Too Old to be Outdated

You are as old and as young as the words you speak.

I try not to be lured into clicking those outrageous headlines in my browser’s sidebar. But as a slightly compulsive wordsmith, once in a while a great grammatical hook has me taking the bait. Recently, the article that caught my eye was “Outdated Phrases That Make You Sound Old”. Naturally, I had to verify that I wasn’t a stone-age relic who used outdated expressions. Not to worry. Not only had I never said the blacklisted terms, I’d never even heard of them. Apparently, I’m too old to be outdated.

One problem stems from creating new uses for old words. Kids in the 1950s had to teach their parents that “cool” meant admirable not chilly. Kids today describe their easy-going peeps as being chill. But chilling out is evidently no longer a thing. (I think binge-watching replaces it these days.) Most of the outdated phrases on the list derive from popular culture or media references. Therefore my lack of knowledge indicates I’m not trendy, not that I’m ignorant.

Outdated technology tops the list

Many words and phrases in the English language have outgrown their meanings, especially in the realm of technology. It takes me so long to learn new technical jargon that I cling to it even when it becomes outdated. For example, I still refer to my DVR’s playlist as “shows I’ve taped.” I do realize that videotaping became obsolete about two decades ago, but somehow “shows I’ve digitally recorded” does not roll off my tongue. I also dial the phone to make a call, even though my cordless has push buttons and my cell has a touchpad. In my defense, at least I say, “Where’s the remote?” instead of “I can’t find the clicker.”

When is a word no longer a word?

Each time the Concise Oxford Dictionary publishes an updated version, “outdated” words become casualties. These are replaced by new entries the Powers That Be think will stick in the lexicon. (Fear not, word-lovers – the unabridged OED never drops an entry.) I feel a bit sorry for the words that no longer rate as worthy of those hallowed pages. But I have to agree that “snollygoster” no longer has a following, despite being one of Harry Truman’s favorite snarky insults. (It meant a shrewd, unprincipled person.)

Scrabble enthusiasts debate the legality of words all the time. Now they can consult the official Scrabble Dictionary to settle their disputes. Just this year, “ew” (an expression of disgust) became a recognized Scrabble word, as did “bestie” (best friend). But “BFF” (best friends forever) failed to make the cut. “Frowny” also appeared on Scrabble preferred guest list, most likely due to its emoji’s widespread use in texting today, although it’s been in Merriam-Webster since 1864.

Some words are nostalgic

I have a secret nostalgia for old-fashioned words, even if they are outdated. My grandma used to call the refrigerator the “icebox” even though it ran on electricity and Freon. She also sat on the davenport, and had to change her housecoat before grabbing her pocketbook to go to the market. Every Christmas she sewed me a new pair of flannel jammies, but she never tried to inflict a nightie on my tomboy self. And I loved it when she said we were “having sauce” for dinner. What she meant was a 6-quart stockpot of pasta, meatballs, sausage, chicken, and pork ribs immersed in her homemade spaghetti sauce, accompanied by several loaves of fresh bread from the Italian deli.

I don’t care if elements of my vocabulary peg me as a dinosaur. My word choice and use of language are a reflection of who I am and what I’ve experienced. If that gives today’s pop culture police the heebie jeebies, tough. Hopefully my grandkids will get a kick out of it someday.