Forgive me if I swerve from the track for a moment.
I
adore old words, even the archaic ones that are out of place in
current usage, which, when they pop up, can sound like a fog horn in
a love song or look like a desperate attempt at smug scholarship.
When you look up their etymology sometimes there are surprises about
their origins. I always enjoy the rich diversity that underlies the
English language, from roots that derive from Arabia to Scandinavia
and from every linguistic group in between: French to Finno-Ugric. In
America there are often direct connections to our immigrant
forebears. Not a lot of people see the Dutch as having enriched our
vocabulary, but then they may not be yacht
owners,
the boss
being
the captain. See also frolic, Yankee, and snoop among many others. On
the other hand, testamentary to our tradition of xenophobia is the
long list of pejorative terms attached to the word Dutch-: treat,
door, oven, prince, rub, uncle, courage and on and on.
Anyhoo,
there are some old-fashioned not exactly archaic words which deserve
more pointed usage today. The 16th century word mountebank
is
a good one found in Shakespeare's work and fits nicely into current
conversation without any effort. I name no names. The descriptor
blow-hard
is
not heard enough these days, neither is windbag
for
that matter. The former describes a loud braggart (from unrelated
nautical origins) and the other a tediously self-extending speaker
(from the term for an organ bellows). These under-appreciated terms
carry the weight of time with them and are reassuring in their apt
currency to describe some notorious characters at work these days.
The connotations and disapproving associations ought to travel with
them.
Without
too much mental exertion the old word charlatan
springs
to mind in the rich vocabulary of scoundrels, cheats and tricksters.
The modernized version is the well known snake oil salesman, who has
a cure for whatever ails you, coming from the Italian or French
language and mixes chatterbox tendencies with a medicinal sales
pitch. A carnival barker sounds about in the same vein.
Depending
on the damage inflicted, a person may be a scallywag or scalawag but
that denomination is far too moderate for someone whose power is
enormous and able to do great harm with so little effort, such as a
few keystrokes. As a side note it is interesting that the Scalawags
as a group actually had a political and practical role in the life of
the South after the Civil War but that is another topic.
Recognizing
the appropriate word and its origin clearly does not prevent some
people from being taken in and swindled. For the victim, the
admission of this fact and recognition as a “stooge” is far too
painful to admit, let alone embrace. Therefore the cautious and
discerning individuals can only stand to the side and cluck tongues.
At least we have a long history of naming these destructive rogues
who damage our faith in humanity and continually affirm the willful
gullibility of some.
There. I feel better.
For
a gracious tomorrow with abundant kisses,
Celeste
