Some terms that come from the American pastime. Transcript of radio broadcast:
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
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American English is full of colorful expressions. One such expressionis to touch all bases. It comes from the sport of baseball.
There are four bases in baseball -- first, second and third. The fourth ishome plate. Together, the bases form a diamond shape. When a baseball playerhits the ball, he must run to each base -- in order -- and touch it with hisfoot. It is the only way to score a point. If the player hits the ball and failsto touch all the bases, the point will not be counted.
The importance of touching all the bases was shown at the start of thenineteen seventy-four baseball season.
Hank Aaron was a player with the Atlanta Braves team. He was seeking therecord for hitting the most home runs. A home run is a ball that is hit over thewall. Aaron needed just one home run to equal the record held by Babe Ruth, thegreatest hitter in baseball history. Aaron got that home run the very first timehe had a chance to hit the ball. He sent the ball over the wall that surroundedthe playing field. That gave him seven hundred and fourteen home runs -- thesame as Babe Ruth.
After that day, baseball fans held their breath every time it was HankAaron's turn to hit. When would he hit home run number seven hundred andfifteen?
The wait was not long. In the second week of the season, Aaron again hit theball over the wall. He had beaten Babe Ruth's record. But first, he had to runaround the four bases. The other players on his team watched carefully to makesure he touched each one. If he did not, the home run would not have counted.There would have been no new record.
So, to touch all bases means to do what is necessary to complete an activity.
The expression is used in business and politics. No business deal orpolitical campaign is really complete until you discuss all the issues involved.Or, as it is said, until you touch all bases.
Even professional diplomats use this expression, as well as others that comefrom baseball.
A diplomat in reporting on negotiations with diplomats from differentcountries may say they "touched all bases" during many hours of talks. Thismeans they explored all issues involved in the situation. Perhaps they did thisafter expressing hope that they could play ball with eachother, meaning that they could learn to cooperate.
Sports reporters write about fast-moving, lively events. They must develop away of writing that goes straight to the point. Their duty is to give the readera complete picture of the event in as few words as possible. They must touch allbases as quickly as they can.
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This VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories, waswritten by Mike Pitts. This is Bob Doughty.
