Butch Explains Semantic Shift . . . Well, Kind Of . . .

A few weeks ago I mentioned a sad statistic . . . 54 percent of the adults in the U.S. have a literacy level (the ability to read and comprehend) below sixth grade. Many of these people don’t realize that the meaning of words and terms have changed over time. It is called “semantic shift.” Because of this, people sometimes become mad or confused when they discuss politics, the economy and current problems in our country. Like the quote in the movie Cool Hand Luke, “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” Here are a few examples of words with their ORIGINAL meaning and their NEW meaning:

Hospital: A place where you go to have surgery on part of your body. NEW meaning: A place where you go to have surgery on your bank account.

Qualified: Competent. NEW meaning: Having just enough experience or education to really screw things up.

Cell Phone: A small device used to communicate. NEW meaning: A technological marvel that guarantees you will never have one peaceful moment to yourself.

Zillion: A large indeterminate number. NEW meaning: (1) the number of illegal immigrants that Biden let in, (2) our national debt, or (3) the number of people who hate vinaigrette sauce on their fish.”

Impotent: Unable to copulate. NEW meaning: What any man hopes to become if he is married to a woman who looks like Maxine Waters.

Activist: Someone who cares about the future of certain causes. NEW meaning: Someone who cares about the future until they grow up, have a real job, get married and have a bunch of screaming kids.

Facts: An actual truth. NEW meaning: Information that is unnecessary during a political debate or during a CNN or FOX newscast.

Hammered: To strike blows with a hammer. NEW meaning: What Republicans were going to get with the aid of alcoholic beverages if Kamala Harris and Tim Walz had been elected.

Moron: Someone who cuts in front of you on the highway. NEW meaning: An ICE protester.

Hot: A sexually appealing person. NEW meaning: A condition which is the opposite of Hillary Clinton.

Plumber: A skilled individual who can repair water pipes and fixtures. NEW meaning: The guy who cannot resist bending over with his pants too low.

Male and Female: Members of the opposite sex. NEW meaning: Whatever they say they are . . . hard to tell sometimes.

Marijuana: Dried leaves of the hemp plant. NEW meaning: The reason you are working at Taco Bell when you’re 50.

Hard working: People who go to work every day and don’t complain. NEW meaning: A person who realizes that no one will ever thank them.

Hollywood: The stars of the motion picture industry. NEW meaning: The liberal elites who are so wealthy that they don’t have to associate with the common people who they pretend to care about.

Finger: A part of the hand.” NEW meaning: The current expression of gratitude between political opponents, which has replaced the customary smile and handshake.

Now this should clear up any misunderstanding or lack of clarity between people during everyday conversations . . . I think.

John “Butch” Dale is a retired teacher and County Sheriff. He has also been the librarian at Darlington the past 37 years, and is a well-known artist and author of local history.