense, which in this case is almost certainly true.
by bloaf 4y ago
Unearth can be used in a literal sense, which in this case is false.
It can also be used in a figurative sense, which in this case is almost certainly true.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- UIUC_06 4y agoDon't get too dizzy from all that spinning around. So do you really believe everyone in Canada read that and thought "Oh, they're using the word in a figurative sense! Never mind." If something is, by definition, in the earth and a story says it was "unearthed" it's sorta reasonable to believe it was dug up.
- munk-a 4y agoI actually think "unearthed" as in "discovered" is the more reasonable read - along with someone thinking they're clever in making a pun. When history is "unearthed" with radar, we generally assume some folks took a big expensive machine aimed it at the ground and walked away with a strong indication that something exists down there - when it comes to delicate items (like, for instance a decaying longboat that exists in the earth merely as concentrations of plant fiber in a suspicious shape) and especially when it comes to human remains (that people are often very reluctant to move due for cultural reasons) that's especially the case.
- UIUC_06 4y agoYeah, I don't think most editors would think a pun about First Nation graves would be a clever idea.
- prvc 4y agoWhat kind of journalist uses "unearthed" metaphorically in a story about purported graves?