Monday, December 6, 2010 at 12:39pm
It used to be that when one say “Top 10” or “Top 5”, one is actually referring to “SEVERAL items” on a list that are ranked based on that “Top X number”. So, “Top 10” Bar/Board Exam passers would actually be a LIST OF NAMES ranked 1 to 10 from a pool of Bar/Board Exam takers. If you placed or is ranked 6th, then you would be IN the “Top 10” and be referred to as “No. 6.” Nowadays, instead of using the proper term “No. 6”, the terms “Top 6” is used. If you are No. 3 you are "Top 3".
More horrifying, is the use of the term “Top-notcher(s)” to mean just anyone who managed to secure a position in the “Top 10” or “Top 5” or top whatever! If you placed 6th, you’re No. 6—NOT “Top 6” and certainly NOT a TOP-NOTCHER. TOP nga eh, meaning nasa-ibabaw ka, eh kung meron pa’ng 1 to 5 na nakapatong sa iyo, nasa TOP ka ba? Or TOP-NOTCHER ba yun? Check out billboard ad of a review company on España near Lerma... or just listen to some parents/ya-yas talk about their kids BEING Top 2 or Top 5 in school...
Some of us grew up listening to Casey Kasem—the man who taught us how to count backwards from 40 to no. 1 on American Top 40 (Yes, there was this guy before Seacrest). He would maybe, say "From a band formed in LA, California and coming in at No. 4 here's The Eagles with Hotel California...."
Subukan natin, "From a band formed in LA, California and coming in Top 4, here's The Eagles with Hotel California...." Sagwa di ba?
What gives? Haaaayyy....
