Old Words and New Words
I was reading a book today. Yes, really - a book. Not the kindle. One of those old-fashioned blocks of paper and card that doesn’t stay open like the kindle when you are trying to eat toast and drink your tea (or coffee !)
It was written in the 1980’s and I kept coming across words that confused me. Did we really use some of those words in the 1980’s ?
I am being anaesthetised by modern slang and abbreviations
The first one was fiat, as in a fiat delivered from the court.
Now the only Fiats I know being delivered are those from the main dealers. The word wasn’t in my Oxford English Dictionary (another book !) so I Googled it, and sure enough, there were my first page of options:-
FIAT – City and Family Cars, the FIAT Official website
FIAT main dealers for the best choice of new and used vehicles,
or a Wikipedia entry on FIAT, largest Italian automobile manufacturers. Production output 1,455,650 units (2010)
It was only in the small print at the bottom of page 1 that fiat with a small f was mentioned. Turns out it is a formal authorisation or proposition. A decree. An arbitrary order. So that what was being delivered, not a Fiat 500.
Fiat was a much used word 100 years ago, but now lost almost without trace. When I checked the online Oxford English Dictionary, the word was there. But it would be with 600,000 entries. My book version only had 100,000.
Other words in my 1980’s book were “Simulacrum”, “Atavistic”, “complaisant” and “Derivative”, words largely being replaced by shortened ones today in popular speech and writing, as we email and text with speed being the critical factor.
BTW I had to LOL (these should be in by the end of this year)
The OED is adding to its entries 4 times a year, at the rate of about 500 a quarter.
You will be pleased to know that such modern day masterpieces as Geek, Gob, Gobby and Gobsmacked are all now approved and documented.
Also Brexit, Brunchtime, Browsability and Brr-brr to name but a few others as I scanned down the list.
Selfie is there, plus YouTuber, and Glam-ma (a glamorous grandmother)
I also noticed that Out-strategized (with a z) was included, which I consider very un-English. Maybe a stateside wordsmith has infiltrated the organisation.
All a bit depressing. The Only positive is that we can now make our own words up, as obviously anything goes. Write it a few times in your posts and pages, and it will be in the Oxford English Dictionary before you know it
BFN
Chris
Recent Comments
26
Good one Chris, but language like most things evolve, not necessarily for the better. I do remember the word fiat
The latest usages of the word fiat was in all of the things that Obama did to the culture of the United States; You know, the orders that he sent out that should have been passed by congress, yet, weren't?
Nope. If I'm not one now. Never gonna be one. I'm a grandma and a great grandma now. It's the glam that might not be there. Lol.
Many a true word spoken Chris, how do all the programs like Word keep up to date with all those changes and spelling I wonder.
Yes, been researching how to best write copy in modern day blogs so that it gets read and the message came through VERY short paragraphs....in total....not many words.....and VERY short words!
Text speak is making a big impact on the English speaking world.
See more comments
I love reading a book, sometimes my tablet's battery is dead. Just kidding.
I have noticed the words lately. I went to look up a word, now I can't recall, I knew, because someone tried to say I made it up. I couldn't find it! Are they also deleting old words I wonder?
No. Don't think so. Many words now fallen into disuse, but they all seem to be still in there. Hoarding Disorder. Just like my garage.
Stand your ground with that word. It will be in a dictionary somewhere.