Hello
Today we are going to Muse about language. If this is your first visit, welcome to Musings. If you have been here before, welcome back. Over time we are going to talk about many things: the past, the present, perhaps the future, travel, art, society and more. Wherever my musing takes me. I hope you will come along with me.
Colored text is a link. Clicking on the text will provide additional information about the subject.
CELLOPHANE TAPE
The other day I was sitting in a lobby when I overheard a man talking to the receptionist. In a distinct British accent he asked if she had any cellophane tape he could use.
“Eh? Cellophane tape? How quaint, how very British!“, I thought to myself. He was of course asking for Scotch tape I thought to myself.
But the issue is not so simple. “Scotch Tape” is a brand name that has become a generic term for the tape. It is similar to the word “Kleenex” being used instead of facial tissue.
Or is it?
I looked it up and found that in some countries ‘cellophane tape ” is a generic term, but in others it is a trademark. So, this particular bit of language is not so simple.
We have many terms we use in a generic sense that are actual specific to products. “I need to Xerox this.” “Put the milk in the icebox”. Sometimes we drive on the “freeway” even when there are tolls. And so on.
Ever-changing language
I find language fun but ever changing. “Take a listen” is commonly used today, but the first time I heard someone use the expression I thought, “How ignorant!”
I guess I lost that one.
A friend lived many years abroad. When she returned to the”states”, she found that language changed in many ways. This is part of what she wrote:
I’ve been thinking about the evolution of the English language. When I returned to the U.S. in 2002 after 12 years in Germany, I discovered a sometimes pretentious and gratuitous vocabulary that had not been in usage in 1990.
Examples are “rescue,” as in our dog is a rescue. You used to adopt a dog from a shelter, but I guess the word rescue has a more urgent, altruistic connotation.
When did the word “playdate” come into usage? Whatever happened to kids getting together to play spontaneously?. When did mothers have to coordinate their calendars to agree on a mutually convenient time? Playdate – the word sounds pretentious and downright silly.
I soon learned that you didn’t contact or get in touch with someone. You “reached out” to them. Our niece once told me after I had inquired about something that she would reach out to someone and circle back to me with the information.
“You guys” is now a staple of our vocabulary. Why, it is so common, I find myself using it all the time!
Oh, I discovered that people no longer had problems; they had “issues.” Much more benign sounding. A euphemism if ever there was one.
The word “problem” is now only used – for example – by a server in a restaurant. When asked to bring something to the table. The response is often, “No problem.”
Why should it be?
Patricia M
So, hang in there. Change is with us now and always has been. It is kind of fun.
On a different subject
My brother lives in a more rural part of the country than I and he is more of an outdoorsman than I. He recently posted this:
more to come
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thomas-tribby.pixels.com
North County Road GREETING CARD
Thomas-Tribby.pixels.com is now offering Coffee Mugs, Throw Pillows, Greeting Cards, Bath Towels, Hand Towels, Shower Curtains, Duvet Covers and more with reproductions of my artwork. If you want to check them out, here are the steps:
- 1. Click on this link: thomas-tribby.pixels.com.
- 2. Click on one of the galleries to open up the page of images.
- 3. Click on an image you like. It will open up a side bar with a number of options.
- 4. Click on “HOME DECOR“. It will open up a menu of products.
- 5. Click on the product and it will open up a sizing slide so you can adjust the image.
Have fun.
My work is available as traditional prints on canvas, paper or metal, but it also available on greeting cards, phone covers, tote bags, shower curtains, t-shirts and more. It makes for some very personalized gifts. Below is the link to the site. When you click on an image in the site, a menu of products will appear. I hope you like it.
Click on: thomas-tribby.pixels.com
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Books by Thomas L. Tribby Available Click on title below to preview
Works on Paper
On The Waterfront
Impressions of Florida
Works at
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