Where Are the Words – “Of” … and Others?

(I wrote this in June when the daytime temperatures were high and climbing.  The cold weather, today, is a good time to publish.)

I’m old, I know, and I know that our language changes.  Probably with every generation.  But, what has happened to “You’re welcome?”  What has happened to “of,” and all of the other words we seem to be dropping, these days?  What vulgarities are deemed acceptable in our language, today?

When someone says, “Thank you for being here,” the response should be, “You’re welcome.”  What we hear now is, “No problem:” or worse, “No prob.”  Or, “That’s alright.”  Or, “Thank you.”  Listening to NPR, I hear this consistently.  When a journalist has made a report, the host of the program correctly says, “Thank you.”  Today, the reporter says, “Thank you,” not “You’re welcome.”  If the reporter wants to say, “Thank you,” he or she could say, “You’re welcome.  Thank you for having me.”

Lack of using that tiny word, “of,” tends to drive me crazy.  It has been dropped from much conversation and writing.  I could give you tons of examples; I won’t, because you can listen for its absence.  I find myself wanting to write the word in the book, or journal or newspaper article when it is missing.  And, if the book belongs to me, I do.

I know that some things will change, but, in my “old-person” thinking, some things just should not change when it adversely changes our language and even may take away our quality of life.  Intentional misuse of words can be found in today’s reading of “A Visit from Saint Nicholas (we often refer to this story as, The Night Before Christmas).  Two errors that jump off of the page or off of the TV are:  1.  The reindeer’s name is Donder (with a D), not Donner; and, 2.  The last line of the poem is “A happy Christmas to all.”  not Merry Christmas.  Those two errors drive me crazy when I hear them!  If you think I’m in error, check the original, don’t take my word for it – check the original. And, get it right.

I remember the first time I heard that the Christ Child was wrapped in strips of cloth (from the newer street-language Bibles)  Strips of cloth!  Whatever happened to swaddling clothes?  Aren’t the teachers supposed to explain things to kids so they know what swaddling clothes are?  Where else is our language being “dumbed-down” leaving language less that the colorful and beautiful language that it can be?

Then, there are the intentionally obnoxious expressions that have climbed into our language.  For example, in writing to my favorite television channel to make a positive suggestion for the programming, the only e-mail address I had available to use was “PissedConsumer.com.”  So, now I’ll write a letter and send it by regular mail to the president and/or CEO of that channel.

It’s not my intention to make a list of all of those vulgarities that keep cropping up in television programs, TV movies, and news reports.  You know what they are.  There are times when I am guilty of using “expletives deleted.”  Then, I’m always sorry, but, of course, once out of the mouth, they can’t be retracted.  Where are you in this area?

And, then, there are the disappearing commas.  I like commas.  They clarify ideas for me.  For example, I may write, “Today is the day I hope to accomplish the washing of my laundry, feeding my dog and the ant lions, and getting the horses ready for the parade.”  I’ve separated my thinking about what I want to accomplish, today, into three parts.  Or, I may write, “Today is the day I hope to accomplish the washing of my laundry, feeding my dog and the ant lions and getting the horses ready for the parade.”  Am I planning to feed the dog and ant lions and horses?  This is not a really good example, but it’s the best I can do on very hot day!  And, you won’t have to look very far to find better examples in newspapers and magazines.  Hmmmmm?  I do like commas.

I could rag on about our poor use of our native English language.  But, I won’t.  It’s way too hot to spend more time complaining about sloppy use of our language.

Be Safe and Be Well

The Cranky Crone

Thoughtful comments are appreciated.