=
×

Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

Head To Head
Log In
Register
The Modern Antiquarian Forum »
"Sacred" as a prehistoric adjective...
Log In to post a reply
101 messages
Topic View: Flat | Threaded
nigelswift
8112 posts

Re: "Sacred" as a prehistoric adjec...
Aug 09, 2005, 08:11
I agree with your remark Littlestone, Great thread Pilgrim,

and also that we should "let the word evolve from its strictly 'sacred' associations into something indicating harmony, mystery and 'specialness' ".... but then, with the exception of a few groups of people, that's the sum total of what we in the modern world now think of the places so aren't we entitled to think of a new word to express exactly what we feel rather than wait for a word that expresses a mere speculation about what people may have thought long ago to become associated with what we think now. We might just as well sit around waiting for Temple to come to mean what we now thinkof the places. It ain't going to happen soon. Just because a word for our modern feelings hasn't been invented doesn't mean we should wait for an old one to morph. Language develops not just by meanings morphing but also through new words popping up where needed. We owe it to English and mustn't shirk our duty. If not us, who? If not us, when?

It's the jumping about between what THEY thought and what WE think that's at the root of the problem. Can't we settle on "Apparently Sacred Spaces" for them, and a phrase expressing "harmony, mystery and 'specialness' " for us? "Special Spaces" might do nicely, but I'll accept whatever you come up with. I DO expect you to rise to the occasion though... ;)
In reply to:
Re: "Sacred" as a prehistoric adjec... (Littlestone)		 Replies:
Re: "Sacred" as a prehistoric adjec... (Pilgrim)
Re: "Sacred" as a prehistoric adjec... (Littlestone)
Topic Outline:
The Modern Antiquarian Forum Index