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This began as a question of what verb to use for “reading†audio books. Soon it became clear that technology influences our everyday vocabulary in many ways — yet sometimes older language outlives its accuracy. My mother called the refrigerator the “ice box†long after she should have. But digital clocks seem to have reduced our “spatial†references to time very quickly: I almost always hear 9:15 as “nine fifteen†rather than “a quarter past,†and “forty-five†far, far more than “quarter till.â€
So what vocabulary is changing in your experience? What is persisting against logic?
Scroll comes to mind. Along with a few score others that will probably come to mind if and when I take the time to think about it.
Scroll had pretty much fallen into disuse until personal computers came along. But I can't think of a better word. I like scroll - it has a nice, sort of classical flavor to it - or Biblical flavor if you will, which I'm of course partial to.
In a similar vein, computer-related iconography is not above using symbols of antiquated technology, such as typewriters or fountain pens for word-processing software, handheld receivers for online telephony, etc.
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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