I hear people on the bus and train telling their children, "We're arriving now" rather than, "We'll shortly be arriving".
Strangely enough I came across something similar when living in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. The Portuguese word "agora" which means "now" meant, in the local dialect, "presently". If you wanted to say "this very moment", you had to strengthen it to "agora mesmo" - "actually now".
South African English has a whole range of these. As I recall, "now" and "just now" are some time in the future. "Now now" is a bit sooner. There are other variations I have forgotten.
In South Wales the vernacular Wenglish has any number of wonderful words and phrases. I think “now in a minute” is brilliant, as it puts the party on hold without using that depressing term.
One thing which annoys me when announcements are made on the railways is 'we are arriving into............' we are coming into' is okay but 'arrive' is followed by the dative case. 'in' and not 'into'
It is clearer in some other languages than in English.
Basically 'arrive' means 'already to have reached the bank of a river'
Of course the word 'arrive' rarely means 'to have reached the bank of a river.However when you 'arrive' you are indicating that you are already 'at a place' and thus it is best not to use 'into' or just 'to',
The etymology indicates 'at the river' not 'to the river'
There is a name for that: Saussurean linguistics. What depresses me is that Saussure was showing that language doesn't work that way about 70 years ago already and the fallacy still won't die.
Train announcements often say not only, "We shall shortly be arriving into ..." but also, "which will be our final destination". Tautology, surely (although I accept that passengers will have their individual destinations in mind).
And BTW "See it, say it, sorted". What, one may enquire, are being sorted? Parcels, suitcases, or passengers' (I refuse to say "customers") confusion? We seem to have lost the notion of sorting things out.
There is a name for that: Saussurean linguistics. What depresses me is that Saussure was showing that language doesn't work that way about 70 years ago already and the fallacy still won't die.
And BTW "See it, say it, sorted". What, one may enquire, are being sorted? Parcels, suitcases, or passengers' (I refuse to say "customers") confusion? We seem to have lost the notion of sorting things out.
Am I the only one who says "See it, say it, sod it" instead?
While etymology does not govern meaning it does provide at least one reason for a word having a particular meaning and a link between its present day meaning and its earlier meaning..
The word 'selig' in German means 'blessed' and the word itself is connected with the word for the 'soul'
Taken into English it has become the word 'silly' which originally meant 'blessed' or 'spiritual' but which has nowadays a somewhat different meaning.
While etymology does not govern meaning it does provide at least one reason for a word having a particular meaning and a link between its present day meaning and its earlier meaning..
The word 'selig' in German means 'blessed' and the word itself is connected with the word for the 'soul'
Taken into English it has become the word 'silly' which originally meant 'blessed' or 'spiritual' but which has nowadays a somewhat different meaning.
Yes, but the criticism is of those who state that the etymology is the meaning. This is obviously false, as you demonstrate. I'm not sure why this fallacy persists, but it may be part of a resistance to change. Well, language is always changing, and more conservative minded people may object to this. I think the meanings of words can go off in all directions, which we don't control.
'Sorted' is something of a catch-phrase used by trades-people or people carrying out various tasks when a job is finished or a phase of the task is complete.
Hence it finding its way into the irritating railway slogan.
Oh, here's another one, the latest culinary craze: picky bits. Used to describe a meal where a range of different foods is set out and each person assembles the sandwich or salad of their choice. We already have a family word for this: iffits (as in 'if it's food and on the table, you can eat it*').
I do not 'love to hate' picky bits. This term scrapes fingernails down the blackboard of my soul. It's probably because of the negative connotations of 'picky' : but honestly, couldn't they have thought of a better name for it?
People who receive an honour saying that they are "humbled" to receive an OBE, or MBE or whatever. Why would someone be "humbled" ?
Every time I read of someone claiming to be "humbled" I think "Well, Buckingham Palace, you've fucked up there. You were trying to honour someone, but you've made them feel humble instead. Better luck next time!"
@North East Quine I get where you're coming from, but surely the whole point of the hoopla around being given a medal/title/slap in the face with a wet fish by the monarch is to make you feel humble (however you may have distinguished yourself) because you're not royalty? And also grateful because Royalty has deigned to recognise your efforts, of course.
I know that's the intention. But surely a better way of to express that would to say I feel deeply honoured, but feel this should be seen as an honour for the whole organisation / town / charity or I feel deeply honoured but conscious that I could not have done this without the support of my family / colleagues / friends and perhaps use it as an opportunity to praise others, rather than banging on about their own feelings of faux-humbleness.
For what it’s worth I agree 100% with @North East Quine. The use of humbled in this context seems to be connected to professional footballers. Whatever happened to an accurate assessment of self-worth?
Has anyone yet mentioned, well, not words, but a pet peeve of mine, the misused apostrophe? Its, sorry, it's, everywhere. Editor's sorry, editors, if there are such today, seem to miss them. The BBC news website today had something like, 'XX dwarf's the imagination'. Thats ... er ... that's ... bad!
Has anyone yet mentioned, well, not words, but a pet peeve of mine, the misused apostrophe? Its, sorry, it's, everywhere. Editor's sorry, editors, if there are such today, seem to miss them. The BBC news website today had something like, 'XX dwarf's the imagination'. Thats ... er ... that's ... bad!
There are editors, but I think sub-editors were lost when the papers left Fleet Street.
Yes I can’t stand it, also how is it different from a buffet or service à la francise ?
Does anyone else use "smorgasbord" for that, or is that word no longer in general use?
It was never in general use in my part of the Anglosphere. Smorgasbord was/is only used here to refer to an actual Scandinavian smorgasbord, or metaphorically.
I still remember when we had my Danish great-grandfather’s much younger half-brother over for lunch when he was in Canada, we re-created the smorgasbord my great-grandmother would routinely put on for lunch when we visited my great-grandparents and he remarked possibly with some surprise how similar Canadian lunches were to Danish lunches.
Staycation. A stupid enough word when it first appeared, but sort of made sense in its original meaning which was to take some time off work, stay at home but go out on day trips. Nowadays it’s used to mean any holiday in the UK. Why the implication that the only “proper” holiday involves travelling abroad?
@Spike We had a few, even before COVID, and I suppose we cheated to some extent because we stayed with friends but then took days out (memorably on a canal day boat) followed on luxury days with barbecues (but always cocktails. Because holidays).
Staycation. A stupid enough word when it first appeared, but sort of made sense in its original meaning which was to take some time off work, stay at home but go out on day trips. Nowadays it’s used to mean any holiday in the UK. Why the implication that the only “proper” holiday involves travelling abroad?
Staycation. A stupid enough word when it first appeared, but sort of made sense in its original meaning which was to take some time off work, stay at home but go out on day trips. Nowadays it’s used to mean any holiday in the UK. Why the implication that the only “proper” holiday involves travelling abroad?
Surely in here in UK it should be Staliday
Or 'Stollies' for those who irritatingly refer to 'holidays' as 'jollies'.
I am bracing myself for the overblown language that will be used to describe England's next match in the World Cup. It will either be a terrible tragedy or a triumphant victory, and adjectives like 'heroic' will be freely bandied about. As England are playing Argentina, comments about the Falklands War are virtually inevitable. It was over 40 years ago and nothing to do with football! Give it a rest!
If all these hyperbolic words are used anytime someone gets mildly excited, we'll have none left for special occasions.
Comments
Strangely enough I came across something similar when living in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. The Portuguese word "agora" which means "now" meant, in the local dialect, "presently". If you wanted to say "this very moment", you had to strengthen it to "agora mesmo" - "actually now".
One we may not hear as much these days is 'again' meaning 'another time' not a repetition of something.
'Do you want me to give it you now or do you want me to give it you again?'
I must stop. I'm in Heavenly hiraeth mode not in Hellish mode or mood.
Although the term hiraeth is often misapplied ... but we are only considering English words.
It is clearer in some other languages than in English.
Basically 'arrive' means 'already to have reached the bank of a river'
The etymology indicates 'at the river' not 'to the river'
There needs to be a name for the fallacy that etymology governs meaning.
“We have arrived at our destination.”
“We have arrived in Timbuktu.”
Meanwhile, I hear “we are arriving” to mean we are in the process of arriving, not that we have arrived.
“… where this train will terminate”
So what will happen? Will it explode or burst into flames, or will it simply cease to exist?
And BTW "See it, say it, sorted". What, one may enquire, are being sorted? Parcels, suitcases, or passengers' (I refuse to say "customers") confusion? We seem to have lost the notion of sorting things out.
I have often thought that, too.
Am I the only one who says "See it, say it, sod it" instead?
The word 'selig' in German means 'blessed' and the word itself is connected with the word for the 'soul'
Taken into English it has become the word 'silly' which originally meant 'blessed' or 'spiritual' but which has nowadays a somewhat different meaning.
Yes, but the criticism is of those who state that the etymology is the meaning. This is obviously false, as you demonstrate. I'm not sure why this fallacy persists, but it may be part of a resistance to change. Well, language is always changing, and more conservative minded people may object to this. I think the meanings of words can go off in all directions, which we don't control.
Hence it finding its way into the irritating railway slogan.
I do not 'love to hate' picky bits. This term scrapes fingernails down the blackboard of my soul. It's probably because of the negative connotations of 'picky' : but honestly, couldn't they have thought of a better name for it?
*unless someone else gets it first.
I simply detest buffet. The piggies load up their plates and waste loads of food. I don’t mind the term or the words, but the thing itself.
Every time I read of someone claiming to be "humbled" I think "Well, Buckingham Palace, you've fucked up there. You were trying to honour someone, but you've made them feel humble instead. Better luck next time!"
There are editors, but I think sub-editors were lost when the papers left Fleet Street.
Does anyone else use "smorgasbord" for that, or is that word no longer in general use?
Surely in here in UK it should be Staliday
'Contains mild terror.'
Or 'Stollies' for those who irritatingly refer to 'holidays' as 'jollies'.
Splendid! Would apply to 'The Creature from the Black Lagoon', a favourite film of mine.
Could apply to a small yappy dog. Probably a Jack Russell.
If all these hyperbolic words are used anytime someone gets mildly excited, we'll have none left for special occasions.