Words as I saw them many years ago
This was number 39 in my seven year time as a commentator for Northwest Public Radio
Words
I admit, I've actually used the word Groovy in a sentence. I've referred to my fellow man as dude, and actually used the phrase: Far Out.
I love words, and I love what we do with them. I'll be the first to admit I've had no education in language, so I'm fairly clueless on the mechanisms by which the language change and grow, but like the guy who likes race cars, I don't have to be able to rebuild the engine, just to think it's cool how fast the cars can go.
What I like most is how words evolve quickly enough to stump us from time to time but also to fill in uncomfortable voids that our society creates. Take for example the phrase, :Don't go there. This phrase is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's like an exit ramp on life's freeway. It's a non threatening way of saying everything from SHUT UP, to No, thank you, but I don't want to talk about that now. In fact used correctly it can prevent the use of the Phrase SHUT UP or Butt Out in nine out of 10 likely scenarios.
Think about it. When John, on his second date, asks Julie, about guys she used to date, she simply says :Don't go there. John, not being a complete fool, listens, avoids the landmines and gets a third date.
Our language is developing a huge number of phrases that warn people that they are approaching sensitive territory and need to BACK OFF or Chill. Or Not have a cow, or any other number of things that seem to be a lighter way of using humor to deflect inquiring minds or soften a response.
Scarcely a year can't go by that we don't hear an interview with a so cool young lady explaining the nuances of the current "youth speak" to a chuckling interviewer.
I kind of envy the people who can pepper their conversation with these tidbits of wordsmithing. By time I get a handle on most of the new words in the language, they have expired. For instance, the Simpsons were on for 4 years before I ever saw an episode. By the time I actually saw the Simpsons, and understood the meaning of the phrase "your such a Homer", to use it in a sentence would have akin to being a homer. I missed out on a big one. Of course now we have the new "Show me the Money" Having missed the movie that gives this phrase it's context, I afraid to use it. I'm hoping the phrase lasts until the movie comes out on video. That would be really groovy.
Words
I admit, I've actually used the word Groovy in a sentence. I've referred to my fellow man as dude, and actually used the phrase: Far Out.
I love words, and I love what we do with them. I'll be the first to admit I've had no education in language, so I'm fairly clueless on the mechanisms by which the language change and grow, but like the guy who likes race cars, I don't have to be able to rebuild the engine, just to think it's cool how fast the cars can go.
What I like most is how words evolve quickly enough to stump us from time to time but also to fill in uncomfortable voids that our society creates. Take for example the phrase, :Don't go there. This phrase is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's like an exit ramp on life's freeway. It's a non threatening way of saying everything from SHUT UP, to No, thank you, but I don't want to talk about that now. In fact used correctly it can prevent the use of the Phrase SHUT UP or Butt Out in nine out of 10 likely scenarios.
Think about it. When John, on his second date, asks Julie, about guys she used to date, she simply says :Don't go there. John, not being a complete fool, listens, avoids the landmines and gets a third date.
Our language is developing a huge number of phrases that warn people that they are approaching sensitive territory and need to BACK OFF or Chill. Or Not have a cow, or any other number of things that seem to be a lighter way of using humor to deflect inquiring minds or soften a response.
Scarcely a year can't go by that we don't hear an interview with a so cool young lady explaining the nuances of the current "youth speak" to a chuckling interviewer.
I kind of envy the people who can pepper their conversation with these tidbits of wordsmithing. By time I get a handle on most of the new words in the language, they have expired. For instance, the Simpsons were on for 4 years before I ever saw an episode. By the time I actually saw the Simpsons, and understood the meaning of the phrase "your such a Homer", to use it in a sentence would have akin to being a homer. I missed out on a big one. Of course now we have the new "Show me the Money" Having missed the movie that gives this phrase it's context, I afraid to use it. I'm hoping the phrase lasts until the movie comes out on video. That would be really groovy.