I hesitate to use words to comment on how much I appreciate this piece but I will risk it anyway. Thank you for this thoughtful and important reminder of the limits, pitfalls, and possibilities — good and bad — of language.
On intergenerational linguistic troubles: I remember joining my mom and a couple of her friends for lunch when I was about 18. I described someone (not present) as being "anal" because I perceived that they were close-minded. Let's just say, they understood the word very differently.
Bless my retired nurse mother for bridging the divide. Or closing the gap. Or saving my bacon. Or something.
I hesitate to use words to comment on how much I appreciate this piece but I will risk it anyway. Thank you for this thoughtful and important reminder of the limits, pitfalls, and possibilities — good and bad — of language.
On intergenerational linguistic troubles: I remember joining my mom and a couple of her friends for lunch when I was about 18. I described someone (not present) as being "anal" because I perceived that they were close-minded. Let's just say, they understood the word very differently.
Bless my retired nurse mother for bridging the divide. Or closing the gap. Or saving my bacon. Or something.