SHOCKED
Words may not mean what you think they do
Though language is constantly evolving, I don’t always like it. But to understand what young people are saying, I’m forced to stay up with the times. I’m not talking about slang. I’m talking about losing the good old common words I grew up with.
Adapting to change, whether language, fashion, or climate, creates problems in every generation. A cheater was originally an officer who looked after the king’s escheats-the land that returned to the Crown when an owner died without heirs. Today, a cheater refers to a gamester, swindler, or unfaithful spouse. In the 1300s, naughty people had naught (nothing). They were needy and poor. It was in the 1400s that the meaning shifted to being morally wrong or wicked, indicating that the person was worth nothing. My grandmother used to ask if I fell off the roof when she wanted to know if I was menstruating. I didn’t understand her when she asked me that question. To her, cool was the temperature desired for a hot summer’s drink and had nothing to do with her having a risk-taking son you thought of as cool.
I wasn’t happy when the homosexual community took over gay. I like that word. There was a time the word was used to express a sparkling sense of happiness and joy. Today it’s only uttered when speaking of same-sex partners. I was concerned when the LGBTQ+ community repurposed the use of rainbow by putting it on their flag in 1994. I’m glad it’s still acceptable to use rainbow when the ark of the color spectrum mystifies our sky.
The English language evolved slowly in the past, but in our generation, technology spurred a dash to change meanings. Canceled once meant to disregard or terminate, as in “I canceled my subscription.” The word now refers to people who have lost popular support, especially for having done something racist, sexist, manipulative, or violent. Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey are examples of people referred to as canceled.
As a writer, I find using pronouns such as they and them to describe non-binary people confusing. Who decided it was okay to use them to describe an individual when they have historically been used to describe a group? “They (the individual) stood out when they (the group) walked into the concert hall together.” I wish someone with imagination would coin a new word.
In the 1960s, during the woman’s movement, safe space was used to imply physical distance from men and patriarchal thought. In the 2010s, safe spaces became places where individuals could express themselves without fear of being challenged because of sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, cultural background, age, or physical or mental ability. The University of Chicago told 2016’s incoming first-year students that they don’t “condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces‘ where individuals can retreat from thoughts and ideas at odds with their own.” Critics consider safe spaces on campuses a way of retreating from differing opinions.
I grew up with fairy tales about trolls under bridges waiting to pounce on unsuspecting travelers. Today’s internet trolls start arguments or try to upset people online to sow discord. Trolls use inflammatory messaging for personal amusement or political gain. Trolls are now known to swarm websites to put an end to honest discussions and to outnumber those who disagree with them.
Woke became popular in the Black Lives Matter movement following the shooting of Trayvon Martin. Social media posts initially used #StayWoke regarding police brutality and racism. Though people still say, She woke me up, and I woke up coughing, the word has more facetious meanings. “I drank lots of coffee to stay woke.” For the left, Woke is a good word that describes someone politically savvy, especially regarding racism, sexism, and classism. On the right (and to some on the far left), it’s used negatively to describe ideas, viewpoints, and policy changes they believe would radically and negatively alter society. They see it as a power play that removes their rights, freedoms, and autonomy. Intellectuals see people who are not “work” as true critical thinkers.
I am an avid cloud watcher, especially when driving through high deserts or prairie lands that provide a more incredible view of the sky. I keep a chart in my car to identify the different types of clouds. These masses of condensed vapor suspended in the atmosphere tell me whether or not to carry an umbrella. To my grandchildren, growing up in cities, the cloud is a place on the internet for processing and storing documents and data.I doubt they go outside in the morning to see if rain clouds are on the horizon.
Yesterday, I picked up a pot by its handle, nearly spilling its contents because it was hot. Today’s handle is my screen name, the moniker I use on the internet. I often follow people by subscribing to their updates on social media. Sometimes I give a bump to their post by adding a new comment to their thread. There was a time when I followed behind my husband when hiking. I was careful not to bump into him, fall, or rip my jeans since I didn’t pack a needle and thread.
Many young people aren’t concerned about word usage. Rather than text their thoughts, they rely on images that portray emotions. I happen to like written responses to my writings. They are fun to reply to and often the start of a stimulating discussion. More frequently, however, my inbox is filled with shortcut emojis that aren’t intellectually challenging.
References:
Barrow, J (2019) 10 Words Transformed by the 2010s. ALTA Language Services. retrieved from https://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/10-words-transformed-by-the-2010s/
Law. W. (2022)English words That Have Completely Changed Meaning, Culture Try. Retrieved from
Dewey, C. (2015) 24 words that mean totally different things now than they did pre-Internet. Washington Post. retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/10/15/24-words-that-mean-totally-different-things-now-than-they-did-pre-internet/
Art is always for sale. SHOCKED is a mixed-media framed painting on canvas. It is 23″ x 18″ and available shipped to your home for $650. For questions, contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.comI
Do take a minute to comment below. It is great to hear your reasons for liking or not liking a particular blog.
