What’s wrong with ‘contacting’?

Americans on here must feel under assault,there are so many who deride "americanisms" as being wrong or misjudged .Ithink you have to remember America isn't a part of Egland and people from there are entitled to use their language their way. Forcing English on others wasn't acceptable when I was at school or when my GM was in the late 19th century beatings for not using the English word when the Irish one was what was used in her normal life was shocking.
For heavens sake live and let live ,not all of us object to people using words they are comfortable with .Move with the times or be left behind

There are fashions in jargon. A phrase I use when appropriate is “It is what is is”. Showing acceptance or maybe closing down the discussion.

I realise that language evolves and changes over time. I know that English is an adaptable language, constantly adding new words and new meanings to older ones. It is spoken in so many other countries whose expressions, usage and spelling (!) varies. I actually am very proud of our language and regard it as one of our greatest achievements. However I do think that some of the modern expressions sound rather silly or insincere. ‘Support’ for understanding or help. ‘Simplistic’ for simple. ‘Lived experience’ for personal experience. And so on. Also the GRAMMAR! As a classicist, I always loved grammar and am sad to see it so mauled these days although I know it is easier that way!

FoghornLeghorn

I once heard it said that the only people that should reach out are the Four Tops.

I was going to say, I blame Neil Diamond but you’ve topped that!

🤣🤣

I still can't get used to "impacting". It's had a real impact on my radio listening, I simply turn it off when I hear the word, otherwise I get increasingly irritated every time I hear it.

"How did that land with you?" is one I don't like. Nothing is flying...

Can they not just say, 'What did you think?'

Along with "cascade" to your team, bat it back to them was my managers favourite.

Caravansera

I did say that they differed originally but are now considered synonymous.

What did people use for describing contact with another person more than 100 years ago if contact only came into use with its modern day meaning in the 1920s (and then only colloquailly). To write to, to speak to, to meet doesn't give any flavour of the purpose.

Whether change is better or worse is subjective. I love that language is rich and changing constantly.

Here's a quote from Jean Aitchison's book Language Change: Progress or Decay? She is Professor Emerita of Language and Communication in the Faculty of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford.

Hatred toward Change

^The puristic attitude towards language - the idea that there is an absolute standard of correctness which should be maintained - has its origin in natural nostalgic tendency, supplemented and intensified by social pressures.^

Very interesting and very apt! I expect people have complained about 'new' language throughout history and it will carry on. Having said that I can't bear 'reach out', 'grab' and 'can I get'!

I agree, speak properly.

Ali08
I find it sad when people criticise the term ‘lost’ when someone is commiserating over a death. Lost doesn’t always mean mislaid. It can also mean to not have anymore. ‘ I’ve lost my mojo’. ‘ they lost their home’.

One that used to wind me up at work, was the request to ‘cascade’ this (info) down to other staff.
What on earth was wrong with ‘pass it on’ I have no idea.
As I’ve heard this sort of thing described on MN, wank-speak.

Another American import

I think getting in touch was more than adequate. I also dislike reaching out

I realise that language does evolve, but, to me, the current trend for words to be prefaced with ‘like’ can’t possibly be seen as evolving. I’ve just heard this one -

‘ I was, like, sad, that only, like, twenty people turned up , even though it was, like, middle of the afternoon’.

And Ali08 I remember after the Bodach died a lovely wee lady said she was sorry I’d ‘lost my husband’. I was sorely tempted to say that he wasn’t lost, I knew exactly where to find him!

Somehow ‘My bad’ seems to be replacing ‘oh I’m so sorry, that was my mistake’.

The difficulty with objecting to different ways of saying died is that they probably make the user more comfortable than saying died, even though they may irritate the listener.

Let’s unpack this problem ☹️ what’s wrong with discuss ?

I love that languages evolve, although I'm annoyed by things that feel like sudden, generally trans-atlantic imports.

I hate mealy-mouthisms like "passed" and "reach out".

I am annoyed by words that seem to have changed their meanings through ignorance. For example, "presently" in English means "soon", not "at present/now" but one rarely sees it used correctly.

I have always accepted 'get in touch' as a perfectly normal, acceptable alternative to 'contact', even though it describes an action where no actual touching takes place.

Thinking about it, 'reach out' is quite similar - after all, you usually have to reach out in order to touch something or someone!
As I am perfectly OK using one of these , I really shouldn't have a problem with the other being used in the same context.

Saying 'I lost my mother last week' instead of 'unfortunately, mum died last week'.
If you have lost her, why the hell are you standing chatting instead of looking for her?!
A lot of these 'new' sayings are coming from America. And we all know how much they like to shorten or change the English language! 🤣

Reach out sounds just like the guff Meghan Markle (remember her?) comes out with…
I dislike “I’m good”. I’m asking how you are, not your moral state.🙄
Have to own up that I was surprised to read that ‘gotten’ has an antique and creditable history, travelling to the U.S. from these parts.

I remember being told off at school in the 1960s by our English teacher because we said fab/fabulous and fantastic. She told us we should only use these words in their original meaning. Nowadays the 1960s new meaning is standard.

Also everyone needs ‘support’ in some form or another.

Years ago, my boss asked me for ‘support’ when she couldn’t do something. Why didn’t she just say “Calendar, can you ‘help’ me with this please?”

When did ‘help’ turn into ‘support’.?

I wonder if Ralph Carmichael, American composter, bandleader and one of the pioneers of contemporary Christian music, was influenced by the 1966 Holland-Dozier-Holland song when he wrote Reach Out to Jesus. Or maybe it was vice versa if the latter was known in gospel singing but not yet recorded. Carmichael was a well-known arranger for jazz singers including Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby. The first recording of Reach Out For Jesus was released in 1968.

Compare the lyrics:

Four Tops:

Now if you feel that you can't go on
Because all of your hope is gone
And your life is filled with much confusion
Until happiness is just an illusion
And your world around is crumblin' down … reach out

Ralph Carmichael:

Does the road you travel, harbor dangers yet unknown?
Are you growin' weary in the struggle of it all?
Jesus will help you with all his name you call.

He's always there hearing every prayer, faithful and true
Walking by our side, in his love we hide all the day through
When you get discouraged just remember what to do
Reach out to Jesus, he's reaching out to you.

Is the life you're living filled with sorrow and despair?
Does the future press you with its worry and its scare?
Are you tired and jealous, have you almost your way?
Jesus will help you, just talk to him today.

Elvis Presley recorded a version of the Carmichael song on his 1972 Grammy winning album of sacred songs He Touched Me.

secondhandsongs.com/performance/433636

The unverified trombone version does exist and can be found on YouTube.

Great idea Jaxkacky. I remember calling Green Flag years ago and whilst on hold was Rescue Me by Fontella Bass!