I was thinking of words once used in common parlance that now are less often used. One such word that comes to mind is hark, which my mother used to hurl at me in the meaning of shut up, I'm trying to listen to something! When Mother told me to hark, I was expected to be quiet, immediately. Most Americans haven't heard the word hark lately except for in the Christmas carol, Hark the Herald Angels Sing! What words can you think of that have fallen from popular usage, or even become obscure?
Right off the cuff, I cannot think of any particular word that has gone into obscurity but my own observation is that there IS a definite decrease in the number of people who have a good conversational vocabulary. It seems that a major portion of our population has opted out of speaking with eloquence to some form of jargon filled with expletives and street speak. Now, I’m not saying that everyone should speak the Queen’s English or that their vocabulary excellence should be riddled with $10 words no one outside of Mensa would understand but to be able to conjugate the whole of “I am” would be a good start. I’ll keep thinking of single words that are in rare use nowadays and come back later. It’s an interesting topic by the bye. Gadzooks! I think I have found one. Scrutiny (noun...critical observation or perusal.).
I still use it, whether correctly is another matter ….. I will say 'Ooo - hark at him' …. not that I pronounce me aitches - so it would be - 'Ark at 'im'
I remember when the word "rad" was used quite often. Now the word "cool" has made a come-back to our speech.
How about Hoopla as in what's all the hoopla about Dander as in don't get your dander up. Gander as in have a gander at this
I used to love the word "Yowsah", meaning "Yessir" or "You Bet" or similar. The great bandleader Ben Bernie, the "Old Maestro" of the 1930's used that word when opening and closing his popular radio show, and this caught on with millions in his listening audience, becoming viral nationwide. Everyone was saying "Yowsah", and it felt good to say it! Of course, anyone younger than 90 on this forum probably doesn't know what I'm talking about. Hal
A word we high school guys in the '50's used to denote something special or great was "Bitchin". Like: "Hey, did you see Larry's Chevy since he had it lowered? It really looks Bitchin!" On some occasions, if it was REALLY great, it was "Most Bitchin"! This was a regional slang, from the Los Angeles area mostly. Hal
I hope Professor Cole will credit me with being able to conjugate the verb "To Be"... I am He is They are Dr. Harold Pollner, Dean, Harvard University School of Literature Mensa Alumnus
I do not know who “Professor” Cole is but not to be circumlocutory nor derogatory concerning the subject at hand, in order to avoid some confusion I would also add, “She or It is” along with the He. Jus’ sayin’ Edit: by the bye, I have never really liked Mensa, but whatever floats another’s boat is fine with me.
I kinda get irritated , maybe unjustly so because language has to evolve.. but all my life the question when requesting something , in a store or coffee shop or at home.. is.. may I have...? ''Get'' was considered impolite then it morphed into Can I have .. Now it's ''Can I get''... now I'm always tempted to say , yes you can get it, if you're prepared to do it for yourself ....if you want someone to prepare and supply you with something..Just ask ''Can I have ''