We no longer speak the kind of English that once prevailed. Colourful English has been seen off. Polysyllables – i.e. bureaucratic jargon – have taken over. Plain language gives offence. Therefore it must be avoided. When there is bullying and intimidation in the workplace, we avoid words like ‘rude’, ‘oafish’ and ‘brutal’. Instead we find such behaviour ‘inappropriate’. We walk on egg-shells. We have become timid and half-hearted in our speech. We are fearful of saying what we mean.
There is a price to be paid for this reticence. ‘Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen’, said Pope. When wickedness cannot be exposed and named for what it is, people with a wicked intent are free to go about their business with nothing to deter them.
This is common nowadays but it is not new. Back in the stone age hunter-gatherers discovered that words, like spears, could be put to more than one use. Deception and concealment found their place around the camp-fire as well as in the chase. Language develops on predictable lines in the minds of fallen men. ‘Presently’ used to mean ‘at once’. Now it means some indeterminate time in the future.
We like to reminisce about Nelson’s signal before Trafalgar. And the call to duty was all it should be. But Nelson’s fleet did not achieve its victory outside the harsh and unforgiving regime that was general in the days of Nelson, Rodney and the rest. Seventy-fours and frigates were crewed by sailors (who were probably pressed men in any case) who knew they could suffer mutilation and worse in a close-range maritime artillery exchange. Cannon-balls and splinters were certain to take off heads or limbs before the day was out. Prize-taking was the sole reward for those involved in this Russian roulette.
Life in Nelson’s navy was disagreeable. It is also disagreeable to be shouted or sworn at in the office or on the shop-floor. It is not, however, a risk to life and limb. It is not like working high up on a scaffolding or down a mine or on board a trawler.
On the whole it is better if we cultivate a thick skin rather than a thin one. At the same time it is good to cultivate the kind of speech that oils the social machine rather than guarantees broken linguistic con-rods. St Paul in Colossians 4.6 wrote: ‘Let your words always be gracious, never insipid; learn how best to respond to each person you meet.’ We all have something to learn in this area.
‘FOUND’ IN ROXETH
Christ Church, Roxeth, Harrow runs ‘Found’ a charity shop selling second-hand clothes etc. ‘Found’s friendly staff are available to chat and pray.’
GANG TACTICS
The current issue of St George’s Chorley parish magazine has a warning on how children are drawn into gangs: ‘The child is asked to run some errand during which the child is mugged and becomes in debt to the gang.’
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