Words can be challenging sometimes.
And deceptive. And confusing. I'm glad I'm not an immigrant trying to learn the
language.
Take that guy Don Quixote. The
fictional figure, not the immigrant. The one that was also known as the Man of
La Mancha. He was the classic model for the sort of person who tilts at
windmills and slays imaginary dragons. The knight errant who errors in his
judgment of things that are attainable. Who fights the unbeatable foe, and goes
where others dare not go, and dreams the impossible dream.
You know, Quixotic.
Why do we pronounce his name
Quixote with the "kee" and the "oh" sound, but pronounce
his actions with the "quicks" sound, as if they're a bowl of Trix?
Kee-oh-tic is certainly sayable. Or even Don Quicks-oh-tee.
But no. We have to go confuse
people to the quick for no reason whatsoever.
Another confusion. I wondered why
they keep calling the wife of Prince William Kate Middleton. Isn't she Princess
Kate now? Or at least Mrs. Tudor or whatever the royals' last name is?
I looked it up. Her last name would
be Mountbatten-Windsor, so I guess I understand the press's reluctance to use
it. Hyphens are in short supply and Mrs. Mountbatten-Windsor gets a lot of ink.
Another confusion. Because by
"ink" I mean printing in the newspapers, not princess tattoos.
The world moves on the meanings of
words sometimes and shifts them underfoot so we slip on them. Like I
was driving by one of those E-cig Vape places the other day and their sign
said, "We have the latest Vaporizers available at the best prices!"
I wonder how many grannies are
going in looking for a deal on an inexpensive machine to steam up their Vicks
Vapo-rub.
America, ya gotta love it.
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