I woke this morning to sounds of the Radio 2 BBC DJs discussing o with their
newsreader the breakdown of
meanings in
languages!
I instantly grabbed hold of my small English Dictionary and considered for a moment how the
meanings of words have changed significantly since I bought this little dictionary in 1984 - entering a language conflict in the 2000/s!
For example, the word:
PENSION used to mean/ apartment, dwelling, flat, etc.
It has a corrupt meaning associated with /poverty/ /poor house/ /unemployment/ and last but not least the dreadful word /retirement/
Having been a great film fan for years and also a lecturer in this subject I had become conditioned to actors saying .... for example in Agatha Christie's great adaptation from book to film of
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS - the retiree gets in the gut!! Thus I built up this notion
of RETIRED means DEATH!
These days, retired means: I have finished my 1st career (if you are rich and famous) and I am now a /consultant/ /author of millionaire standing/ etc.
PENSIONABLE according to the Oxfod Dictionary means:
/continuing to receive a pension (meaning a pay cheque for your contributions and salary throughout your career/
Every job these days affords a Company Pension, i.e. a salary pay cheque!
I learn everything these days it seems, from my Taxi driver: I looked up the meanings and associations of
/Aga Khan/ and it means ... the spiritual leader of ... Muslims/
How things have changed in my life and that of the Spiritual Leader of Muslims! My driver was Persian and the BOSS there has moved countries! In the 1960s, his family and I
/hung out together in London's Swinging Sixties/
I assure you, there is much to entertain and educate in this little dictionary but take care as the
Law in this country has changed significantly and a lot of what we would trot out would now be
known as RACISM! So we avoid breaking the Race Act in this country or any other - take it with a pinch of snuff, my old grandmother used to say in Ireland as she sat in her chair combing her magnificent hair!
ENJOY the OXFORD DICTIONARY Edition that suits!