Monday, April 14, 2008

OED anyone?

A "retronym" is a term created to clarify an existing word rendered obsolete by advances in technology or changes in social practice.

When I was in California recently I challenged the mountain people to come up with as many retronyms as they could - Lisa was a savant with this by the way. I think it's a fun way to pass the time when the present isn't good for much more than the passing. Here are a few to get you started:

Acoustic guitar
Organic food
Snail mail
Summer Olympics
Free-range chickens
Coca Cola Classic
Traditional marriage

I used this in an introduction to a sermon I preached recently in which I attempted to explain the prevalence of the retronym "personal relationship" in Christian conversation and literature that discusses our relationship with God. It's a term made necessary by philosophical movements such as the enlightenment which savaged the personality of God reducing our Creator to little more than a force. I, at least, thought it was interesting - and that's the only goal I have in preaching - to keep myself awake.

5 comments:

lisa d said...

nice-a shout out on ktcr! my list has grown to twenty four, not counting the two i thought of last week and foolishly did not write down.

Joel Tom Tate said...

home school
private school
public school
Winter Olympics
charcoal grill
natural foods

Am I on the right track? -CRT

Joel Tom Tate said...

Fantastic post, John. I wish your sermons were available as podcasts. I'd tune in every Sunday afternoon.

hand to hand combat
natural fibers
heterosexuality
unbleached flour (Christine's)
raw milk (unpasteurized, unhomogenated)

I'll be thinking about this all day long.

Joel

john tate said...

Nice work Joel and Christine! This would have been a fun ServiceMaster puffback game.

I love how you're keeping a list Lisa - my favorite of yours is "wooden baseball bat" - baseball appreciates your attention:)

Joel Tom Tate said...

I have two more:

unprotective sex
vaginal birth

I know I'm earthy but then again I do live in Vermont.