|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 155
member
|
member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 155 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 390
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 390 |
what are they?
I first heard this roughly half a century ago on an episode of I Love Lucy where the words were swell and lousy. I'm sure it's recorded somewhere in the Mahabharata, if not the Rig Veda. If the way modern Hindi uses ठीक and अच्छा is any guide, you're probably right.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
And once these two words (take your pick) are gone, they will be replaced by two more for y'all peevologists to complain about.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1
stranger
|
stranger
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1 |
When sales clerks or supermarket checkers ask me how I am, I generally say "vibrant," and sometimes also "radiant." They typically pay no notice, of course, even though these descriptors might seem out of character for a 70-year-old man. I've tried using "ebullient" too, which just brings blank stares. I have yet to try the military version, "e-f***in'-bullient," but I have my doubts if that would do any better.
Last edited by CRBW; 04/08/08 05:26 AM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
what are they?
I first heard this roughly half a century ago on an episode of I Love Lucy where the words were swell and lousy. I'm sure it's recorded somewhere in the Mahabharata, if not the Rig Veda. And if not there then Aristotle said it for sure! Nothing new under the sun. From time immemorial the words of 'young people these days' have got up the noses of their parents.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Does anyone seriously believe that the language is so woefully deficient that the concept originally referred to as awesome cannot be expressed in English because the word has been devalued through overuse?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
the language is so woefully deficient
How awesomely awful! Just look at what the words mole, set, and drive have done to the glove maker's son's vocabulary.
[Deleted extra to.]
Last edited by zmjezhd; 04/08/08 12:56 PM.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876 |
I do believe that original meanings can be almost completely lost to all but the likes of "us". One example is decimate. This word means, to nearly everyone speaking English, devastate or destroy. It's original meaning is the loss of every tenth, resulting in a 10% loss overall, a far cry from destruction. I agree that the concept can still be expressed, but probably not by using the original word, in many situations. Awesome has not tumbled nearly as far as decimate, however, mostly because the root word, awe is still widely recognized and used ("in awe") and retains the same general idea of its original meaning.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
the language is so woefully deficient
How awesomely awful! Just look at what the words mole, set, and drive have done to to the glove maker's son's vocabulary. ...elucidate for the uninitiated please...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
Awesome has not tumbled nearly as far as decimate, however, mostly because the root word, awe is still widely recognized and used ("in awe") and retains the same general idea of its original meaning. shocking.
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,417
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
1 members (wofahulicodoc),
574
guests, and
4
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|