The other day, I thought I heard something similar to this, "Me and Lindsey, you know, like we gonna make it to the mall, you know."
I thought that was what I heard. However, many times in public or on the TV, I just don't understand today's language.
This misuse of our language by young people is appalling. Is English taught in schools, anymore? Is there such a thing as "diagramming?" Oh! How times have changed.
Growing up, my mother would absolutely not tolerate "ain't." Of course, we never used profanity within earshot of our parents. But, as a youth "ain't" was about the only transgression. In fact, grammar nomenclature was taught at home as well as at school.
Not only has our everyday language changed, but also our words have changed, even dropped out of our speech and new ones have entered.
During my growing up and well into my adult years, in the common vernacular was the word, "problem," when people had "problems."
"I've got problems." Now. "I've got issues."
"She has problems with school." Now, "She has issues with school."
"He has problems at work." Now, "He has issues at work."
No problems anymore. For the last 10 or 15 years, we have had "issues." When did this change happen? Why are "problems," now "issues?"
The dictionary indicates that a "problem" is (1) a question or situation that presents uncertainty, perplexity or difficulty, (2) a source of trouble or annoyance (3) a question put forward for consideration or solution."
Additionally, the dictionary says that an issue is (1) an act or instance of flowing, passing or giving out, (2) something produced, offered or published, (3) the result of an action.
How did a "problem" become an "issue"?
Some of us of a "certain age" would remember that many words are no longer used. Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. One that I miss is "supper." Now everybody says, "dinner." Where did "supper" go?
Food for thought: Was there a new drug that wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore. Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening their kids with castor oil anymore.
Looking at the picture of an old car, I was thinking about "fender skirts" and it started me thinking about other words that quietly disappeared from our language with hardly a notice. Like "curb feelers" and "steering knobs."
Remember "continental kits?" They were rear-bumper extenders and spare-tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.
Or, when did we quit calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point, "parking brake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with "emergency brake."
Kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to them.
Here's a phrase I heard all the time in my youth but never anymore:
"store-bought." Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days. But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or store-bought sliced bread.
"Coast to coast" is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and
now means almost nothing. Now we take the term "worldwide" for granted.
On a smaller scale, "wall-to-wall" was once a magical term in our homes.
In the '50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow, wall-to-wall carpeting! Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors.
When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase "in a family way?" It's hard to imagine that the word "pregnant" was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite society. So we had all that talk about stork visits or simply "expecting."
It's hard to recall that this word "divorce" was once said in a whisper.
Of it, "confirmed bachelors" and "career girls" are long gone, too. And no one is called a "divorcee" anymore. Certainly not a "gay divorcee."
I always loved going to the "picture show," but "movie" came much later. We always went to the "picture show." I think it was 1937 when I saw "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" at a "picture show." In 1941, my aunt and I were leaving the "picture show" on a Sunday afternoon, when we heard that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.
Here's a word I miss: "percolator." That was just a fun word to say. And
what was it replaced with? "Coffeemaker." How dull!
Too bad we can't continue to sit down family style for supper with the good old "percolator" bubbling away.
Time moves on. Words and vernacular, as well as life, changes.
"Like whatever, you know."
Burton Anderson Burton Anderson, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Korean War, has lived in California for about 50 years. He has a background in the aerospace industry. He may be reached at bandtp@aol.com. The Board of Contributors is comprised of local writers whose views appear on Tuesdays and Fridays.
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