Another Example of the Destruction of Our Language

| January 28, 2013

Yes – I like the cooking shows
on those cooking networks …

I am a big fan of “The Pioneer Woman” and Alton Brown’s “Good Eats”.

Something that is driving me crazy with that network (which has two different channels now) is the overuse and misuse of the term “decadent” and “decadence”.

Even the ad sweepers – those little network promos after a commercial break before going back to a show – are popping up with the phrase “stay decadent”

Even the commercials are using “decadent” to describe their product now …

Every freakin’ show uses “decadent” several times per show now in an increasing fashion.

Sure – in the English (Americanized) language there are words that can change in meaning as social colloquialisms dictate as new generations come up with their own way of describing things in order to differentiate themselves from the last generation. But that is using different words in describing a state of being.

But that’s an entirely different animal. For example, what was cool became hot … that’s called SLANG.

However – language meanings can be used to manipulate. Mostly subconsciously like dropping a stone into water and allowing the ripples to expand.

The term “decadent” in contemporary times has taken on an alternate meaning in the form of a noun which means luxury.

However, “decadent” and “decadence” in it’s original meaning as an adjective means:

“Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline.”

… and …

“Moral or cultural decline, esp. after a peak of achievement.

Behavior reflecting such a decline.”

So, this food channel is telling us to “stay decadent” (not the form of a noun) as in a state of decadence and anything that tastes good (or we assume they mean it tastes good) is decadent.

Am I claiming this misuse of language is some deliberate conspiracy? Hardly. Is it just pure ignorance? Perhaps. Is it some misguided attempt to be cool and hip? Could be.

I believe it is just one example – an innocent symptom of a deeper ailment.

In dictionaries, which I have an interesting collection of in my personal library going back to the early 1800s, decadent always means something bad – on the decline … and some list synonyms like decadency – decline – decay – declension – deterioration …

So – what are they telling us … really?

What it really means is their food is decaying and rotting after it at one time peaked … like day old bread … like an apple that was once ripe but is now past its prime and had begun to rot and is inedible.

Then I can hear someone saying – That’s not what they really mean … it’s the opposite of that … it really means something so good that it’s sinful !”

So good that it’s sinful ? … so this is actually making my point for me.

These language destroyers want us to believe that what is good is bad and bad is good.

For example, consider Hunter S. Thompson and his piece titled “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved” in which he described the event as something bad. If we read it today with our butchered meaning, we could only assume that he means it is good an luxurious. Of course he meant it as what the words really mean. Agree with his point or not – Thompson used language properly.

Hunter S. Thompson as well as Noah Webster
are spinning in their graves.

So what’s next? A sign in the produce department of a grocery store that reads: “Try our apples – they are putrid” !?!

Good things were always described as “heavenly” … heavenly goodness …

… as in “heavenly goodness” and the like.

Good things were of heaven.

Bad things were always … well … BAD !

Where did this opposite meaning stuff begin ? And most importantly – where does it end ?!? Or maybe it should be asked “when does it stop”?

I have not heard the term “heavenly” used to describe the food they cook these days. I have occasionally heard it used on “The Pioneer Woman”. Sometimes Ree Drummond looks up while stirring a chocolate icing or the like, looks into the camera and says “Isn’t life wonderful?”

Yes – life is wonderful – and good food is wonderful and heavenly.

I don’t want decadent food. That means it is rotting.

Stop destroying language.

There is one, good example of deliberate misuse of definition that is rampant in our modern decay of language. The term “change”

Change is a form of deterioration. Not a positive.

Building and growth is not the definition of change.

The weather changes. Does that always mean something good?

One person’s sunny day is not as good as another person’s rainy day. Just ask a farmer.

It’s growth – not change …

People grow. Knowledge grows. Intellect grows. Learning causes growth.

Change is moving from here to there.

Change is motion. Not a destination.

Not necessarily a positive or a negative. It is the state of motion in going from one place to another, not the destination. How then can change be made to mean only positive or an actual destination? Only if its meaning can be “changed”.

Let’s use language as it is meant – The way we use words actually means something.

Category: Tony Rollo Blog

Comments are closed.