Where in the Russian language has penetrated this strange word - "neutralize"?Now the media are full of this term.But sometimes its meaning changes from positive to negative and vice versa.For example: "The military conflict leveled the value of human life."In this case the term is used as a clearly negative.That is the value of the individual as such is destroyed.But is it possible to equate the terms "neutralize" and "liquidate"?In another case, we read: "The fall of the dollar was offset by investment flows."Here, the term means "smooth".Offset - it means and to neutralize any negative processes.And it puts us into a blind alley and technical literature.It turns out, leveling actively engaged surveyors and builders.And do so using a specific tool.It is called - level.The origin of the term, its various meanings and use cases, see this article.
French-Russian metamorphosis
Some researchers believe that the "level" - a German word.But it got us through the French.At home Musketeers strict term nivellieren, which stood for "align", began to be used widely.So, there are two main models used.The first one was very close to the niveau - «water level."The term meant vyschityvanie difference from some reference point - for example, the level of the ocean.The second word - «niveler» alleged "anti-aliasing, to eliminate differences, roughness."In the Russian language to the foreign roots attached a Slavic ending, and the term has operated in both senses.Hence, there was confusion.Well, now let's see what it means to neutralize.
technical term
in geography and geodesy, the word "neutralize" - it is a very simple term, devoid of any mysterious ambiguity.It involves the process by which it is possible to calculate the height difference with respect to any of the selected landmark.Most often, this starting point is the level of the oceans.Can be offset by using different instruments: theodolite and total station, barometer and hydrostatically communicating vessels, sonar and radar.Builders at the site for the building alignment guided not by the sea, and a certain cornerstone.With the leveling rails and they produce a geometric study of the area to identify the difference of heights.
offset - a smooth
What do builders when it turns out that they have to build a house on an incline?That's right, they leveled the ground.Rip off the ground from a high point, and poured it on the low.So instead of the usual slope turns flat terrace.From the builders migrated word and the spoken language.It means "to smooth out the negative difference," "to eliminate unnecessary differences."What are synonyms or sayings carry the same meaning?This "come to a common denominator in the dispute" (smooth out the contradictions in the discussions with the help of a compromise of mutual concessions).The word is used as a synonym to the word "alignment".Also it is used in a negative way.Here's a simple example: "Inflation eliminates the growth of wages."It is similar in the sense of saying, "the flea".
leveled - it depersonalize
Colloquially, the term has taken a radical and completely make sense.Closing the vertical drop at a construction site turned to the destruction of individual traits, depersonalization.The term carries a pronounced negative meaning.It is used as a synonym for "egalitarianism".For example: "Globalization eliminates national cultural differences."In Russian, there are many sayings that accurately convey the meaning of the term.Here and "cut one size fits all", and "subsume under one Rankings" and "Fit to one color scheme."In contrast to the maxim "Effective nicks MOE-leveled impact of disasters on the population", meaning it can never be is used in a positive way.
Zero and destroy
And how mentioned earlier "leveling the value of human life?"Here, the term takes on new meaning.In this case, the "level" value is "reduced to zero", "destroy".It serves a term synonymous with "eliminate", but gradually, progressively.Here's a simple example: "Over the decade of the current regime has been a significant leveling of rights and freedoms."That is it, rather, a question of devaluing.But not every negative destruction.The way to "eliminate" a leveling can be applied as positive progressive process.You can give an example: "Appointed to head the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mr. John Doe is designed to reverse the negative image of the police among the people."As you can see, the term multi-valued, and you need to use it wisely.
