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In Other Words……
With the way things are going lately, I wonder what our vocabulary will look like in a few years. It seems that we are constantly expanding the words that can be found in our dictionary so that we can understand what each other is saying. Apparently, it is important for the skateboarders and the shuffle boarders to have a general idea of what the other is saying. And just as we add words like "gnarly" and "rad", we also take out the words that are not used very much any more. Words such as Victrola, picture shows, and pantaloon they are still words; it's just that no one seems to be able to find a situation where some of the older words can be used any longer. Computers have a language of their own and I am convinced that the techno-geeks actually just make up a word from time to time; just to fool us.
Then we also have a new set of words that have entered our vocabulary based on world events that have occurred over the past few years. How many of us had ever heard of words such as jihad, Fallujah, and Taliban before the events of 9-11? On a more national level, many of us thought the word "chad" was simply a first name. We now know that we were mistaken. Without going into any detail, how many of us, before the Clinton years, really thought we knew what the word sex meant? Once again, apparently we were wrong. Boy, were we ever wrong. And, keep in mind that we have not even touched on Snoop Dogg's new language. I must admit that while I am willing to learn, I have no idea what the "shizzle" he's talking about half the time. Seriously, I'm for rizzle. I just can't figure out the dilly. Sorry, I got carried away.
And, what about those words that are still used but have a completely different meaning than what you were first taught? Words such as morals, ethics, bravery, truthfulness, and many other descriptives that have always meant outstanding characteristics are words that are barely recognizable as a result of the way that they are so freely used today.
But, as we go into 2005 it is even more disturbing how political correctiveness is changing the things that we can say...or the things that we can't. It seems that anything that we say has the potential to offend someone. Particularly, those words that have historical and religious foundation. People are already talking about when and where the word God can be used. It has already been taken out of our schools and now there is a move to take it out of our government. This is the same government that used our religious beliefs to write our Constitution and Bill of Rights. But now, it is just not proper to use such language. I wonder how long it will be before the word is removed from our currency. I think that we should be very careful in this elimination. If we are afraid to say "In God We Trust", we may be in bigger trouble than we think.
The evolution of our language is constant. And this, for the most part, is a good thing. But, if we are not careful we may get to the point where we can't understand each other anymore. If we are afraid to use the word of the one who actually gave us the ability to understand anything ...well, words just can't describe what might happen. So be careful what you say and what words you use, you never know who might be listening.
For further information, visit www.voice4victims.com
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