Antiquated speech...

Post by **mightyfelix** » June 25th, 2017, 8:24 pm

Does anyone here ever catch themselves using words and phrases in casual conversation that were common parlance in the 1800's but no one ever says anymore? Or is it just me?

Post by **annise** » June 25th, 2017, 8:31 pm

Methinks I dost betimes.

Anne

Post by **mightyfelix** » June 25th, 2017, 8:32 pm

Haha or 1600's! Whatever!

VfkaBT · Post by **VfkaBT** » June 27th, 2017, 7:08 am

Yes. Sometimes I speak or write like narrative from a Wharton or Maugham novel. It's certainly better than the Newspeak of today. At least once a week, I have to look something up in the Urban Dictionary website for a definition of some new slang.

Carolin · Post by **Carolin** » June 28th, 2017, 1:28 am

all the time

im on top of popular culture as far as language and memes go, but you can mix the two very well.

SonOfTheExiles · Post by **SonOfTheExiles** » June 28th, 2017, 2:03 am

I'm so far behind, I'm ahead.

SOTE

Sue Anderson · Post by **Sue Anderson** » July 1st, 2017, 11:04 am

"Tis a great part of wellbeing to ignorize a good deal of your fellowman's history & not count his warts nor expect the hour when he shall wash his teeth..."

"He is a great saver, and a great quiddle by the necessity of his situation."
R.W. Emerson.
-----------

Yes, I often find myself at least thinking the old words if not using them. I'm not sure, however, that "ignorize" is in the OED; that may just be Emerson...

Timothy Ferguson · Post by **Timothy Ferguson** » July 18th, 2017, 11:47 pm

I do find myself using nautical phrases more readily now I'm doing Admiral Cochrane again. A customer called me a sod yesterday, and I made a joke to my colleagues that because I'm a male librarian a lot of customers seems to think I know what I do in bed. I'm not sure I'd have made that connection if I wasn't reading about the navy.

Post by **mightyfelix** » August 11th, 2017, 10:48 pm

This morning, I picked up a friend to take her to an appointment. Before leaving, I texted her, "I'll be leaving momentarily." Then after sending it, I stopped and asked myself, "Does anyone actually say momentarily? Or is it just me? And if they do say it, does anyone ever text it???" My friend actually commented on it when I saw her. "I saw your text and thought, 'Only Devorah.'"

Peter Why · Post by **Peter Why** » August 12th, 2017, 3:55 am

Devorah, somewhere in Terry Pratchett's Discworld stories, Lord Vetinari says something like "I will deal with you momentarily", and the character he was speaking to thought how typical it was of the powerful Vetinari to use a word which had two such different connotations.

That's set me going; I wonder if I can find the reference.

Peter

Post by **Availle** » August 12th, 2017, 5:07 am

Sounds like something he would say to Vimes?

But then again, they are on rather good terms, no?

mzmolly65 · Post by **mzmolly65** » August 12th, 2017, 8:33 am

Perchance

Peter Why · Post by **Peter Why** » August 12th, 2017, 9:09 am

That "momentarily" was in Guards, Guards:

'I shall deal with the matter momentarily,’ he said. It was a good word. It always made people hesitate. They were never quite sure whether he meant he’d deal with it now, or just deal with it briefly. And no-one ever dared ask.

I found it with a simple search; someone has collected Vetinari quotes.
Peter

Post by **mightyfelix** » August 12th, 2017, 4:40 pm

Very nice. I only read one or two Discworld books. The only one I remember well had to do with someone starting up a newspaper from scratch with the brand new, revolutionary moveable type machine.

Johndec · Post by **Johndec** » September 14th, 2017, 2:09 am

My wife's ultimate linguistic pet peeve is when people say or write "whilst" instead of "while"... personally, I think she's missing out!

I might try to bring 'erstwhile' back into fashion...