I suppose I am one of the more pedantic members of the species and any wilful abuse of our common language risks entrenching me in grumpy old git mode. I have noticed, with the passing of the years, that those around me of a similar age become sensitive to triggers in their environment that provoke toxic gouts of hatred or even long-lasting simmering resentment. Once, twenty years ago, such triggers as people sitting in their cars with the engine running, or the widespread replacement of front gardens with parking lots might have brought about no more than a passing frown of disapproval but with advancing years the situation is transformed and such views settle immovably in the forefront of the victim’s mind, often accompanied by a growing tendency to plain-speaking that younger friends and relatives might find disquieting. One such trigger for me (and I know it sounds pathetically trivial) is the dropping of the preposition ‘ against’ when using the word ‘appeal’. Thence we have ‘Mr X is appealing the decision to strip him of his knighthood etc.’ I hold the BBC, in so many ways the standard bearer of our language , largely responsible for this omission. Ultimately, language is about communication and I’m sure we all understand what they are saying but WHY? Why was it necessary for them to begin omitting this preposition when I have been used to hearing it all my life? I do not necessarily set my face against all linguistic change (just most of it, it seems) but what do we gain from this omission except perhaps a trifling brevity? I suppose it is the fate of pedants to rail against such evolution. I suppose Chaucer would have bemoaned Shakespeare’s linguistic innovations.
And then there is the word ‘eatery’. It is entirely natural that English should adapt to reflect changing circumstances and indeed one of its great strengths is its flexibility. However, some new words strike me as ugly and ‘eatery’ particularly inflames my passion. Clearly it was felt that a new word was required to describe a place where food was served that was neither a pub nor a restaurant nor a café. I do not recognise that need. I will not willingly enter an establishment that describes itself as an ‘eatery’. How long is it before we begin to hear of pubs described as ‘drinkeries’? There, rant over.