Old language
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
June 24, 2018 11:21am CST
Some time ago I wanted to buy coffee from a self-service machine. I couldn't figure out how the machine worked. Another woman showed up, she also wanted to buy coffee and she also tried to figure out how to use the machine.
We talked about it and during our conversation she used a Danish expression that decribes a situation where you are very confused and don't know what to do. It is a very rare expression. I know what it means because my grandmother used it sometimes, but I have never heard anyone else use that expression or read a book where the author used it.
When I read old books I sometimes meet words that I don't understand, and there is even a Danish dictionary that contains old words and their meanings.
I went to high school before the internet and at that time we didn't have the chance to look up the meaning of old words. I always asked my mother instead and she was able to explain most of them. At that time I hated stories written in old Danish, today I think that it is interesting see how our language has changed.
7 people like this
7 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
24 Jun 18
I love the structure and back bones of a language. How words have changed meaning or have become obsolete completely. I will sometimes hear, or even say, a phrase that isn't used very often anymore. I have found that here on mylot, I sometimes have to explain the phrases I use because they come second nature to me but not to whose first language isn't English. I've even explained a phrase to someone who lived in a different area of the US.
Anyway, I do love language and think we should all appreciate the history of our languages.
3 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Jun 18
I also love languages. I have learned new expressions here on myLot. If I see is expression I don't understand I ask or look it up on the internet. It is interesting to learn new things that way. Right now I am reading a Danish book that is about 100 years old. I understand most of the words, but sometimes I have a find a word the Danish dictionary that contains old words.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Jun 18
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes, it is a great way to learn new words. I also like to play vocabulary games sometimes for instance the ones on Sporcle. Like most Danes I speak more than one language, but I have forgotten many French and German words because I don't use them very often.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
24 Jun 18
@Porcospino That's why I love reading, even if it is just fiction. I am guaranteed to find a word that isn't used very often and I have to look up. Fun way to learn more about English.
I do love languages but I am not a good learner of them. It's more about losing the interest than it is about retaining the knowledge.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Jun 18
That is true. When I read Macbeth the language was a challenge. I read it in high school. The stories or plays written in old Danish were also hard to read. Today I understand many of those old words, they will never become a part of my active vocabulary, but I recognize them when I see them.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Jun 18
Old dictionaries aren't up to date.I still have dictionaries in my home, but I today I often use the internet instead.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Jun 18
That is true. Things change all the time. When I read old books I notice the old words as well as other differences (lifestyle, society etc)
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Jun 18
Yes, that is true. I have learned some of the old words from my local language, but there are many old words in English that I don't know.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
24 Jun 18
Words and expressions are created/used so much that they soon find a place for them in dictionaries of the same language. Even curse words are found in the dictionary and are given specific definitions. 
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
24 Jun 18
I remember a dictionary I received as a child. It contained a lot of curse words and my mother hated it. She was afraid that I would start using those words
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134456)
• Roseburg, Oregon
24 Jun 18
Everything seems to chane over time. We just have to stay up to date on things.
