When referring to modern technology, specifically video recording, why do most people keep using archaic terms like “filming” and “videotaping”? I am constantly hearing people recording on YouTube making comments like “You’re being filmed” or this is on videotape”. We know that anyone under 30 on a smartphone has probably never used videotape, and surely has never used an actual film motion picture camera. Where are they using these out of date terms?
In: 0
Because language evolves more slowly than technology. We still use terms from sailing ship days and even even earlier. “Not worth his salt” comes from the Roman Empire, when people were literally paid in salt. “Not panning out” comes from the Gold Rush. People keep using the terms because everyone knows what they mean.
There’s a great science fiction novel, ‘Imperial Earth’ by Arthur C. Clark. It’s America’s 500th birthday and a colonist from Titan is invited to represent his world. After traveling through a forest for the first time, he suddenly realizes where the terms ‘roots’ and ‘branches’ came from, even though he’s used them all his life.
Latest Answers